History Main / SignatureSoundEffect

** In the same videogame, the "Thwunk-Whoosh" of the [[CoolGuns/RocketsMissilesAndGrenadeLaunchers rocket launcher]] is instantly recognisable before you get blown to bits by a rocket.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'', [[ILoveNuclearPower Utsuho's]] warning klaxon she declares her spellcards with.

* In ''Machinima/RedVsBlue,'' there's "Hrrngh...BLAAAH." whenever someone dies and "HEEGAGURGURK" when they get possessed.

* An instantly-recognisable "sting" is cited as a key component of the greatest wrestling entrance themes, to let the fans know who's coming out the instant they hear it even before the theme starts so they all pop as one. This is sometimes a spoken line rather than a sound effect ([[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock's]] ''"If ya smell...!"'' or the female voice murmuring ''"You think you know me..."'' at the start of Wrestling/{{Edge}}'s theme), but some of the greatest of all time have been simple distinct sound effects, perhaps most famously Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin's shattering glass and Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada's dropped coin bouncing off the ground.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Barney Gumble's belch, which soon turned into the standard belching sound effect in the Simpsons universe.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', [[MonsterClown Gamzee]] makes honking noises constantly.
* In ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' the title character's plasma cannon makes an, and we quote, ''[[UnsoundEffect OMINOUS HUMMMMM]]'' when [[ClickHello Schlock powers it up to announce his presence.]]
* In ''Webcomic/MountainTime'', liruses make a distinct SPLURP! noise when popping out of the host bodies that incubate them.
* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' and ''Comicbook/BuckGodotZapgunForHire'', death rays and rayguns make a distinctive "ZOWNT!" sound.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}},'' Kore's crossbows always make a sinister '''KATHUNK.'''
* The '''KA-CLICK!''' of [[Webcomic/SluggyFreelance Bun-Bun's]] switchblade.
* '''PFFT''' whenever a boss dies in WebComic/{{Hiimdaisy}}'s Metal Gear Solid comics.
* When a spaceship or other large object in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' [[RunningGag crashes into Bob's roof,]] the result is ''almost'' always the word "BOOM" in a particular block lettering, usually with the letters arranged vertically. Voluptua's [[VoluntaryShapeShifting transformations]] get a "FLASH!" in a swoopy serif lettering, and [[WaveMotionGun borfomite beams]] get a "KWA-BOOM!" in the same serif style. [[spoiler: When a borfomite beam strikes Bob's roof, the letters KWA are in the serif lettering, and the BOOM is in the block lettering.]]
** More recently, the strip introduced an official UnsoundEffect, the word "Ninj!" - as in, the absence of sound produced by a ninja. Hence, a spaceship exploding in vacuum goes "NINJ!"
* In ''WebComic/SkullKickers,'' Baldy's gun always goes '''KRAKOW!'''

''Anime/SpeedRacer'' has very distinct sounds for the gadgets in the Mach 5, but specially noticeable were the "chuck-chuck-chuck" of the automatic jacks ("A" button) and the noise made by the robot bird ("G" button).

[[folder: Professional Wrestling]]
* An instantly-recognisable "sting" is cited as a key component of the greatest wrestling entrance themes, to let the fans know who's coming out the instant they hear it even before the theme starts so they all pop as one. This is sometimes a spoken line rather than a sound effect ([[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock's]] ''"If ya smell...!"'' or the female voice murmuring ''"You think you know me..."'' at the start of Wrestling/{{Edge}}'s theme), but some of the greatest of all time have been simple distinct sound effects, perhaps most famously Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin's shattering glass and Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada's dropped coin bouncing off the ground.

* ''VideoGame/{{Rimworld}}'': The blaring battle horn of an imminent fight, the "woooooop-BZZZZZZZZT!" of an adverse event, and the "woooooop-DING!" of a benefical event.

* Marvin's clanking trudge ("wh-ksh, wh-ksh") in ''Series/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''.

* ''VideoGame/Deltarune'':

** From ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' The "buzz, buzz, buzz, DING!" of the starting line countdown, and the whirring sound of the Spiny Shell that nobody in first place wants to hear.

* T-Mobile's signature 4 note ringtone.

** The Item Get jingle in general. It's so iconic that it's used as Samus' victory music in the ''Super Smash Brothers'' series.

** The "DA-NA-NA-NAAA!" sound of [[ItemGet finding an item]].
** As of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'', there's a secondary [[ItemGet Item Get]] fanfare: "DAH-NANANA-NAAA!"

** In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersGenerationOne'', the shot sound effects used for the two enemy factions, but also Megatron's fusion cannon, which gets its own deeper, boomier noise. In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated,'' it returns, and is definitely the ''only'' thing in the series that makes the sound.

* In earlier episodes of ''Animation/HappyHeroes'', Smart S.'s magnetism abilities are typically accompanied by a vaguely beeping sound. In Season 2, it changes to different, wavier sound.

* Flowey's EvilLaugh in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''. Those who pursue the most violent path possible will find the "chak...bwingbwingbwing!" sound of their SOUL shattering ingrained into their head thanks to the two enemies on this route that pose a significant challenge, one of which is the hardest boss in the entire game.