Weird swoosh sound

[ajblondel]

Hello,

I recently decided to join the family and bought an iMac. I've been very happy about it. However, I seem to be getting a weird "swoosh" sound. I get it at random intervals but usually a couple of times by the hour. I've tried hard to locate it and downloaded some software to pinpoint it but those didn't help. I am certain it is coming from the audio in the computer because I hear it from my headphones when they are plugged in as well. Do any of you have any idea what this could be or have some ideas how I could pinpoint it.

I also googled around and some people suggested it could be the iMessage buddy logging in sound but I didn't find where to disable that.

Best wishes, Alex

 

[kschendel]

Is there anything in the Notification Center (click on the dots-and-bars icon at the right edge of the menu bar)?

You could try going to Settings, Notifications and turning off sounds for everything except one item at a time, to see if it's a notification sound.

 

[ajblondel]

There were no notifications. I don't think it's a notification sound, it's like a small swoosh sound, it's very discrete. I thought it was from the fans at first.

 

[MC6800]

If you're certain it's coming from the headphones, that rules out fan or hard drive noise. It must be a notification sound of some sort. You could turn the volume way up to help identify it (watch your ears though!)

Is this a new iMac?

 

[ajblondel]

It's a brand new imac. Ill turn up the volume, however it was high as it was.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Does this happen only when you're using the computer or does it also happen after you quit all apps?

 

[kohlson]

My first thought is it's Apple Mail - it makes this sound when mail is actually sent (which is after - sometimes way after - you click "send.")

Also, sounds could be in 2 places: In Messages-Preferences and in System Preferences - Notifications.

 

[willmtaylor]

Go to system preferences and then sounds. Figure out which actions make that sound (assuming all other 3rd party apps are closed—also not active in dock or menu bar).

 

[spooklog]

Apple Mail is my guess as well--I don't know any other operating system function that uses that exact swoosh sound. I would definitely open Mail and check to see if it is sending email anywhere by itself, though God knows why it would do that. With Mail open, go to the "Sent" folder and see if anything is there.

 

[Fishrrman]

Have you opened the "sound" preference pane and checked "sound effects"...?

 

[lgvenable]

in messages, under preference uncheck play sound...swoosh sound gone.

 

[Conutz]

When I got my first Mac back in 2011, I experienced something similar. It took me a while to figure out that it was Skype. I’d never heard that particular sound on Skype for Windows, so that’s what made it less obvious. Maybe it’s the source of yours as well. If not, just quit (or open) your apps one at a time until the sound stops (or starts), allowing sufficient time between apps of course!