Filed under: Audio, Cult of Mac
History Behind the Mac Startup Sound
Music Thing is running a story covering the history behind the Mac Startup sound, and they even have a link to an mp3 of the actual sound file [file link].The sound was created by Jim Reekes, the same guy who invented Sosumi. According to Reekes, "The startup sound was done in my home studio on a Korg Wavestation. It's a C Major chord, played with both hands stretched out as wide as possible (with 3rd at the top, if I recall). This just sounded right to me. I wanted something really fat, heavy bass, high notes, and a sharp attack. The chiffy sound was from pan pipes and something like a stick hit (I'm testing my memory here). I wanted lots of evolving timbres, stereo phasing, and reverb for further richness."
And, finally, here's my lame attempt to replicate that signature sound via type: BuhWAAAAAAAAH. Now you try!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
iFelix said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
Ddddaaahhhmmm
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Aaron Willis said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
screeeedily-screedily-BOIOING!!!!!
Well, that's what I wish it sounded like. I always thought that was the noise that uncle steve makes when he yawns.
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yPod said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
dwoinnnnnnnnnnnnnmn
:(
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narco said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
I wish someone would post the old "sad mac" sound. I don't remember how it went, but I think it sounded like the music to the old NES game Wizards and Warriors.
Fishes,
narco.
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aprodite said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
Some Mac's had different "Sad Mac" sounds, I remember my old Mac IIfx used to sound like "breaking glass" when it wan't happy. I seem to recall another mac having the sound of screeching tyres followed by a smashing sound, but it was so long ago I'm not sure if that was real or just my imagination. Anyone out there know for sure?
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Gav said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
Duuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
although i wish it went: HUUZZAAAAHHHHHHH
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some dude said 4:43PM on 6-30-2005
woooOOOMMMMmmmm
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Ben Poole said 5:43PM on 7-15-2005
Re the sad Mac sound, I believe there was a different chord depending on what the underlying problem was: a good Apple engineer presumably had to have a good ear ;o)
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ben murray said 6:43AM on 8-02-2005
frrrrrrrrrrMMMMMMMMMMMM
ooh my lips feel funny now
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Ryan said 10:03PM on 8-08-2005
The screeching tires and breaking glass was real. It was either my Centris 660av or PowerMac 6100av that had that. I think it was the 660av. Most dreaded sound ever to hear.
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Lacy said 10:43AM on 9-22-2005
Mmmmm...sounds like a 5th on top to me.....not a 3rd.(sad git)
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David said 7:42AM on 11-18-2005
Ahem.
http://folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Boot_Beep.txt&sortOrder=Sort%20by%20Date
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