# "False" noises like the camera noise that cell phones make **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183 "2019-07-16T21:15:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BonnyB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BonnyB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BonnyB)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/61 "2019-07-18T13:45:08Z")
> [@Frankenstein\_Monster](#): > > **“False” noises like the camera noise that cell phones make** > > Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” song (and countless others, no doubt) has clear artificial “gramophone stylus on a record” noise added. Clearly audible at the beginning. > > [https://youtu.be/nPA2czkOsFE](https://youtu.be/nPA2czkOsFE) Nice! Have never noticed that before ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/62 "2019-07-18T13:58:30Z")
Japanese toilets have a flushing sound button because apparently Japanese women often flush continuously to cover embarrassing noises and waste a lot of water. I remember reading, but can’t find now, that a low water toilet was so quiet that a flushing sound was added to convince people it was working properly. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/63 "2019-07-18T17:27:32Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > since this is in my wheelhouse, I’ll chime in here- there’s two ways companies have done this, either a mechanical device like the sound induction tube in the Mustang GT, or sound symposer in the Focus ST. this is simply a tube ducted from the air inlet duct to the interior, with a diaphragm chamber and some foam plugs for tuning. This works because the intake valves open with the same pattern as the exhaust valves and thus the intake “sounds” the same. > > electronic Engine Sound Enhancement (ESE) tracks engine RPM (broadcast over CAN) and uses the speakers to selectively enhance the “better” aspects of the engine’s sound and suppress some of the less pleasant ones. it’s not really “creating” a different sound; it’s not going to make a V6 sound like a V8 or anything. The same hardware (with the addition of microphones in the cabin) is used for active noise control (ANC) in Lincolns and all hybrids. Ahh, the Irony! Ford engineers spent all that time and money to make the Focus ST nice and quiet outside and use the sound symposer to pipe in the noise. The first three mods done on Grainne (my pepper red 2018 ST) is pull the symposer, replace the air intake with the Cobb cold air kit, and swap the exhaust for an AWE Touring cat back. Now it sounds like a car. \ It really is a shame that Ford didn’t see fit to keep the ST/RS Focus in N.America. It’s by far the most fun car I’ve ever owned while still being semi-practical. It’s also the only car I’ve had more than a few people compliment me on it. That never happened with my Jeep, Subie, or previous Focus. \ One thing I don’t believe has been mentioned is church bells. Most places I know of have replaced them with speakers and electronics, excepting the oldest, grandest places, I think. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/64 "2019-07-18T17:51:24Z")
> [@Frankenstein\_Monster](#): > > Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” song (and countless others, no doubt) has clear artificial “gramophone stylus on a record” noise added. Clearly audible at the beginning. Speaking of gramophone sounds, you know that “stylus scratching across a record” sound effect that’s often used in films/television to signify that the action has come to an abrupt stop? I remember an NPR from a long time ago (think I was actually still in college when I heard it, so early 2000s), about how as record players became less common younger people weren’t aware of what actually made that sound, and predicted that there might be a time in the future when that sound will remain in our collective conscious, but most people will have forgotten it’s actual origin. I’m not sure if it’s actually come true as vinyl records are actually increasing in popularity among among a certain crowd, and I’m not sure if the “scratch” sound gets used as much anymore (I wonder if it’s considered cliched now). But along the same lines, I wonder if will reach a point in the future where film cameras have all become old antiques, but everyone will still know the “shutter sound” because it’s the sound their phone makes when they take a picture, but they’ll have forgotten where that sound actually came from. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/65 "2019-07-19T12:15:17Z")
One thing I notice when visiting people with a TiVo and we’re watching something. The bleeping thing beeps\* on each remote keypress! Hey folks, there’s a setting to turn that off! I do this with all of mine on initial setup. I have no idea why TiVo included this, let alone made it the default. Nor do I understand why people don’t turn the bleeping thing off. I’ve never had another remote controlled device that “naturally” beeped on each button press. So this isn’t even a simulation of something recent-ish. (You have to go way back to old school “clickers” to get something sort of like this.) - Well, it’s more of a “bloop”. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/66 "2019-07-19T14:26:35Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Ahh, the Irony! Ford engineers spent all that time and money to make the Focus ST nice and quiet outside and use the sound symposer to pipe in the noise. The first three mods done on Grainne (my pepper red 2018 ST) is pull the symposer, replace the air intake with the Cobb cold air kit, and swap the exhaust for an AWE Touring cat back. Now it sounds like a car. > > \ It really is a shame that Ford didn’t see fit to keep the ST/RS Focus in N.America. It’s by far the most fun car I’ve ever owned while still being semi-practical. It’s also the only car I’ve had more than a few people compliment me on it. That never happened with my Jeep, Subie, or previous Focus. \ > > One thing I don’t believe has been mentioned is church bells. Most places I know of have replaced them with speakers and electronics, excepting the oldest, grandest places, I think. they kind of have to make it quiet on the outside in order to meet drive-by noise regulations. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/67 "2019-07-19T14:38:57Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > electronic Engine Sound Enhancement (ESE) tracks engine RPM (broadcast over CAN) and uses the speakers to selectively enhance the “better” aspects of the engine’s sound and suppress some of the less pleasant ones. it’s not really “creating” a different sound; it’s not going to make a V6 sound like a V8 or anything. The same hardware (with the addition of microphones in the cabin) is used for active noise control (ANC) in Lincolns and all hybrids. I’m going to be getting a new car next year. If it comes with this silliness, is it possible to disable it? I really couldn’t care less about engine noise, and I’d rather not have it competing with my music. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/68 "2019-07-19T16:33:50Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > they kind of have to make it quiet on the outside in order to meet drive-by noise regulations. Sure, but a little growl is still going to keep it well under 85 dB. Stock Shelby 350s and 500s sound wonderful and so far as I can tell still make it under the noise limit stock. The same with the SRT-4, or the BMW 2002Tii, or even the stock Evo X. They all sound fantastic without mods. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/69 "2019-07-19T17:37:57Z")
In use since the 1970s, the [MR-73](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MR-73) cars in the Montréal métro (subway) play a distinct little tune (3 notes, although Wiki says it’s 5 notes in all) when accelerating from a stop. The sounds are produced by a current chopper which is part of the propulsion system. The newer [Azur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPM-10) cars introduced in 2016 don’t use a current chopper but play the same tune through speakers, just for kicks. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/70 "2019-07-19T17:43:21Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > I’m going to be getting a new car next year. If it comes with this silliness, is it possible to disable it? I really couldn’t care less about engine noise, and I’d rather not have it competing with my music. might be possible using diagnostic tools, but honestly the implementations I’ve experienced are subtle enough where you don’t really “know” it’s there unless someone tells you. it’s certainly not loud enough to “compete” with your music. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/71 "2019-07-20T13:27:48Z")
Not quite OP, but… I saw an original Buck Rogers movie once, from the 1930’s I think. The spaceships made a sound like a radial aircraft engine. Modern spaceships like in Star Wars tend to make a turbojet noise. Whereas the landspeeder, which appears to have jet engines, seems to make more of an electric motor noise. Actually, in space nobody can hear you scream. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/72 "2019-07-20T15:31:26Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > In use since the 1970s, the [MR-73](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MR-73) cars in the Montréal métro (subway) play a distinct little tune (3 notes, although Wiki says it’s 5 notes in all) when accelerating from a stop. The sounds are produced by a current chopper which is part of the propulsion system. > The newer [Azur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPM-10) cars introduced in 2016 don’t use a current chopper but play the same tune through speakers, just for kicks. Check this train taking off. The top comment in that thread is right on: “Pretty much identical to Steve Miller’s “Space Intro” which is the album intro to “Fly Like an Eagle.”” It really does sound like strings. [https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/6kn2sj/the\_incredible\_sound\_of\_a\_german\_electric\_train/](https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/6kn2sj/the_incredible_sound_of_a_german_electric_train/) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/73 "2026-07-10T00:52:04Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Of course newer locomotives have electronic speakers, and they reproduce the bell sound because you generally don’t want safety warning sounds to change over time. I’m bumping this old thread because thanks to [Technology Connections](https://youtu.be/nXdVG45wveo?si=GzuMoYO_XXW0q4ar), I recently learned about electronic railroad crossing bells, and that reminded me of this thread. The post I mentioned locomotive bells, a similar concept. Nowadays, more likely than not, the warning bell you hear at a railroad crossing is actually an electronic recording of a bell being played over a loudspeaker, not an actual mechanical bell. It still has to sound like the old mechanical bells, since that’s what we used to use, and prople need to be able to instantly recognize what the sound means. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/74 "2026-07-10T03:04:46Z")
Back in the day police car, fire truck, and ambulance sirens were real sirens. You could hear them quite a ways away even in heavy traffic Today most are electronic sounds of sirens. Which is why a squad car is right on your tail before you hear it. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/75 "2026-07-10T03:23:40Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > > [@dtilque](#): > > > > I believe that London now requires EVs to make noise when they’re moving below a certain speed so as to alert blind pedestrians. … > > that’s also a requirement in the US per FMVSS 141. the feature is called AVAS (Approaching Vehicle Alert System). Yes. My Tesla Model 3 was made in 2018 before that was mandated, so it is silent, does not sound like a UFO about to engage in Alien Abduction. AFAIK it does not even have the necessary speaker. > [@Frankenstein\_Monster](#): > > Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” song (and countless others, no doubt) has clear artificial “gramophone stylus on a record” noise added. Nothing new. Songs like the one on Cindy Lauper’s big album include the fake “old timey” audio sound filter. Quite a few videos add the fake “flim through projector screwing up” with associated flashes and projector sound. Also, some jurisdictions mandate the camera click sound with cellphones to make creepy surreptitious photos and videos more difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/76 "2026-07-10T03:33:50Z")
In the movie _Nope_ they used the “fake” sound effect of a vinyl record sloooowing dooooownnn when a UFO cut power to a character’s van they were listening to music in. I laughed out loud thinking “I don’t know if that guy had a radio, cd, cassette, or mp3 in his van but I’m pretty sure he wasn’t driving around with a turntable.” ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/77 "2026-07-10T04:01:21Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Back in the day police car, fire truck, and ambulance sirens were real sirens. You could hear them quite a ways away even in heavy traffic > > Today most are electronic sounds of sirens. Which is why a squad car is right on your tail before you hear it. 🤔 I hear police cars, fire trucks and ambulances from many blocks away. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/78 "2026-07-10T13:46:02Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > This one may surprise you. Another version of this, in my new Subaru: the “Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)” does not smoothly vary its ratio as the car speeds up. It changes in several discrete steps. This is to sound like a geared transmission that has to change in steps. A Subaru salesman told me this is done to sound familiar, so customers wouldn’t think something was wrong with their car. It does not use this strategy when slowing down, accommodating different driving conditions such as hills, or using cruise control, only when speeding up. This is a false noise. But, it’s worse than the ones from speakers. It is using the engine, a hugely power consumptive entity, to create the false noise, by running at speeds other than the most efficient. Moreover, those sudden changes probably stress drive train components more. Why didn’t they let it sound different, and let the sound underscore what a great and different thing their CVT is? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/79 "2026-07-10T13:50:10Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Why didn’t they let it sound different, and let the sound underscore what a great and different thing their CVT is? Because customers aren’t buying a CVT. They’re buying a car, and a certain proportion of those customers are spooked by change, even if it’s carefully explained and enthusiastically advocated. People who don’t like having their cheese moved spend money, too, and every commercial entity will attempt to get their share. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183/80 "2026-07-10T14:52:34Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > 🤔 I hear police cars, fire trucks and ambulances from many blocks away When you’re in a vehicle on a busy freeway? Doubtful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-noises-like-the-camera-noise-that-cell-phones-make/837183.md?page=5)