From the obvious (Win95 and OS 7 startup chimes, modem squeal) to the obscure (Tamagotchi alerts, CD skips, IM chimes), it's a fantastic soundboard that produces the most nostalgic EDM you could ask for.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Dead media soundboard: the Museum of Endangered Sounds
From the obvious (Win95 and OS 7 startup chimes, modem squeal) to the obscure (Tamagotchi alerts, CD skips, IM chimes), it's a fantastic soundboard that produces the most nostalgic EDM you could ask for.
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3 comments:
The idea of “endangered sounds” is so funny to me, yet also sad in a way. As technology progresses, our everyday devices become less and less noisy, and the low, soft buzz of our computers has become more of a background sound of our everyday routines as opposed to something that interrupts and surprises us. Sound has a very powerful ability to inflict nostalgia in a way that a lot of other senses aren’t able to do. I think our generation has it particularly lucky in that we grew up at a time when technology changed dramatically and absurdly quickly. Many of us were born into a house that had no computer, or maybe one, chunky, ridiculously slow desktop, and now every member of our family has a super lightweight laptop, as well as a phone or pad that essentially acts as another small, portable computer. Therefore, while we now live among technology that seemed impossible 15 years ago, we are still nostalgic for the noises of things like CD skips and Tamagotchi toys, handheld video games, and the rewinding of tapes.
This museum is going to be a treasure trove of information for sound designers in a few years putting on “old” shows that are set only a few decades ago. Technology has advanced so far that many of our childhood sounds are disappearing from everyday life. This museum would be fun to just peruse through and see how many I can place. The idea of a museum of endangered sounds is so interesting because museums are always places of historical art and buildings and science and other tangible things, but sound comes and goes. It’s not something you would think could be preserved in a museum. It would be really fun to see a wing of a science museum to have a sound room where you can go press buttons and listen to sounds of old technology. For a while I didn't realize you could click the link and go to the actual museum but you can! It’s really interesting. There are just a bunch of pictures the you click on to heard old recordings, AOL start up, movie countdowns and so many more. I’m going to waste some time going through all these.
Wow, this is actually a pretty depressing article. Yet it is hopeful in a way. I never really thought of "endangered sounds" till right now and didn't really realize how quiet our electronic devices are getting. The sounds described in this article bring me back to when I was a kid and everything was so noisy, but i loved it. The dial up tone every time you would use the computer, phone dials, turning a tv on and just feeling that static swish on and off. I think this Museum is such a great way to preserve these sounds and preserve the memories and ideas behind those sounds and really illustrate how fast and in what way time has evolved. Just like Sasha said, a few years ago, our current technology might have seemed nearly impossible, and even though electronics are considered super cool now, there is still that nostalgia and longing for the sounds of the past. Sometimes you just need to hear the sounds of the original gameboy.
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