Strange springing sound - help!

I think that this question belongs here but would be most appreciative of any help or guidance. In the last few days, I have noticed a strange new springing sound that intermittently pops up on my imac. I cannot determine what app is responsible, but it keeps happening and in uneven intervals.

I am copying over a couple of logs from terminal that I took after 2 more recent occurrences.

What is this and how do I stop it? Thank you in advance!

PID TT STAT TIME COMMAND
1 ?? Ss 0:01.18 /sbin/launchd
10 ?? Ss 0:02.36 /usr/libexec/kextd
11 ?? Ss 0:00.11 /usr/sbin/notifyd
12 ?? Ss 0:00.18 /usr/sbin/diskarbitrationd
13 ?? Ss 0:01.03 /usr/libexec/configd
14 ?? Ss 0:00.06 /usr/sbin/syslogd
15 ?? Ss 0:03.15 /usr/sbin/DirectoryService
16 ?? Ss 0:00.21 /usr/sbin/blued
17 ?? Ss 0:00.17 /usr/sbin/distnoted
21 ?? Ss 0:00.13 /usr/sbin/ntpd -c /private/etc/ntp-restrict.conf -n -g -p /var/run/ntpd.pid -f /va
24 ?? Ss 0:00.08 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework/Versions/A/Resources/usbm
27 ?? Ss 0:00.15 /usr/sbin/securityd -i
30 ?? Ss 0:14.37 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework/Su
31 ?? Ss 0:00.20 /usr/sbin/mDNSResponder -launchd
32 ?? Ss 0:00.48 /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow console
33 ?? Ss 0:00.02 /usr/sbin/KernelEventAgent
35 ?? Ss 0:00.01 /usr/libexec/hidd
36 ?? Ss 0:00.29 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonCore
38 ?? Ss 0:00.01 /sbin/dynamic_pager -F /private/var/vm/swapfile
44 ?? Ss 0:00.01 autofsd
47 ?? SNs 0:01.36 /Library/PreferencePanes/MozyHome.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MozyHomeBackup
60 ?? Ss 0:01.09 /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd
64 ?? Ss 0:01.19 /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw
79 ?? Ss 0:15.44 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.f
84 ?? Ss 0:00.02 /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/cvmsServ
94 ?? Ss 0:00.54 /usr/sbin/coreaudiod
101 ?? Ss 0:00.13 /sbin/launchd
105 ?? S 0:00.90 /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS/Dock
106 ?? S 0:01.34 /System/Library/CoreServices/SystemUIServer.app/Contents/MacOS/SystemUIServer
107 ?? S 0:02.60 /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS/Finder
120 ?? S 0:00.88 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/ATS.framework/
125 ?? S 0:00.22 /usr/libexec/UserEventAgent -l Aqua
132 ?? S 0:00.05 /System/Library/CoreServices/AirPort Base Station Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/AirPort
133 ?? S 0:00.21 /Library/PreferencePanes/MozyHome.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MozyHome Status.app/
135 ?? S 0:00.00 /usr/sbin/pboard
140 ?? S 0:00.06 /Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/LOGINserver.app/Contents/MacOS/LOGINser
142 ?? S 0:06.78 /Applications/Skype.app/Contents/MacOS/Skype -psn_0_40970
164 ?? S 0:00.04 /Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/USBserver.app/Contents/MacOS/USBserver
170 ?? S 0:00.09 /Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/NETserver.app/Contents/MacOS/NETserver
178 ?? S 0:03.33 /Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/ControlCenter/ControlCenter.app/Contents/MacOS
205 ?? S 0:16.58 /Applications/Utilities/System Profiler.app/Contents/MacOS/System Profiler -psn_0_
216 ?? S 0:11.08 /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/Safari -psn_0_106522
218 ?? S 0:01.69 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/WebKit2.framework/WebProcess.app/Contents/MacOS/
258 ?? Ss 0:00.20 /usr/sbin/diskmanagementd
263 ?? S 0:00.54 /Applications/iCal.app/Contents/MacOS/iCal -psn_0_147492
267 ?? S 0:00.54 /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/Resources/DashboardClient.app/Conte
279 ?? S 0:01.62 /Applications/iChat.app/Contents/MacOS/iChat -psn_0_155686
281 ?? S 0:00.05 /System/Library/Frameworks/IMCore.framework/iChatAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/iChatAge
282 ?? SNs 0:00.20 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework/Ve
286 ?? S 0:00.05 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServices.framework/Resources/VDC.plug
290 ?? S 0:00.51 /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/cvmsComp_x86_64 1
294 ?? R 0:01.49 /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app/Contents/MacOS/Terminal -psn_0_184365
306 ?? S 0:19.27 /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox -psn_0_188462
310 ?? S 0:18.61 /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/plugin-container.app/Contents/MacOS/plugi
296 s000 Ss 0:00.02 login -pf Simon
297 s000 S 0:00.01 -bash
312 s000 R+ 0:00.00 ps ax


PID TT STAT TIME COMMAND
1 ?? Ss 0:01.30 /sbin/launchd
10 ?? Ss 0:02.36 /usr/libexec/kextd
11 ?? Ss 0:00.11 /usr/sbin/notifyd
12 ?? Ss 0:00.18 /usr/sbin/diskarbitrationd
13 ?? Ss 0:01.05 /usr/libexec/configd
14 ?? Ss 0:00.06 /usr/sbin/syslogd
15 ?? Ss 0:03.18 /usr/sbin/DirectoryService
16 ?? Ss 0:00.21 /usr/sbin/blued
17 ?? Ss 0:00.17 /usr/sbin/distnoted
21 ?? Ss 0:00.14 /usr/sbin/ntpd -c /private/etc/ntp-restrict.conf -n -g -p /var/run/ntpd.pid -f /va
24 ?? Ss 0:00.08 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework/Versions/A/Resources/usbm
27 ?? Ss 0:00.15 /usr/sbin/securityd -i
30 ?? Ss 0:14.46 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework/Su
31 ?? Ss 0:00.22 /usr/sbin/mDNSResponder -launchd
32 ?? Ss 0:00.48 /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow console
33 ?? Ss 0:00.02 /usr/sbin/KernelEventAgent
35 ?? Ss 0:00.01 /usr/libexec/hidd
36 ?? Ss 0:00.31 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonCore
38 ?? Ss 0:00.01 /sbin/dynamic_pager -F /private/var/vm/swapfile
44 ?? Ss 0:00.01 autofsd
47 ?? SNs 0:01.51 /Library/PreferencePanes/MozyHome.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MozyHomeBackup
60 ?? Ss 0:01.10 /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd
64 ?? Ss 0:01.22 /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw
79 ?? Ss 0:18.33 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.f
84 ?? Ss 0:00.02 /System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/cvmsServ
94 ?? Ss 0:00.55 /usr/sbin/coreaudiod
101 ?? Ss 0:00.13 /sbin/launchd
105 ?? S 0:00.90 /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS/Dock
106 ?? S 0:01.35 /System/Library/CoreServices/SystemUIServer.app/Contents/MacOS/SystemUIServer
107 ?? S 0:02.63 /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS/Finder
120 ?? S 0:00.89 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/ATS.framework/
125 ?? S 0:00.22 /usr/libexec/UserEventAgent -l Aqua
132 ?? S 0:00.05 /System/Library/CoreServices/AirPort Base Station Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/AirPort
133 ?? S 0:00.22 /Library/PreferencePanes/MozyHome.prefPane/Contents/Resources/MozyHome Status.app/
135 ?? S 0:00.00 /usr/sbin/pboard
140 ?? S 0:00.06 /Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/LOGINserver.app/Contents/MacOS/LOGINser
142 ?? S 0:07.13 /Applications/Skype.app/Contents/MacOS/Skype -psn_0_40970
164 ?? S 0:00.04 /Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/USBserver.app/Contents/MacOS/USBserver
170 ?? S 0:00.10 /Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/NETserver.app/Contents/MacOS/NETserver
178 ?? S 0:03.33 /Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/ControlCenter/ControlCenter.app/Contents/MacOS
205 ?? S 0:16.58 /Applications/Utilities/System Profiler.app/Contents/MacOS/System Profiler -psn_0_
216 ?? S 0:11.09 /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/MacOS/Safari -psn_0_106522
218 ?? S 0:01.79 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/WebKit2.framework/WebProcess.app/Contents/MacOS/
258 ?? Ss 0:00.23 /usr/sbin/diskmanagementd
263 ?? S 0:00.54 /Applications/iCal.app/Contents/MacOS/iCal -psn_0_147492
267 ?? S 0:00.55 /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/Resources/DashboardClient.app/Conte
279 ?? S 0:01.68 /Applications/iChat.app/Contents/MacOS/iChat -psn_0_155686
281 ?? S 0:00.05 /System/Library/Frameworks/IMCore.framework/iChatAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/iChatAge
282 ?? SNs 0:00.23 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/Metadata.framework/Ve
286 ?? S 0:00.05 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServices.framework/Resources/VDC.plug
294 ?? R 0:01.58 /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app/Contents/MacOS/Terminal -psn_0_184365
306 ?? S 0:33.70 /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox -psn_0_188462
310 ?? S 0:21.26 /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/plugin-container.app/Contents/MacOS/plugi
296 s000 Ss 0:00.02 login -pf Simon
297 s000 S 0:00.01 -bash
315 s000 R+ 0:00.00 ps ax

Hi,
Unfortunately the log doesn't mean anything to me, however, when you say 'springing' sound do you mean a 'pinging' sound like the echo sounder on a submarine?

No - not like a sub. It has almost 3 parts to the sound and is not in any of the notification options. I have also never heard it before on a mac. My best description is that it sounds like a plastic toy kids hammer that has a little spring action to it - the strike, the compression and then the decompression of the hammer.

playaslee said:

No - not like a sub. It has almost 3 parts to the sound and is not in any of the notification options. I have also never heard it before on a mac. My best description is that it sounds like a plastic toy kids hammer that has a little spring action to it - the strike, the compression and then the decompression of the hammer.

Click to expand...

Apple has a variety of "alert" sounds built into the OS. Go to:

- Apple Menu
- System Preferences
- Sound

And cycle thru the sound effects to see if you hear the sound that you're hearing. If so...then what you're hearing is a built-in alert sound...in response to you doing something "not-allowed" or "wrong".

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Apple has a variety of "alert" sounds built into the OS. Go to:

- Apple Menu
- System Preferences
- Sound

And cycle thru the sound effects to see if you hear the sound that you're hearing. If so...then what you're hearing is a built-in alert sound...in response to you doing something "not-allowed" or "wrong".

- Nick

Click to expand...

Nick,
My sound is none of these and exactly like one ping of an echo sounder.

It happens very infrequently. I think it may have something to do with my HP EPrint Printer but I just can't nail it down. Everything is working fine though so it's a mystery. I thought the OP may have a similar 'problem'.

pendlewitch said:

Nick,
My sound is none of these and exactly like one ping of an echo sounder.

Click to expand...

Are you saying that you're having a "sound issue" as well (just like the OP)? I thought in your earlier post you were helping the OP (I'm a bit confused).

In any case...I think that the alert sounds may change from time to time depending on the OS version. On my desktop Mac I'm running OS 10.6.7...and I do have a "Ping" alert sound...which does sound somewhat like a "sonar ping" from a submarine. Then there is also an alert sound called "submarine".

On older OS versions (from a long time ago)...there used to be an alert sound called "boing"...which sounds sort of like a cartoon "springy" sound like the OP was describing...but I don't thing the alert sound "boing" is part of the OS anymore.

Also...since folks can add (customize) alert sounds...something could be added that wasn't part of a stock OS install.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Are you saying that you're having a "sound issue" as well (just like the OP)? I thought in your earlier post you were helping the OP (I'm a bit confused).

In any case...I think that the alert sounds may change from time to time depending on the OS version. On my desktop Mac I'm running OS 10.6.7...and I do have a "Ping" alert sound...which does sound somewhat like a "sonar ping" from a submarine. Then there is also an alert sound called "submarine".

On older OS versions (from a long time ago)...there used to be an alert sound called "boing"...which sounds sort of like a cartoon "springy" sound like the OP was describing...but I don't thing the alert sound "boing" is part of the OS anymore.

Also...since folks can add (customize) alert sounds...something could be added that wasn't part of a stock OS install.

- Nick

Click to expand...

Yes you are right, I was helping the OP but with reference to my own experiences with random alert noise. The OP reports unprompted, intermittent sound just like me and I wanted to know if it was the same tone before going further.

Still, ping, boing or spring it's strange and there are lots of posts on the web.

Here's one https://discussions.apple.com/thread/942564?start=0&tstart=0

I don't use Skype or iChat but the OP's logs refer to both of them so this may be the problem?