With the rising utilisation of electrical machines to increase the output-Power of the device several problems occur. Next to probable additional losses and other parasitic effects, aspects concerning the audible noise radiated by the device are of particular interest. This contribution is intended to give an overview to the problematic of the analysis of vibrations and audible noise radiated by electrical machines. It is not the intention of the authors to set off a scientific firework with various complicated equations in this contribution. The paper should rather give an insight in a complicated technical matter and should help to understand the mechanism of vibration and parasitic noise generation in electrical machines. Rotating machines, such as the induction motor as well as non-rotating electrical machines, such as inductors or transformers are studied. The origin of vibrations leading to noise radiations is studied and discussed to illustrate the way in which the analysis of the governing effects can be performed. Magnetically generated radial pullout force waves in rotating electrical machines are the main cause of the excited audible noise, whereas magnetostriction plays an important role in transformers.