The TARDIS Hum

[the pioneer]

I know this is off topic and I apologise. Vortexion, you mentioned: <<the original TARDIS electronic 'hum' found on the extras on 'Web Planet' DVD>>. I can't find it or is it an Easter Egg?

Most grateful

[tony farrell]

I think Vortexion means that the hum is audible on the introductory scenes set inside the Tardis. It's also heard when Ian and Barbara enter the junkyard. Various wav files are available for download - you could try: www.madmansrealm

Hope that helps.

[vortexion]

Hi Tony
Yes I'm positive it is on the extra's as said: It's the same 'hum' in the opening episode 'An Unearthly Child' when Ian approaches the police-box: "Do you feel it? -it's alive!"...

Best

Vortexion

[DoctorWho8]

Sometimes TARDIS hums are used in the photo galleries.
Bill "the Doctor" Rudloff

[galacticprobe]

If you can't find it (or grab it) on the DVD, you can find a WAV of it here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TardisSounds/. It's in the Files section, Other TARDIS Sounds folder. (You do have to become a member, like with most groups, but it's free; just sign up.) There are other TARDIS sounds there (as the Group's name implies) so if you're looking for other sounds and are having trouble, check it out.

Hope this helps.

Dino.

[Rassilons Rod]

I think Vortexion means that the hum is audible on the introductory scenes set inside the Tardis. It's also heard when Ian and Barbara enter the junkyard. Various wav files are available for download - you could try: www.madmansrealm

Hope that helps.

Probably also on the Photogallery too. They usually use sound fx from the story for the photo gallery.

[madgaz]

There was a TARDIS hum noise/effect on the 30 Years at the Radiophonic Workshop CD that was release back in the 90's.
( http://www.amazon.co.uk/30-Years-BBC-Radiophonic-Workshop/dp/B000006YBX/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364299854&sr=8-1 )
If anyone knows how to export it from a CD so it can be sent I can give it a go - anything to help this awesome console!

Gaz  

[davidnagel]

I do have most of every sound effect going which might be useful. I did intend to put up a post with links to things but then we start entering weird copyright territory. If the 60s hum is required I can try and organise that.

[gerald lovell]

Yes, I think it's used over the photo gallery on that DVD release.

The other Hartnell sound effect I've noticed is the kind of ticking noise which comes from the console.

[marinedalek]

If it helps, I've analysed the original effect and recreated the hum from sine waves with a very light touch of distortion. Luckily the original sound is pretty simple; two sets of two sine waves slightly de-tuned to give the beating effect. This is an 8-second loop, the shortest possible while keeping the beat frequencies accurate. The file's quite large because it's DVD-standard audio (48kHz, 24-bit, stereo) although it doesn't really need to be and it's in WAV format to avoid the blip of silence that MP3 adds to the start, which stops it being loopable.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/69960/TARDIS%20Interior%20Hum%2063.wav [2.2 MB]

And a smaller version in FLAC format for those who can use it:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/69960/TARDIS%20Interior%20Hum%2063.flac [0.5 MB]

[petewilson]

That's clever stuff marinedalek ! 
I wonder if anybody has ever tried  to re-create the Tardis take off sound from scratch 

Pete

[gerald lovell]

Brian Hodgson himself tried to redo it from stratch on the Pescations LP, Pete, but sadly not very successfully. 

[kert gantry]

The other Hartnell sound effect I've noticed is the kind of ticking noise which comes from the console.

Yes, I've wondered about that console sound (vaguely reminds me of the puffing noise Ivor the Engine use to make!).  Was it an intentional effect, or simply the console's internal workings being picked up by studio microphones?

For anyone who's not familiar with the sound we're referring to, ISTR it's particularly noticeable at the end of the Crusade/Space Museum crossover scene.   

[marinedalek]

I would guess that the ticking sound is relays switching for the various flashing lights on the console, in particular the two circular chasers that turn on when the TARDIS is in flight. I'd imagine that was the simplest way to flash lamps like that in 1963, considering the high inrush current a lamp generates when it switches on.

[kert gantry]

Sounds right.

Wasn't there an idea to hide microphones under the console grills?  I guess the ticking relays were one of many reasons why that would have been a non-starter.