How describe what is wrong with this audio?

[LaurenRapley]

I'm fairly new to the world of sound editing, ususally I muddle my way through but this issue has me stumped.

It may seem like an odd question, but until I know how to describe what the issue is with this audio, I don't really know where to start with fixing it.

To me this sounds like it's distorted or clipping, but when I pop it into Audition, there's nothing to de-clip.

Can you help me articulate the issue and help me solve a way to fix it?

Thanks!

[SteveG_AudioMasters_ · Accepted solution]

This was overloaded at an earlier stage, and then saved as a non-overloaded recording - which is why there are no clipped samples. There is absolutely no fix available for this problem in any software on the planet; you can't fix it because you have no undistorted reference material. I expanded a bit of your waveform, and it's pretty clear what's happened - I've put a ring around a typical example of where the audio tries to take off in a direction it really shouldn't be at that particular point:

We don't know where it should be going, but it certainly shouldn't be taking off at that angle!

[LaurenRapley]

Thank you for that detailed answer. 

What your saying makes perfect sense. This particular clip was recorded using the Dolby On app, thinking it would save me some time in editing. But, as you can hear, it's done the exact opposite. 

Never mind. Lesson learned!