13: Let it Beep

For over two decades, every time you turned on a Mac, you were greeted by a familiar sound. It’s appeared as a punchline in The Simpsons, in movies like WALL•E. It’s a sound some of us tried to hide from our parents as we turned on the computer in the middle of the night. It’s a sound that’s transcended technology; the sound that makes a Mac feel like a Mac. But no longer; the iconic Mac startup chime is going away. 

But, while we all recognize the sound, we rarely think of who made it. On the eve of the boot beep's retirement, I talk to creator Jim Reekes about the most fun and iconic sounds he designed during his time at Apple. All the drama, the inspirations, and the hijinks that went into the creation of sounds you hear nearly every day. 

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Be sure to listen to Breakmaster Cylinder's wonderful Let it Beep:

 

Music in this episode is by the mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder. Theme music is by Terique Greenfield. Editing by Rob McGinley Myers, Lacy Johnson, and Tish Stringer. Special thanks to John Lagomarsino.