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Hey--Is the strength of the sound (or how loud it is) the only factor that creates clipping?

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hueseph Thu, 05/19/2011 - 18:28

Signal strength. That means amplitude, impedance or voltage.

In digital audio clipping occurs when the signal goes beyond 0 dB. This is harsh sounding.

When using tape, clipping occurs when the signal is so loud that it can no longer be accurately recorded. Think of this like the iron particles no longer have room to move. this can sound pleasant though.

In analog electronics clipping occurs when the circuit is overloaded and the audio can no longer be reproduced accurately. This also can sound pleasant. An extreme example, think of a distorted guitar amp.

Digital is the only case where clipping sounds bad no matter how mild it is. Like sandpaper.