Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Making the Sounds of Vista

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bong! dept.

Bengt writes "The sounds of Vista took 18 months to get right for Microsoft. Artist Robert Fripp recorded hours of sound, and assisted Steven Ball in choosing between several different options. A clapping rhythm was rejected for 'sounding too human', and a techno beat was removed from considering because it was just the opposite." From the article: "If it seems like overkill to go to all that trouble for a few seconds of sound, consider this: Microsoft estimates that the clips such as the e-mail alert will be played trillions of times in years to come. That's a lot of opportunity to annoy, offend -- or, if the job is done right -- please or appease computer users the world over. One major concern was that the startup sound not grow grating after a time. You want a sound that people will love the first time they hear it, but it's a paradox to also say, 'Oh and by the way, we need people to love it the tenth, or the hundredth, or the thousandth time they hear it,' Ball said."

7 of 375 comments (clear)

  1. Yep, work on that startup sound by toby · · Score: 5, Funny

    The poor saps are gonna be hearing that a lot... shortly after The BSOD Sound and the We Think You're a Damned Pirate sound.

    --
    you had me at #!
    1. Re:Yep, work on that startup sound by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Funny

      Actually, it's nice to know that MS is paying attention to the details.

      That's a bit like a car manufacturer worrying about the color of the seats while the breaks are still leaking.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re:Yep, work on that startup sound by man_of_mr_e · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, I'm sure the car manufacturer would put all their fabric designers on the brake problem. That's a good use of their time.

      --
      If you need web hosting, you could do worse than here
  2. What was that? by bcat24 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I keep my speakers muted, you insensitive clods!

  3. Let's Ask Clippy by Nova+Express · · Score: 5, Funny
    I see you're trying to perform Frippitronics! Would you like to:

    • Feed guitar notes into delay, reverb and replay tape-loop system?
    • Hire Brian Eno to help you?
    • Reform King Crimson yet again?
    • Sell out to Microsoft?
    Personally, I'm going to wait until the remixed, remasterd versions of the Vista sounds come out with additional material in a special boxed set available only from Discipline Global Mobile...

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

  4. Good god by melted · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hire a decent musician, spend 18 months and millions of dollars futzing with stuff he recorded and RELEASE A TURD anyway. That's the unique Microsoft development process (tm).

  5. Startup sounds I want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    (mainly for computers for which I'm not the only user)

    - Earth-shattering kaboom
    - Beethoven's 9th (yes, all of it)