5 : Distortion Today

When intentional, distortion adds "flair" and character. It can make a thin recording sound full or help a track stand out in a busy mix without actually increasing its volume on the meters. 3. The Secret is in the Harmonics Distortion creates new frequencies called harmonics .

These are often associated with "warm" tube amps. They occur at twice the frequency of the original note (an octave higher), which the human ear finds very pleasing. 5 : Distortion

Unintentional clipping in a clean vocal track or a podcast recording sounds harsh and fatiguing. This is often measured as Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) ; for most listeners, a THD below 1% is considered inaudible and "clean". When intentional, distortion adds "flair" and character

At its core, distortion is any change made to an audio signal between its input and output. Technically, even your EQ and compression are forms of distortion because they alter the original waveform. However, when most people use the term, they are referring to —what happens when you push a piece of gear (like an amp or a preamp) past its limits. 2. The "Good" vs. "Bad" Debate The Secret is in the Harmonics Distortion creates

Whether distortion is "good" or "bad" usually comes down to .

These add a bit more "edge" or "grit." While second-order distortion is smooth, third-order distortion feels more aggressive and is common in tape saturation or certain solid-state circuits. 4. Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz