Since switching to Linux a few weeks ago, my computer has been playing a pair of sounds at seemingly random times. One rises in pitch and the other falls, and they sound similar to the noises made when a USB device is connected or disconnected. I've tried plugging and unplugging different USB devices to reproduce them, but the sounds don't occur consistently. I suspect they're system sounds because they don't play through the same audio path as my game, although I'm not completely sure. I'm using what appears to be Ubuntu with the GNOME desktop, but I'm not certain of the exact setup. What are these sounds generally called, and what's the easiest way to determine which application or event is triggering them?
3 Answers
Another possibility is a calendar reminder. Some Linux calendar applications can play an alarm when you log in if an event has already passed, which can make the sound seem random. Check whether you have any old or recurring events configured, especially if you use Evolution or another desktop calendar app.
For USB-related events, the terms to search for are usually “device connected,” “device disconnected,” or “desktop notification sound.” Knowing the exact distribution and desktop environment will help narrow down where those sounds are configured, since Ubuntu and GNOME each have their own notification and sound settings.
Those are probably notification sounds rather than USB sounds specifically. Check your desktop’s notification settings and sound preferences; they may show which events have audio enabled. If the sounds continue, look through recent notifications and system events around the time they occur.
That sounds promising. I’ll check the notification settings and see whether the sound happens again.