On May 4, 2006, Steve Ball invited Robert Fripp back to the Microsoft campus for a second full day of work on Windows Vista following up on his first visit in the Fall of 2005 . This time we get an even deeper glimpse into the creative process as the Windows Product team continued to refine their search for melodies, rhythms, and orchestrations that could become the new Windows Vista startup sound.

Before the session, Steve Ball, Jenny Lam, and Jim Allchin gave Fripp a demo of the most recent Windows Vista builds and reviewed the goals for the product and the sound. The purpose of this session was to search for textures, melodies, and orchestrations for a sound that could

a) brand Windows in a timeless way

b) ‘work’ with the Pearl Animation

c) be gentle, positive, uplifting, translucent

d) embody the AERO design principles





This 63 minute Vista Week video begins mid-stream with some extremely rare footage of Fripp Soundscapes being created in real time. This is followed by Q&A from the Windows product team members in the Soundscapes audience, an overview of Fripp’s gear, and some details about the recording equipment used at Microsoft Studios. This is then followed with another rare and intimate interview with Fripp and members of the core team working on Windows Vista UX.

