Thank you everyone for all your effort, overall it’s an impressive set from such a short deadline!
We’ve been busy listening to all your submissions, it’s been a challenge, but the sound samples have been whittled down to a shortlist (of startup sounds only, for now) that we feel meet the pitch brief (or are close to meeting it) and we’d like to hear your opinions.
Since last time…
With a tight deadline (let’s get this in for 12.04!) we played the submissions, both startup and notification, to a select group of participants who were asked to record feedback on a structured form. Firstly we discussed the brief that was set and what we were looking to achieve; participants then rated the submissions using a simple likert scale, measuring agreement with statements such as “Does this feel like Ubuntu”.
We now need your help to decide and critique the shortlisted sounds. Remember these are not final, so we want to know which you see the most potential for developing our sound theme.
We’d like you to use this survey for submitting your opinions of the shortlisted sounds below.
The Shortlist : Startup Sound
Please use the fields provided in the form for critiquing what and where improvements could be made; e.g. change of pitch, addition of notes, audio mastering, change of instrument; we need to remember this is a starting point, so the more feedback we receive, the better informed the rebrief.
No.1
No.2
No.3
No.4
We are looking forward to working with the finalist to develop the Ubuntu soundscape from this starting point; so your feedback is important!
Please get your friends and family to have a listen and let us know what they think too – the more the merrier, we will do the same :)
Next steps : we hope to choose one finalist whose sound can mature through further iterations, and tune it to fit with the login experience for the 12.04 release.
Those of you who don’t see your sound up here (and remember we are keeping it anonymous so don’t tell anyone if yours is there!) thanks again for your efforts, we hope to involve everyone in the decision making process for the theme as it progresses, so there will be plenty more opportunity to have your opinion heard!
Update : Survey Full!!! Over 2000 responses – wow! New blog post to follow :)
I love the third, because it sounds like a real xylophone.
I R E A L L Y love the old sound. Isn’t it possibly to just give it a slight remix or something?
I really like the first one, its great.
To be honest I would have rathered one based around the central African themes like the last one, though obviously less aggressive. Would have had more personality.
Out of those then the first one, gentle and non-imposing. I’m not sure of the reasoning for the sound, I don’t think you should load the desktop until its fully workable, not await a sound to tell you when to use it. Hate seeing a desktop that won’t work.
I like the first one , but both of them is better more than oldest
Question 9 in the servey has a typo.
Me too! At least something that reminds a little of the old sound would be great.
Thanks Serj
None, sorry. Starting drumroll was a kind of distinguishing feature of Ubuntu since 4.10. And the best thing about sound you may do is to let user to create his own themes with ease, as it was earlier.
All 4 tunes sounds too “windowsy(R)” :-(
Second
The first one is by far the best of them all. I nevesr liked the start up sound of ubuntu, I think is one of the few little insignificant things I never liked. Also my girl likes the first one, but a friend of mine says the third one, and that would also be my second choise. I am a grphic designer by the way, and don’t know how to contribute; would You tell me how to do so? oh! I’m from Venezuela in Latin América by the way. Tahnks, and keep the good work.
None of these beat the current sound. But this is a difficult question.
For instance is the mac sound really beautiful or is it great because everybody knows it and it has remained unchanged? Do any of these have the potential to become such a sound?
+1 for me.
The old sound in a remix. To not forget the roots of ubuntu.
But the second is also great ;-)
Like the first one. is great.
3rd one I think is the best one and it sounds most like the style that ubuntu wants to give and that is vibrant. All the others sound like rejects for the windows one.
Ok, am I the only one who is going to dig for sound 2? Oh well.
It’s awesome.
+1 !!
No.2 is awsome and btw Ubuntu does need a new login sound! ;)
Ditto. Other than the first one remotely recognizable as an attempt of startup up sound, I can’t comprehend why the rest could be associated with startup at all.
Besides, that what’s with the light, gimmicky – argh, I wish I could express my thoughts about sound better. NONE of them feels like Ubuntu.
Like the hollow-ish and deep original startup sound suits Ubuntu the best.
I mean the deep sounds found in the original startup suits Ubuntu the best.
No.2 – is very awesome!!!!
N°2! the best!
Where are the new icons?! Ubuntu needs a new icon-theme! It would make the UI perfect! Imagine a LTS and you have to use five years these old icons. ;)
I really love the first and the first second of the second sound.
I agree, I think the first one is best. It sounds the most modern and the others are too quiet.
The fourth I like least, though I can’t quite put my finger on why.
nice work ;) like it
first and second.
First one. Second one sounds too much like Windows. No love for three and four.
#2 is the only usable one IMHO.
Definitely the old one is better than those 4…
Guess mine http://soundcloud.com/pak33m/ubuntu-sound-theme-design didn’t make the cut :( I included a start and notification in one there. I still vote for mine ;)
No.3 ;-)
My vote goes for the 1st one.
n°2
we need some drums in the login sound
yes drums, like in mine http://soundcloud.com/pak33m/ubuntu-sound-theme-design
hmn,
first one reminds of a an ufa. don’t like.
second one reminds of windows. don’t like.
third one is pretty good. maybe a bit simple.
fourth gets my vote! it has an african touch but pretty modern at the same time.
i mean ufo, not ufa :)
Not a big fan of any of these four.
I do hope that you make a 5.1 channel sound available. As Ubuntu enters the TV market, I hope to experience the Ubuntu startup sound in full surround sound.
See:
* http://blog.dustinkirkland.com/2011/08/ubuntu-login-sound-in-51-channel-glory.html
:-Dustin
Love the third sound. Its is brilliant!
Hello everybody,
To my mind, the second sound is the best, but I like also the second sound! Good work for all the sound designers!
Thanks!
Sorry, I’ve made a mistake…
Please read this following sentence instead of my first post:
“To my mind, the second sound is the best, but I like also the first sound! Good work for all the sound designers!
Thanks!”
I like the third one, really. It doesn’t sound very synthesized, and I think that’s a cool direction.
I like that all of these are reasonably quiet and reasonably short :)
After reading reviews of and hearing the shortlist sounds I added a new version of my start sound where it was shortened to 3 seconds and hit hats removed.
http://soundcloud.com/pak33m/ubuntustart2
yes the old one, while crazy as shit… felt more ubuntu-ish… these sound phony. i think a toned down version of the old one, that is shorter, would be much better
Definitly the second is the best
Definitly the second is the best, best
I think you mean Marimba. If it were a xylo it’d make your ears hurt :P
I feel the same way about the second one.
It is just smooth and welcoming.
Agree! It sounds exactly like “U-Bun-Too”. It’s clean, it’s fresh, it’s cool!
Sound 2 Will Be So nice In The NExt Ubuntu version
No it’s not! It’s too similar to Windows Vista theme! No. 1 is the sound. No. 1 is Ubuntu.
Exactly! Agree! This is it!
I can’t believe nobody has mentioned the likeness between #2 and the spaceship “jingle” from Close Encounters. I find that really distracting.
#1 is nice but as has been said, it feels a little too “sci-fi” for Ubuntu. And kind of communicates “error” to my ears.
#3 isn’t bad and retains the percussion-y element of the old sound scheme, but I think it also just sounds kind of sloppy/arhythmic.
#4 is the clear winner in my mind. It’s brief, sounds like something is starting, and is “light” (though all of them are pretty “light”).
#2 also reminds me of the film Pod People. Feels a bit “cheesy” to me.
No.2
second second second :)
i like it!!!!
N.2 must win =) It’s somethink new and modern sound :)
#3 and 4# it’s to boring!
The first !!
+1 for the second sound!
3. But I’d really love something african as it was before
Third!
No.2 very good
i’d rather be able to chose my CUSTOM startup sound easily rather than circlejerking for hours about #2 or #3 or whatnot
+1 for the +1 for the second sound!
Icons that should be also for application like emesene, gwibber and so on…
In this moment you’re able to customize your startup sound. But haters gonna hate… :/
The second ones!
Definitly the second is the best, best, best
/usr/share/sounds/startup.wav from http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/u/ubuntu-sounds/ubuntu-sounds_0.3_all.deb :-)
(Oh, and if the default backgrounds would once again include Ubuntu-DawnOfUbuntu_1600x1200.png from http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/u/ubuntu-artwork/ubuntu-artwork_28_all.deb, it would be even sweeter=)
Sound 2 is the way.
It’s relaxing, simple, calm and it doesn’t feel cheap.
Sound 3 sounds like an alert to me.
The others don’t suit the Ubuntu sound scheme.
Sound #1 does it for me
Sound #2 sounds like a windows 7 start-up sound
Sound #3 sounds like it does not belong anywhere
Sound #4 sounds broken or incomplete
after listening again Sound #2 if a deeper tone of sound #1 and actually sounds better and NOT W7
so #2 and second choice #1
Number 4.
1 – the fadeout is too noticable; it feels truncated.
2 – too long
3 – the tones go up AND down; I’d prefer a rising sound
4 – short, rising tone – and I like it.
Sadly I missed the deadline, but if anyone want to give them a try please feel free to do so.
Link here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/175241/new_system_sounds.zip
Defenetly second. It has something calming. Really fits to the whole Unity concept I think.
Does anyone know how I get these nice looking smileys and when they get default for Ubuntu, because that’s what they should be.
Number 2 is the best in my opinion. I can imagine seeing Unity and hearing that sound at the same time :)
In my opinion other candidates sound too “buzy”.
We’ve been trying to compare these sounds to the list of values. Compared to the current theme, these may score higher on “preciseness”, but that’s about it. Because of its warmth, the current African theme expresses a lot more collaboration, reliability and freedom.
If we have to choose from these four, only the third one has a similar warmth. But as it is now, it doesn’t come near in terms of character.
I can’t believe nobody else prefers #4!
Also occurs to me just now that it sounds most like a prompt to action.
I really, really love the Rhodes versions :) Here’s mine (just the start sound new version anyway)http://soundcloud.com/pak33m/ubuntustart2
I love the third sound. It doesnt shock you if turning on the computer. I just want to be pleasantly greeted.
+1 for the 2. No alternatives.
I think number 2 is the only one that’s even close to being usable. The rest are like doorbells (especially number 4). A very poor showing here – I personally would rather keep the current ‘african’ sound. Maybe look to another Africana type sound.
Track 2 sounds like a remix of windows login sounds, so please NOT track 2!!!
you nailed it
#4 is not hectically, rising, light, smooth
evolve classical ubuntu sound!!!!!
like this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIf3S8BIYOI
I don’t like any of them. They all remind me of Windows, and I said as much int the survey.
If I had time I would have sumitted some myself, but as it is, I don’t have any ideas as to how different the sounds could/need to be, so I’d rather submit ideas when I have them.
i am not crazy about the old one but this 4 new sounds are not better
Could #1 and #2 be merged? Seems like a lot of people like both.
I prefer the seond !
yeah i agree with those who suggest a remix of the old one, still of these four, my pick would be number 2
This piece of writing gives clear idea designed for the new users of blogging, that genuinely how to do running a blog.
The second!!!
1. Random notes with too many filters
2. Sounds like shutdown rather than startup. And is banal.
3. Ringtone/notification
4. Radiohead
These are certainly not better than the existing one. Keep it!
Also, your survey should have had a general comments field so that I didn’t have to post it here.
Agree with you all guys. I’ll let fanboys choose what they want. I just need to be able to choose my prefered startup sound.
I really like your writing style, fantastic information, thankyou for putting up : D.
+1.
I feel the old one was better. But still a new soft one would be the best
I LOVE number 1!
I think no.1 sounds great, like it says Ubuntu. Good work.
Man, my fav has to be numero uno.
That sounds soooo smooth!
Merci pour l’ info .
The first one is awesome and I wouldn’t change anything in it.
The 4th sounds more like shutdown sound.
Mmmm… none.
3 !!!
sure
Thinks to use the balise …
:D
Great delivery. Great arguments. Keep up the amazing effort.
balise audio with ogg/vorbis
I do consider all of the ideas you have presented for your post. They are really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very quick for beginners. May just you please extend them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
I love the third as well… maybe a bit louder
The second sound is absolutely best!
number 2!!
I don’t like proposed sounds. They are too electronics and windows like. I’ll prefer a warm, organic and colourful sound. Thanks for your work.
I think the old sound is the best, but for this list the second is good
My vote : 3 !
The first third and fourth ones are Nintendo Wii and the second one is Windows. We need to be more innovative.
2º Song.
Obviously, Canonical is moving from the central african theme, leaving brown behind, leaving african musical instruments behind.
Speaking of personality, the absolutely best ubuntu cd cover were naked men and women. I bet Canonical Design team wouldn’t dare to create something like this again.
I like numero uno, it sounds very modern.
The old one is better than the 4 propositions
because they does’nt sound like linux stuff
+1
Agreed. The cleanliness of sound one is really stellar. The instruments may need to be changed or tweaked a little to be more “Crisp” but the tune its self is nice.
Needs a bit of a fade in though.
i vote for the 2
I like the third start-up sound. The second sounds like that of Windows start-up sound theme. Keeping the old original Ubuntu would have been great.
I feel the same way. The old sound I have hated since the first time I heard it. That has always been one of the first things I do on a new install is to remove that obnoxious crappy drumming. (I’m a drummer, vocalist and pianist and have been for 25 yrs.) These four new ones all sound incomplete first of all, second they don’t sound like a professional system startup sound. Although, neither does MSFT or OS X. If we are gonna make Ubuntu a system for EVERYONE, regular desktop users and professionals, then the start up sound must be pleasing to the ear and sound professional. Good Luck with it.
n°2
The first one is the best !
There isn’t better !
N°2, the best sound.
I like 1 & 2 the best, but I somehow feel like #1 is missing something and #2 has just a bit too much. I cannot seem to think of what they might be….
The fiiiiiiirst!!! Whaaaaooooo the first is verry beautiful!
Number two is the best
Hello Frank: the thought is useful, but the much more useful information in having a discussion is to say why you believe X is better than Y.
This allows other people to understand the rationale behind your thoughts and for a more useful conversation to develop.
To the left, there is a “Download” section. Please click on that link, flolow the links at the bottom of the page to download, and then burn a live CD. Qimo points back to the Ubuntu respositories, and so you should be able to find a translation into Portuguese, if it is not already available on the CD.
The two and the three are very goood, i vote for them.