Definition of Clipping (audio)
Clipping is a form of waveform distortion that occurs when an amplifier is overdriven and attempts to deliver an output voltage or current beyond its maximum capability. Driving an amplifier into clipping may cause it to output power in excess of its power rating.
In the frequency domain, clipping produces strong harmonics in the high-frequency range (as the clipped waveform comes closer to a square wave). The extra high-frequency weighting of the signal could make tweeter damage more likely than if the signal were not clipped.
In most cases, the distortion associated with clipping is unwanted, and is visible on an oscilloscope even if it is inaudible. However, clipping is often used in music for artistic effect, particularly guitar-dominant genres like blues, rock, and metal.
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Questions people ask
Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.
- What is "clipping" distortion? What causes it, and how to avoid it when recording audio? · Sound Design SE
- How do I fix clipping distortion in my audio recording? · Sound Design SE
- How to avoid clipping when explicitly adding audio tracks? · Sound Design SE
- "diagonal clipping" in recent pop music productions? · Sound Design SE
- How can I see if my filterless class-D audio amplifier is clipping or not? · Electronics SE
- How do I Implement Soft Clipping in an Audio Circuit? Or should I just Attenuate the Signal? · Electronics SE
Frequently asked questions
What is Clipping (audio)?
Clipping is a form of waveform distortion that occurs when an amplifier is overdriven and attempts to deliver an output voltage or current beyond its maximum capability.
Sources & credits
- Wikipedia: Clipping (audio) – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by No machine-readable author provided. Lgreen~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). – CC BY 2.5