Hear 13 iconic Star Trek sounds created by the late Douglas Grindstaff
Listen to a Tribble cooing and a phaser blasting and remember the man who made it happen.
- Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
The Tribbles' distinctive coos were created by Douglas Grindstaff.
Douglas Grindstaff, the man responsible for many of the signature sounds in the original Star Trek TV series, died July 23 at age 87, StarTrek.com reported.
"Please join us in remembering Douglas Grindstaff, the award-winning sound editor and designer behind many iconic #StarTrek sounds," reads a tweet from the show's official Twitter account.
Please join us in remembering Douglas Grindstaff, the award-winning sound editor and designer behind many iconic #StarTrek sounds #TOS #StarTrekFamily #StarTrekRemembers https://t.co/J0qxlSo1AQ pic.twitter.com/XncRDozxmT
— Star Trek (@StarTrek) July 25, 2018
Grindstaff and co-workers Joseph Sorokin and Jack Finlay teamed up to deliver all the background sounds and effects on the fabled CBS show, which ran from 1966-1969. (CBS is CNET's parent company.) In 1967, Grindstaff was nominated for an Emmy Award in the Individual Achievements in Film and Sound Editing category.
Fans appreciated Grindstaff's work. "He made the Enterprise come alive," wrote Twitter user Kelly Key. "The background buzz on the bridge always reminded me of crickets and cicadas from a field on a summer night -- full of life and activity."
He made the Enterprise come alive. The background buzz on the bridge always reminded me of crickets and cicadas from a field on a summer night-full of life and activity.
— Kelly Key (@KellywrtrKey) July 25, 2018
May the stars always shine brightly down on DG. May the songs of the universe call his name.
— Ann Flynt (@AnnFlynt) July 25, 2018
a talented man - RIP : were his beautiful ambient sounds ever available on some kind of mp3 ? did they ever do that - its very theraputic stuff - please advize
— JonjackJones (@JackJohnCarter) July 25, 2018
Why must all the great people die...RIP Douglas ♡
— san || 🖖 (@triwizardkirk) July 26, 2018
Grindstaff is survived by his wife Marcia, his three children and her three children, and by 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, with more on the way. Grindstaff, a Korean War combat veteran, also worked on such shows as The Brady Bunch, Dallas and Mission: Impossible.
Take a listen to some of the memorable sounds Grindstaff helped bring to life.
1. Red alert klaxon
Set this one up on your iPhone for the most unnerving wake-up alarm ever.
2. Transporter sounds
Some of us seriously thought this would be the transportation of the future. Still waiting though.
3. Tribbles cooing
Poor Kirk just wanted his chicken sandwich and coffee, Tribble-free.
4. Phasers firing
Some of us may've made these noises while running around the backyard pointing random objects at our neighbors.
5. Bridge doors
Modern doors just don't close with this satisfying swoosh.
6. Boatswain's whistle
On the original show, the boatswain's (pronounced BEAU-son's) whistle was used to open shipboard communications via the ship's intercom. You'll know it when you hear it.
7. Heartbeats
Dr. McCoy probably heard a lot of these in sick bay.
8. Hull hit
That sounds like a bad one.
9. Inside the shuttle craft
Lots of sounds share space inside the shuttle.
10. Sick bay scanners
These sound a little bit like a plaintive waterfowl calling to its mate.
11. Warp drive
Brace yourself: Warp speed, Mr. Sulu.
12. Food and drink synthesizer
Kirk was more of a coffee achiever, but later on, Jean-Luc Picard would demand his "Earl Grey, hot."
13. Open a hailing frequency
Nichelle Nichols' Lt. Uhura, the Enterprise's communications officer, was a pioneering character.
First published July 30, 4:29 p.m. PT.
Update, July 31, 1:09 p.m. PT: Adds some of Grindstaff's most iconic sounds.
