Startup Chime
The Macintosh startup chime is the single note or chord (depending on model type) played when an Apple Macintosh computer is turned on. The sound indicates that diagnostic tests run immediately at startup have found no hardware or fundamental software problems.
Mark Lentczner created the code for the arpeggiated chord used on the Macintosh II. Variations of this sound were used until Jim Reekes created the startup chime used on most Macintoshes since the Quadra 840AV. 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)." The Macintosh LC, LC II, and Macintosh Classic II use an F major chord instead of C major. The first generation of Power Macintosh computers do not use the Reekes chime, instead using a chord strummed on a Yamaha 12-string acoustic guitar by jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan. Also, the 20th Anniversary Macintosh features a variant of the chime not used on any other Macintosh model.
For models built prior to the introduction of the Power Macintosh in 1994, a Sad Mac icon and error code, accompanied by unusual startup tones, are displayed on failure of initial self-diagnostic tests; this is referred to as the "Chimes of Death","Chords of Doom", or "Chimes of Doom". Chimes of death are error beeps played at a startup failiure.
The chime for all Mac computers since 1999 is the same chime used first in the iMac G3. The chord is a F-sharp major chord instead of C major, and was produced by pitch-shifting the 840AV's sound. The Mac startup chime is now a registered trademark in the United States.
In the 2008 film WALL-E the Mac startup chime is featured when the robot named WALL-E is fully recharged by solar panels.
Read more about this topic: Welcome To Macintosh