Netflix is one of, if not the most popular streaming services available for TV show fans and binge watchers alike. Because of this, a sound that should be familiar to most people is the sound of Netflix booting up. However, there were multiple sounds that were created during the development of the streaming service.
Details about this were revealed during an interview of Netflix's VP of product, Todd Yellin on the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast. Yellin also revealed the origins of Netflix's iconic "Ta Dum" sound.
According to the podcast, the "Ta Dum" sound was created by sound designer, Lon Bender, hitting his wedding ring onto his nightstand followed by a guitar sound known as "The Blossom".
While this sound is incredibly iconic, multiple boot up noises were tossed around early on. Rejected options included doors opening, underwater bubbles, time ticking, and even music boxes that could've played before viewers' favorite Netflix shows.
During the podcast, Yellin mentioned how he was very attached to the sound of a goat bleating, a little like Netflix's own Leo the Lion like from MGM Studios. Imagine hearing a goat bleat every time Netflix started up.
Thankfully, the iconic "Ta Dum" sound came around and became the signal that the binge was ready to proceed. While Yellin was initially attached to the goat noises, he expressed relief in the podcast that the team eventually came to their senses and went a different way.
They had a bit of help, though. The team surveyed thousands of people, asking them which startup sound they preferred, without letting on what the sound was going to be for. Fortunately for millions of streaming subscribers, the goat was not considered to be the GOAT (greatest of all time).
Source: Twenty Thousand Hertz