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JohnVo
JohnVo
Inspiring
May 19, 2017
Question

clipping audio meaning and how to fix correctly ?

  • May 19, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 7211 views

hi

clipping audio from wikipedia

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.

i have always thought that clipping audio contains a volume above the 0 dBFS

1)

i have always used diagnostic to fix it , or normalize  to 98.8% or 0db to avoid clipping , or i have fixed manually with audition  (is the right method)

but here there is a sample of clipped audio on soundcloud

Reflections - Clipped by acondigital | Free Listening on SoundCloud

the statistcs of the audio above are and you can see the peak

mCPb26g.png

how do is considered clipped audio ?

2)

and how can i fix it in the second case?

thanks

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1 reply

SteveG_AudioMasters_
Community Expert
SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
Community Expert
May 19, 2017

Giovannivolontè  wrote

hi

clipping audio from wikipedia

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.

i have always thought that clipping audio contains a volume above the 0 dBFS

We'll start with this, as it's somewhat inadequate as a definition - it doesn't cover the other form of clipping, which sometimes occurs where a digital signal needs samples in positions where it's not possible to put them (above the 0dB level). But, if you looked at the pdf file I posted in your other thread about this, you would have realised that it's perfectly possible for a waveform to exceed 0dB and still have legitimate sample positions, so the relationship between 0dB and clipping isn't straightforward at all.

But - and this is a big  but - the two forms of clipping we now have don't necessarily have any direct relationship at all. So the file you refer to (that I can't download) certainly contains an example of the first definition of clipping, where an amplifier has overloaded, but I don't think that the file itself is clipped - which is why, if you download it, you won't get any indication within Audition Amplitude Statistics that there are any clipped samples - because there won't be any.

What the de-clipper does is slightly different though, and uses an analysis of different areas of the waveform to decide whether clipping might have occurred - and this has nothing to do with peak sample levels at all. If you want a better idea of how to use the de-clipper, look here: Waveform Editor diagnostics effects for Audition.

    JohnVo
    JohnVoAuthor
    Inspiring
    May 19, 2017

    Hi

    i have downloaded Dropbox - Audition_1.0_overshoot_doc.pdf

    instead there are several situations inside clipping , not only 2

    1)in the first case the audio is above the 0dB and there is clipping , not the case of

    But, if you looked at the pdf file I posted in your other thread about this, you would have realised that it's perfectly possible for a waveform to exceed 0dB and still have legitimate sample positions, so the relationship between 0dB and clipping isn't straightforward at all.

    which is the best way to fix ?

    2)

    in the second case , is not hard to download the sample , how could be fixed ?

    thanks

    SteveG_AudioMasters_
    Community Expert
    SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 19, 2017

    From what you are saying, it appears that you haven't really understood the implications of the document I linked to, and I'm afraid that I cannot help with that. All I can do is spell it out: Sounds can legitimately appear to have an amplitude higher than 0dB. They do not need fixing, but they do need reducing in amplitude, otherwise your D-A converter may overload. Most cheaper ones, like the ones built into laptops, etc, are not designed to cope with signals higher than 0dB, and then you will experience the other sort of clipping - amplifier distortion. If you want to avoid this situation, then use Normalization, and set the peak level to just below 0dB. This will bring the waveforms back down to a more sensible level.

    2)

    in the second case , is not hard to download the sample , how could be fixed ?

    thanks

    It says 'Free Listening on SoundCloud' and that's exactly what it means. I don't use SoundCloud, and I don't have a login, and neither do I want one. So no, it's not hard, it's just impossible. But regardless of that, if you follow the instructions on the Adobe link above, it will tell you what to do with signals that appear to be clipped, even though they don't reach 0dB. Or even ones that do reach it - makes no odds.

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