Elliot Kim
The first Apple Macintosh, introduced in 1984, was the first Apple computer with built-in sampled audio output. The startup sound of the first three Macintosh models was a simple square-wave beep generated at 600 Hz, programmed by Andy Hertzfeld. The Macintosh II, introduced in 1987, was the first to use the death chimes, using the Apple Sound Chip to play a loud and eerie upward major arpeggio. The Macintosh startup sound has since become iconic, with only minor tweaks made since its inception.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Mac with built-in audio input | LC and IIsi, introduced in 1990 |
| First Apple computer with built-in sampled audio output | Original Macintosh, introduced in 1984 |
| Macintosh startup chime | Played on power-up, before booting into an operating system |
| Macintosh II death chimes | A loud and eerie upward major arpeggio |
| Macintosh startup sound | A simple square-wave "beep" generated at 600 Hz |
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What You'll Learn
The first Mac's startup sound
The first Macintosh computers, introduced in 1984, did have built-in sampled audio output. However, they lacked the horsepower to play synthesizer background music, and they did not have built-in sound input. The first Apple computer with built-in sound input was the Mac IIsi, released in October 1990.
The first three Macintosh models featured a startup chime that was a simple square-wave "beep" generated at 600 Hz. This sound was programmed in software by Andy Hertzfeld, utilizing the computers' onboard MOS 6522 VIA chip. The specific sound of the startup chime differs depending on the ROM, which varies across Macintosh models.
The Macintosh II was the first to use the "death chimes," which play when there is a hardware failure. These death chimes are a loud and eerie upward major arpeggio, played using the Apple Sound Chip.
Over time, the Macintosh startup chime has undergone only minor tweaks, and it has become a lasting symbol of Apple's brand and philosophy. The sound indicates to users that diagnostic tests have been run and that no hardware or fundamental software problems were found.
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The evolution of the Mac startup sound
Jim Reekes, an Apple sound designer, recognised the need for a change and took it upon himself to replace the old startup sound. Reekes created the iconic "bong" startup chime, first introduced in the Quadra 840AV. This new sound was composed using multiple synthesizers, including Reekes' Wavestation and an Oberheim Matrix-6. The "bong" chime projected a more positive and calming tone, reflecting Apple's "think different" philosophy.
Over time, the Mac startup sound has remained consistent, with only minor tweaks despite significant technological advancements. The sound has become a strategic imperative for Apple, a symbol of the brand's personality and a lasting symbol of its innovation. The startup chime provides users with immediate feedback on the machine's status and condition, allowing them to identify any potential issues.
The specific sound varies depending on the ROM and Macintosh model. For instance, the Macintosh LC, LC II, and Macintosh Classic II use a software-programmed F major fifth chord, producing a "ding" sound. The Power Macintosh 5200–6300 computers (excluding the 5400 and 5500) use a unique chime composed on the Fairlight CMI, featured in their television commercials from 1995 to 1998.
In conclusion, the evolution of the Mac startup sound has transformed from a basic beep to a strategic and beloved auditory symbol of the Apple brand. The sound has become an integral part of the user experience, providing functional feedback and emotional satisfaction to Mac users worldwide.
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Macs with built-in audio input
All Mac devices have a built-in microphone, and depending on the model, there may be one or two sound ports. If your Mac has separate ports for sound input and output, the input port may use a microphone or sound input icon. If your Mac has only one sound port, it may have a headphones icon or no icon at all. This sound port supports stereo output and mono input (e.g. a headset with a built-in microphone).
You can use your computer's internal microphone, your display's microphone (if it has one), your iPhone microphone, or an external microphone plugged into your computer's sound port. The Recording Indicator in Control Centre shows when your computer's microphone is in use or was recently used, increasing security and privacy. This indicator turns on when you access the Input options in Sound Settings.
You can change the sound input settings on your Mac by choosing a different sound input (e.g. a microphone) using the Input options in Sound Settings. To use the line-in audio input, you need to access your macOS System Preferences. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your Mac display, then click System Preferences and select Sound. By default, the Sound window will default to the Output tab. Click on the Input tab to change your audio line-in settings and select your audio input device.
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The Mac's unique chimes
The Macintosh startup chime is played on power-up, before the operating system boots up. The sound indicates that diagnostic tests have been run and no hardware or software problems were found. The specific sound differs depending on the ROM, which varies depending on the Macintosh model. The first three Macintosh models featured a simple square-wave "beep" generated at 600 Hz, programmed in software by Andy Hertzfeld. All subsequent sounds are various chords.
The Macintosh II was the first to use the "death chimes", which play when there is a hardware failure. This uses the Apple Sound Chip to play a loud and eerie upward major arpeggio. The Macintosh LC, LC II, and Macintosh Classic II do not use the Reekes chime, instead using a software-programmed F major fifth chord that produces a "ding" sound.
The Power Macintosh 5200–6300 computers (excluding the 5400 and 5500) use a unique chime that was composed on the Fairlight CMI. The 20th Anniversary Macintosh uses another unique chime, composed on a Korg Wavestation. The chime used for all Mac computers from 1998 to early 2016 is the same chime that was first introduced in the iMac G3. It was produced by pitch-shifting the 840AV's startup chime, making it an F-sharp major chord.
The start-up sound has remained mostly unchanged since its introduction, with only minor tweaks. It has become a symbol of the Apple brand and its "think different" philosophy.
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The Mac's death chimes
The first Apple Macintosh computers, introduced in 1984, did have sound. However, they did not have the capacity to input audio without additional hardware. The first Apple Macintosh with built-in audio input was the Mac IIsi, released in 1990.
The Macintosh startup sound, which has become iconic, was not always so well-loved. In the early days of Macintosh, the startup sound was a tritone, a combination of notes that early-eighteenth-century music theorists and composers called the devil's interval. It was a loud and dissonant sound that was thought to invoke evil incarnate and was banned in early religious music.
Jim Reekes, an Apple sound designer, was responsible for changing the startup sound. He recalls that he did not have permission from Apple to make the change and had to sneak the new sound into the computers with the help of engineers who worked on the ROM chips. When Apple discovered this, Reekes refused to change it back, and the new startup sound became a lasting symbol of Apple's "think different" philosophy.
The new startup sound, a "bong" created with multiple synthesizers, including Reekes' Wavestation and an Oberheim Matrix-6, became known as the Chimes of Death. It was first used in the Macintosh II and was played when the initial self-diagnostic tests failed, resulting in a Sad Mac icon and an error code. The Chimes of Death were a loud and eerie upward major arpeggio, with different chimes on many models.
Over time, the Chimes of Death evolved, with minor tweaks being made, and they came to represent more than just a system error. The sound became a strategic imperative for Apple, projecting the brand's personality and providing functional and emotional value to its customers.
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Frequently asked questions
The first Apple Macintosh, introduced in 1984, had built-in sampled audio output. However, it did not have built-in audio input, which was introduced with the Mac LC and IIsi in 1990.
The first three Macintosh models featured a simple square-wave "beep" generated at 600 Hz and programmed by Andy Hertzfeld. This sound indicated that diagnostic tests run at startup had found no hardware or software problems.
The Mac startup sound has remained mostly unchanged since its introduction. However, minor tweaks have been made, and different Macintosh series have featured unique chimes and death chimes.
