Post #1146009

2026-04-14 03:12 UTC

Something I&#39;ve been wondering about for a long time: There is a rather iconic klaxon type alarm sound that I&#39;ve heard in all kinds of things for years. It&#39;s almost the Wilhelm Scream of bad stuff is happening alarm sounds. It&#39;s always had a very interesting texture to me. I first heard it on a crappy tank toy I got in 1991, right around the time of Desert Storm, but I&#39;m sure it&#39;s much older than that. I&#39;m just wondering if anyone knows the history of this particular sound. What exactly created it? Definitely sounds like a pair of electro-mechanical devices rather than purely electronic. Attached is a sample. This particular version came from Apple&#39;s iLife Sound Effects from an old version of Garage Band. It&#39;s also an alarm in iOS, which is currently being used by my father, which is what brought this up in my mind again.

Replies (6)

@dodecahedron@fwoof.space 2026-04-14 03:13

@BorrisInABox@fwoof.space oh, that alarm. I"Ve wondered where that comes from for years.

Open ##2279225
@StefenHudson@mastodon.social 2026-04-14 03:16

@BorrisInABox@fwoof.space That's some sort of ship alarm if I remember right. Could be horns or something.

Open ##2279231
@morganlynn1992@mindly.social 2026-04-14 04:25

@BorrisInABox@fwoof.space This is my dad's ringtone which he has set to a very loud volume as he works with filtration systems, and needs to be able to hear it if he's in the shop. Scares the shit out of me every time he gets a call and I'm nearby.

Open ##2279233
@autolycos@beige.party 2026-04-14 11:29

@BorrisInABox@fwoof.space https://youtu.be/adD5oC2asXI

Open ##2279234
@cordova5029@dragonscave.space 2026-04-14 16:45

@BorrisInABox@fwoof.space you know what it sounds like? it sounds like, a double layer modulated saw wave with a filter on it.

Open ##2279238
@seddy@fwoof.space 2026-04-14 19:17

@BorrisInABox@fwoof.space I've been wondering on that sound my hole life basically

Open ##2279252