identify that sound

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Jeraden
They have that site blocked at work so I can't download the sample but...

My cell phone will cause interference with my speakers all the time. I always know when I'm about to get a call cause I'll hear the same interference pattern start a few seconds before the phone rings. It will do it other times too when not getting a call, I guess when the phone is either sending/receiving data. I remember I had no idea what it was for a long time, but then finally realized it was the phone. I have 3 computers at home and it only does it to 1 of them. But also does it to my computer here at work.

Anyways, not sure if thats the same sound, as I can't hear the clip, but possible.

It's not, but I know what you're talking about. Well documented phenomenon, happens when signal is sent from cell phone to tower either when receiving a call or intermittently. With ATT/GSM phones only.

 

[jteef]

Originally posted by: joeld

Originally posted by: jteef
I also have this sound and recently posted something to the GH forum. nobody knows what it is, but I can remember hearing it for a really long time. It seems to be pretty random, not associated with any user action at the computer. i.e. if i leave my volume up, i can lay in bed and hear the sounds every once in a while. The sound is so consistent and the same across multiple computers, i really doubt it's any kind of interference. I thought maybe its some notification of the processor engaging the intel speedstep stuff, but i don't know how to check that. I do not use outlook, trillian, or IE. I do use Firefox, gtalk, and skype.

Regarding intel speedstep, I use a program called RMClock to manage the clock and voltage on my Pentium M laptop. When I manually change the voltage I can hear a slight change in the sound, but it's not from the speakers.

Since you don't use outlook, that leaves firefox (including ads?), xp, and drivers.

I think they're on to us. I haven't heard it once since coming home for lunch an hour ago. Although I can remember hearing the same sounds many years ago. before Firefox was even out...perhaps in win2k even.

 

[joeld]

bump!

 

[Crono]

You could try process of elimination. Try disabling system sounds (Control Panel -> Sound and Audio Devices -> Sound-> Sound Scheme:->No Sounds), and if you still get the sound, try using Flashmute or Ad-Block in FireFox. Try logging your website history and match with the next time you hear the noise. It's possible the noise is a system tray app, as well, so you could try closing (manually, by msconfig startup, and/or forcibly with task manager) the programs one by one.

 

[Rubycon]

Go to C:\WINDOWS\MEDIA and delete everything in that folder. Gets rid of unnecessary WIndows sounds forever.

EDIT: recording with the mix (like record what u hear, etc.) WILL definitely record something an unused mic, line in, etc. is picking up. ALWAYS MUTE these inputs if they are not used for the best possible (lowest) noise floor!

 

[joeld]

Bump

I haven't heard the sound in a while, so I can't test any troubleshooting methods, but I'm still waiting for more folks to say they hear the exact same sound on their computers and have the solution to fix it.

 

[joeld]

bump

 

[joeld]

UPDATE! I just heard the sound again! I got a new laptop at work and haven't heard it until today when I've been installing visual studio stuff. I've installed VS6 and am installing VS2002. I just installed activesync yesterday, but never heard the sound yesterday, and closing the activesync conn process doesn't stop the sound from happening.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: joeld
UPDATE! I just heard the sound again! I got a new laptop at work and haven't heard it until today when I've been installing visual studio stuff. I've installed VS6 and am installing VS2002. I just installed activesync yesterday, but never heard the sound yesterday, and closing the activesync conn process doesn't stop the sound from happening.

It'd help if the original link still worked

 

[nakedfrog]

What's that sound coming out of the hole in the wood?

 

[joeld]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: joeld
UPDATE! I just heard the sound again! I got a new laptop at work and haven't heard it until today when I've been installing visual studio stuff. I've installed VS6 and am installing VS2002. I just installed activesync yesterday, but never heard the sound yesterday, and closing the activesync conn process doesn't stop the sound from happening.

It'd help if the original link still worked

LOL, Crap...

I re-uploaded a wav file I had to filefront. Here is the new link...

http://www.filefront.com/14555227/the%20sound.wav

I've heard it several times on my new laptop. Still haven't narrowed down any further.

 

[Jeff7]

Well, it probably won't help, but here's a cool frequency plot of the first sound spike, generated courtesy of Goldwave.

 

[Crono]

My original advice didn't help?

 

[joeld]

Originally posted by: Crono
My original advice didn't help?

I have not gone through the procedure you suggested, since I've only experienced the problem a few times since then and was busy.

jteef earlier suggested that he has heard the sound for years even before firefox was released. I am fairly confident that I have heard the sound when just sitting at the desktop as well with no active programs running aside from background/system tray apps.

Next time I hear it, I'll pay attention to what I've been doing and do an audit. It may be a while, as I've had headphones plugged in recently and they just lay on my desk for most of the day.