Howtosignalprocessing
- Why does clipping cause harmonics?
- Does clipping add harmonics?
- Is clipping a harmonic distortion?
- What causes waveform clipping?
Why does clipping cause harmonics?
If the input is a sine wave, then the clipped output contains the square of the sine wave, which has a DC term plus a term of twice the frequency of the input. It is the first distortion-causing harmonic.
Does clipping add harmonics?
In the frequency domain, clipping produces strong harmonics in the high-frequency range (as the clipped waveform comes closer to a squarewave). The extra high-frequency weighting of the signal could make tweeter damage more likely than if the signal was not clipped.
Is clipping a harmonic distortion?
This is the key difference between clipping and harmonic distortion—while clipping indiscriminately hacks away at anything that exceeds an amplitude level, harmonic distortion adds frequency content in a way that's musically meaningful.
What causes waveform clipping?
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.
