If you spent any time on the internet between 2007 and 2010, you don’t just hear this sound-you feel it.
You know the one. It starts with a massive, buzzy “Super Saw” synth riff that hits like a brick wall, followed by a driving, aggressive 4/4 trance beat. It is the Tutorial Soundboard staple, the unofficial national anthem of YouTube, and the background noise to millions of low-resolution videos explaining “How to Get Free Coins on Club Penguin.”
Technically, the track is called “Dreamscape” by 009 Sound System. But to the culture, it is simply “The Tutorial Song.” It represents a raw, DIY era of the web where microphones were rare, Notepad was used for commentary, and this specific track was the king of the Tutorial Soundboard.
The Sonic Archaeology: Origin and Meaning
Where Did “Dreamscape” Actually Come From?
It sounds like it was beamed down from a Euro-dance club in 2002, but the story is more technical. The track was produced by Alexander Perls, an American electronic musician who released music under the moniker 009 Sound System.
Perls wasn’t trying to meme himself into history. He was making catchy, high-energy trance music. The track “Dreamscape” features his signature distorted vocals and high-octane synth lines. On its own, it’s a solid piece of electronic music. But its destiny wasn’t the dancefloor-it was the desktop screen recorder.
How the Tutorial Soundboard Went Viral (2007-2009)
Why did every single tutorial use this song? Was it a cult? A conspiracy?
No. It was alphabetical order.
In 2007, YouTube launched a tool called AudioSwap. Back then, if you uploaded a video with copyrighted music (like Linkin Park), YouTube would mute it. To save your video, you could use AudioSwap to replace your audio with a pre-licensed, copyright-free track from YouTube’s library.
Here is the “glitch” in the matrix: The library was sorted alphabetically. Because the artist’s name was 009 Sound System, they sat at the very top of the list.
Lazy? Maybe. Efficient? Definitely. Millions of kids making tutorials on “How to Hack Windows XP” just clicked the first song they saw. The result was a monolithic wave of content from 2007 to 2009 all sharing the exact same soundtrack, cementing “Dreamscape” as the cornerstone of the Tutorial Soundboard aesthetic.
The Verdict: Why It Still Hits Different
The Tutorial Soundboard isn’t just about a song; it’s about a feeling. It’s the sonic equivalent of a knowing nod to the OGs of the internet. It reminds us of a time when the web was messier, louder, and a lot more “Do It Yourself.”
If you are a creator today, dropping this sound into your content is a powerful tool. It instantly signals irony, nostalgia, and “tech-savvy” humor to your audience.
Ready to Expand Your Sonic Palette? While the 009 Sound System rules the nostalgia waves, modern creators are finding new viral hits every day. If you want to explore sounds that are currently taking over the streets (literally) and social feeds, check out our Basuri Soundboard collection. From the nostalgic digital trance of 2007 to the viral air-horn melodies of today, great sound is always evolving.