Chime (Macintosh)

Chime is an old term used among Macintosh computer user circles to describe the single note or chord (depending on model type) played when a Macintosh computer is turned on. The sound indicates that diagnostic tests run immediately at start-up have found no hardware or fundamental software problems, and is accompanied by a Happy Mac icon or Apple logo on the screen.

Jim Reekes created the startup chime used on every Macintosh since 1991Whitwell, Tom (26 May 2005) [http://musicthing.blogspot.com/2005/05/tiny-music-makers-pt-4-mac-startup.html "Tiny Music Makers: Pt 4: The Mac Startup Sound"] , "Music Thing"] , except the Power Macintosh line in 1994, which played a guitar chord strummed by jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan. Reekes said, "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)."

For models built prior to the introduction of the Power Mac in 1994, on failure of initial self-diagnostic tests a Sad Mac icon and error code are displayed, accompanied by unusual startup tones, referred to as the "Chimes of Death" or "Chords of Doom."

The chime for all Mac computers since 1997, is the same chime used first in the Power Mac 9600. The chord is a G flat/F sharp major chord instead of C major.

Trivia

In the Disney/Pixar movie "WALL-E", the main robot character makes the Mac startup chime when booting up.

References

External links

* [http://folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Boot_Beep.txt&sortOrder=Sort%20by%20Date&detail=medium&search=beep The Original Macintosh: Boot Beep] - Folklore.org
* [http://www.whitwell.ndo.co.uk/musicthing/sounds/macstartup.mp3 Power Macintosh Startup Chime]