Ta-da! The history of Windows’ classic startup sounds
04/27/22 • 31 min
4 Listeners
Over the years, Microsoft has made at least ten iconic startup sounds for Windows—from the triumphant “Ta-da!” of Windows 3.1, to the ambient chime that Brian Eno crafted for Windows 95, to the orchestral sweep of Windows XP. In this episode, we explore the creation of the classic Windows startup sounds through Windows 7, and what each one says about Microsoft’s evolving technology. Featuring former Microsoft Lead UI Designer Jensen Harris and Sound Designer Matthew Bennett.
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To check out full sets of default Windows sounds, visit winsounds.com.
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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/tadaitswindows
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Over the years, Microsoft has made at least ten iconic startup sounds for Windows—from the triumphant “Ta-da!” of Windows 3.1, to the ambient chime that Brian Eno crafted for Windows 95, to the orchestral sweep of Windows XP. In this episode, we explore the creation of the classic Windows startup sounds through Windows 7, and what each one says about Microsoft’s evolving technology. Featuring former Microsoft Lead UI Designer Jensen Harris and Sound Designer Matthew Bennett.
Apply for the full time Associate Producer position here. The application closes on May 11th.
Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Join our community on Reddit and follow us on Facebook.
Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.
If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.
Subscribe to Jensen Harris’ Youtube channel.
Learn about Matthew Bennett’s latest work here.
To check out full sets of default Windows sounds, visit winsounds.com.
Sign up for a MEL Science subscription at melscience.com/sBGX to get 60% off your first month. This limited offer is available for 1 month only.
Hiring? Sign up at Indeed.com/Hertz and get a $75 credit to sponsor your first job post for better visibility, more applications, and quicker hiring times.
Visit zocdoc.com/20k to download the Zocdoc app and sign up for free.
Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/tadaitswindows
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The Waterphone: Hollywood’s spookiest sound effect
For nearly half a century, one eerie sound has been showing up again and again in movies and TV shows. It’s typically used when something spooky or mysterious happens—and it can be heard in Poltergeist, The Matrix, Let the Right One In, and countless episodes of Unsolved Mysteries. So where did this strange sound come from, and how did it spread across Hollywood? This story comes from the podcast Every Little Thing.
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Next Episode
Why Windows Got Rid of Startup Sounds
Part 2 of our series on the Windows startup sounds picks up when Microsoft made the radical decision to kill the startup sound in Windows 8. In this episode, we explore the forces that led to that decision, unpack how Microsoft channeled the music of language into their new UI sounds, and reveal 2 secret startup sounds that were nearly lost to time. Featuring former Microsoft Lead UI Designer Jensen Harris and Sound Designer Matthew Bennett.
Apply for the full time Associate Producer position here. The application closes on May 11th.
Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Join our community on Reddit and follow us on Facebook.
Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.
If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.
Subscribe to Jensen Harris’ Youtube channel.
Learn about Matthew Bennett’s latest work here.
To check out full sets of default Windows sounds, visit winsounds.com.
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Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/windowslogonwav
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