A three-layer provenance framework defining how Harmonic Frontier Audio datasets are sourced, verified, and defended across their full lifecycle.
The Proteus Standard establishes clear lineage from performer to file, cryptographic integrity at delivery, and acoustic fingerprinting for downstream detection and analysis. It exists to ensure that high-fidelity audio datasets can be confidently used in commercial, research, and enterprise AI systems—and withstand legal, compliance, and diligence review.
Proteus is intentionally simple at the top level: every full HFA dataset is traceable to its source, verifiable at delivery, and identifiable through acoustic fingerprinting—without depending on opaque, proprietary watermarking.
Every file is linked back to its recording session and capture context: performer, instrument or technique, recording location and environment, microphone configuration, and production notes. This creates a human-readable provenance trail that supports audits, internal governance, and legal defensibility.
HFA delivers datasets with per-file hashes and signed manifests so teams can confirm that what they received matches what was authored. This is designed for security review, compliance workflows, and enterprise diligence— without requiring special tooling to benefit from it.
Proteus uses robust audio fingerprinting to support downstream identification of HFA source material in suspicious audio, leaks, or disputed provenance scenarios. This layer emphasizes verifiable analysis over “undetectable” watermarking claims—aligned with how real investigations and compliance reviews work.
In practice: Layer I answers where did this come from? Layer II answers has it been altered? Layer III supports can we identify it later if needed? Together, they form a defensible provenance foundation for model training and deployment.
Proteus is designed to remove the most common “unknowns” that slow deployment, trigger compliance objections, or create downstream risk. Below are the failure modes it addresses—and the teams who feel immediate relief when they see it.
Proteus is not a vague policy statement—it is delivered as concrete, inspectable artifacts that connect every audio file to its session context, verify integrity at receipt, and support downstream identification through robust fingerprinting.
Each dataset includes structured metadata that ties every file to recording sessions and capture context—performer identity and permissions, instrument/technique taxonomy, recording environment and location, microphone configuration, capture format, and production/QC notes. This is designed to be human-readable and auditable, not opaque.
Delivery includes tamper-evident manifests so teams can verify that the dataset they received matches what HFA authored. This is especially useful when datasets move across internal storage, multiple teams, or long-lived training pipelines.
Proteus supports downstream identification of HFA source material via robust audio fingerprinting and similarity analysis. This layer is designed for investigation scenarios—leaks, disputed provenance, or suspicious audio—without promising fragile “undetectable watermark” guarantees.
Proteus is built to increase trust and defensibility—not to impose control. To prevent common misunderstandings, here’s what the Proteus Standard is explicitly not.
Proteus does not restrict how licensed teams use datasets inside their own pipelines. It is a provenance and integrity framework, not a control layer.
Layer II integrity checks are designed to work with standard hashing and signature verification approaches. Proteus does not require special tooling to benefit from it.
Proteus avoids marketing claims that imply perfect, irreversible watermark detection. Layer III is based on robust fingerprinting and similarity analysis—aligned with realistic investigation workflows.
Proteus does not monitor your training runs, deployments, or downstream models. Identification workflows are only relevant in disputed provenance scenarios and require access to the audio being evaluated.
Proteus strengthens defensibility and auditability, but it does not substitute for your organization’s legal review, governance policies, or licensing terms.
Full Proteus deliverables apply to full datasets. Preview releases are designed for evaluation and may omit certain artifacts (e.g., signed manifests or fingerprint reference bundles).
Proteus is fully implemented on full datasets. Previews are designed for evaluation and may omit certain artifacts. The Suites (Foundations, Orpheus) determine how far beyond raw audio + metadata the delivery extends.
Intended for technical fit checks: timbre, labeling structure, capture quality, and dataset relevance. Preview releases may omit signed delivery manifests and fingerprint reference bundles.
Delivered with full provenance linkage, integrity verification artifacts, and fingerprinting support as appropriate. Designed to withstand internal governance review and enterprise diligence.
Proteus is designed so verification is straightforward, repeatable, and familiar to engineering and compliance teams. No proprietary platforms are required—only standard tooling and clear documentation.
Upon delivery, teams can confirm that the received audio and metadata match the authored dataset by validating cryptographic hashes against the provided manifest. This establishes a known-good baseline before internal use.
# Example (illustrative)
sha256sum -c hfa_manifest.sha256Signed manifests allow teams to confirm that the dataset was produced and released by Harmonic Frontier Audio, and that the manifest itself has not been altered. This is particularly useful for enterprise intake and audit workflows.
# Example (illustrative)
gpg --verify hfa_manifest.sig hfa_manifest.sha256When datasets are mirrored, cached, or moved between teams, hashes can be rechecked to ensure that training and evaluation pipelines are operating on the exact licensed material—preventing silent drift or accidental corruption.
Layer III is not something most teams touch during day-to-day training. It exists for the moments when provenance becomes contested, or when a high-stakes decision depends on being able to identify source material with defensible analysis.
A dataset (or subset) appears in an unauthorized location or is shared beyond licensed scope. Layer III supports identification by comparing suspicious audio against HFA reference fingerprints—helping validate whether HFA source material is present.
A third party claims a model or system contains audio derived from a particular source. Layer III supports a defensible response: similarity-based analysis, fingerprint matching, and a clear record of what HFA authored and delivered.
In high-compliance settings, governance teams may require a clear story for “how would we investigate this if something goes wrong?” Layer III provides an escalation pathway that aligns with real-world review and audit processes.
Common questions from engineering, compliance, and procurement teams evaluating HFA datasets and the Proteus Standard.
Proteus is built for teams who need more than high-quality sound files—who need datasets they can explain, defend, and deploy with confidence across research, production, and enterprise environments.