[imagesurce: Hollywood Reporter]

Ah yes, the Netflix “ta-dum” sound.

In my case, it’s the thing I hear most often when I’ve fallen asleep halfway through an episode of something, before waking up as the next episode is about to start.

Then it’s the half-open-eyes shuffle to bed, and tomorrow is another day.

For those of you unfamiliar with what we’re talking about, observe:

Here’s the thing – your Netflix opening sound, or intro, was almost very different. Here’s BGR:

Netflix vice president of product Todd Yellin said as much during an interview for the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast, explaining that there was actually a shortlist of sounds that were also considered including the sound of bubbles underwater, as well as goats bleating.

A goat bleating in front of every Netflix program you watch might sound like a strange thing, to say the least, but it made a funny kind of sense at the time. “I liked the sound of the goat,” Yellin said on the podcast. “It was funny, quirky, and our version of (MGM’s) Leo the Lion.”

In the end, they settled on the “ta-dum” sound, which was created by Oscar-winning sound designer Lon Bender.

There was some serious thought put into this:

The “ta-dum” apparently got the nod partly because customers responded to a poll — without realizing it was being conducted for Netflix — saying they thought the sound conveyed a sense of authority.

They used words like “dramatic” and the fact that it made them feel like something was about to “begin,” and most respondents saying it reminded them of a sound that suggested, specifically, a movie was about to start.

It took a full year to create the sound, which includes guitar from Formosa Group’s Charlie Campagna and a “blossom” sound effect, with the decision sealed when Yellin’s 10-year-old daughter said it was her favourite out of a closely fought top five.

Is this something you needed to know? Absolutely not, but it is vaguely interesting.

Be sure to tell whoever is around about it next time you’re watching Netflix and that “ta-dum” kicks in.

[source:bgr]