Smart Buyer
  • Shop On NeweggBusiness
  • Categories
    • Buying Guides
    • Components
    • DIY and How-to
    • Industry Trends
    • NetSec
    • Networking
    • Storage
    • Systems – PC & Laptop
    • Windows
  • About
  • Why NeweggBusiness?
  • Contact Us
Top Posts
PC Cooling: How to Set up Computer Case...
5 Ways to Stream from PC to TV...
How to Choose the Correct RAM Upgrade
How to Troubleshoot a PC Power Supply
Four Apps that Make Your Tablet a Second...
2019 Solid State Drive (SSD) Buying Guide
6 Reasons Your PC is Slow and How...
How-to Guide: Small Office Network Setup
Born in the USA: Computer Hardware Made in...
Computer Monitor Buying Guide 2019

Smart Buyer

  • Shop On NeweggBusiness
  • Categories
    • Buying Guides
    • Components
    • DIY and How-to
    • Industry Trends
    • NetSec
    • Networking
    • Storage
    • Systems – PC & Laptop
    • Windows
  • About
  • Why NeweggBusiness?
  • Contact Us
Awesome IT Office Humor

Brian Eno, Robert Fripp and Windows Startup Sounds

by Adam Lovinus September 18, 2015
by Adam Lovinus September 18, 2015 0 comment 11030 views

Windows startup sounds have been ubiquitous fixtures for PC users for over 20 years. Less known are the musical minds that composed these sound snippets—and they are some famous ones at that. Let’s have a look at the notable stories behind several Windows startup themes.

Windows 95 / Brian Eno: In 1994, Microsoft needed something less obnoxious than the much-maligned Windows 3.1 TA-DA! for introducing its new operating system. The company approached legendary ambient artist and rock producer Brian Eno (U2, Talking Heads, Coldplay) to compose the start-up ditty for Windows 95. Eno obliged the job despite his stated preference for using Macintosh computers. “I’ve never used a PC in my life; I don’t like them,” Eno said in an interview with John Lloyd and Sean Lock on the BBC’s ‘The Museum of Curiosity’ in 2009.

Eno was handed a long list of Microsoft-like adjectives for basing the composition—words like “inspiring, universal, optimistic, futuristic”—and it was to be no longer than four seconds. From Eno’s own account, he likened the task to “making a tiny little jewel” and that it helped him break out of the artistic rut he was in at the time.  Later that year, his collaboration with Luciano Pavarotti, “Miss Sarajevo,” charted in the UK Top 10.

Windows Vista / Robert Fripp: I find it ironic that Microsoft tapped virtuoso guitarist Robert Fripp to compose a four-second startup theme. Fripp’s band, King Crimson, was famous for penning 20-minute progressive rock epics in the late-‘60s and ‘70s. The Vista startup sound, as well as 45 other sounds coded into the operating system, were taken from recording session Fripp conducted at the company’s Redmond headquarters. It featured the guitarist tracking a soundscape of ambient loops and volume swells on his Les Paul. He was joined by TV and film music composer Tucker Martine and Microsoft engineer and musician Steve Ball who also contributed sounds and editing.

The final production has a deliberate “Win-dows Vis-ta” rhythmic progression, with four chords representing the four squares and colors in the Windows logo. Apparently, Microsoft thought it fit “Win-dows  Sev-en” as well—the company reused the Fripp startup for its next operating system.

Other startup sound notables: Microsoft staffer Ken Kato composed the Windows 98 theme. He went on to work with 343 Industries studio that enlisted Massive Attack’s Neil Davidge for the awesome Halo 4 soundtrack.

The Windows XP chime came about from a collaborative effort between composer Bill Brown and Emmy-award winning sound designer Tom Ozanich, whose credits include American Sniper and Kill Bill.

In my opinion, the best Windows startup sound of the bunch is Windows NT with its alien mothership vibe. Its unnamed composer remains a mystery.

Adam Lovinus

Adam Lovinus

A tech writer and Raspberry Pi enthusiast from Orange County, California.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - LinkedIn - Google Plus

Summary
Brian Eno, Robert Fripp and Microsoft Windows Startup Sounds
Article Name
Brian Eno, Robert Fripp and Microsoft Windows Startup Sounds
Description
Windows startup sounds have been ubiquitous fixtures for PC users for over 20 years. Less known are the musical minds that composed these sound snippets.
Author
Adam Lovinus
category18
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +PinterestEmail
Adam Lovinus
Adam Lovinus

A tech writer and Raspberry Pi enthusiast from Orange County, California.

previous post
How to Recover Deleted Files
next post
Cutting Through the Noise of Hard Disk Drive Brand Wars

Related Posts

Presidents’ Day: Early Technology Adopters in the White...

February 14, 2019

What NASA’s Mars Rover Tells Us About SSD...

February 13, 2019

IT Horrors Straight Out of Friday the 13th

October 25, 2018

Use an IPv6 Router to Light a Christmas...

December 15, 2016

Paradigm: Jacob Janerka’s Weird World of PC Nostalgia

October 27, 2016

WiseNotes: a Simple, Open-Source Technical Documentation Tool

August 22, 2016

These ’80s Office Tech PSA Posters Are Awesome

August 1, 2016

The Seven Types of Windows 10 Holdouts

June 9, 2016

How to Always Find the Best Tech Deals...

May 26, 2016

Minecraft Education Edition vs. the Best Computer Lab...

April 15, 2016

What's your take? Cancel reply

Subscribe

Savings Spotlight
  • 1

    PC Cooling: How to Set up Computer Case Fans

    September 25, 2015
  • 2

    5 Ways to Stream from PC to TV or Digital Display

    May 23, 2016
  • 3

    How to Choose the Correct RAM Upgrade

    April 28, 2015
  • 4

    How to Troubleshoot a PC Power Supply

    July 11, 2018
  • 5

    Four Apps that Make Your Tablet a Second Monitor

    January 9, 2018
  • 6

    2019 Solid State Drive (SSD) Buying Guide

    December 6, 2018
  • 7

    6 Reasons Your PC is Slow and How to Fix It

    February 28, 2019
  • 8

    How-to Guide: Small Office Network Setup

    December 20, 2018
  • 9

    Born in the USA: Computer Hardware Made in America

    September 27, 2018
  • 10

    Computer Monitor Buying Guide 2019

    January 4, 2019

Newegg + Business

How is this different from Newegg.com?

Why NeweggBusiness?
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Email