Audio Glossary
Loudness · aka digital clipping, hard clipping
WHAT IS
CLIPPING?
Clipping happens when a signal exceeds the maximum level a system can handle, so the peaks get flattened off. Digital clipping produces harsh distortion and is usually a mistake. But controlled clipping — used deliberately before the limiter — is also a modern loudness tool that shaves peaks so the master can go louder cleanly.
Bad clipping vs useful clipping
Accidental clipping is the bad kind: your master bus goes over 0 dBFS, the peaks square off, and you get gritty digital distortion that no plugin can undo. This is why you leave headroom and check your levels before bouncing.
Deliberate clipping is a technique: a clipper shaves the sharpest transients before they hit the limiter, so the limiter isn't slammed and the whole master can sit louder without pumping. Used in small amounts on the right material, it's transparent — a staple of modern loud masters in electronic and hip-hop.
Quick answers
CLIPPING FAQ.
Is clipping always bad?
Accidental clipping — going over 0 dBFS and getting harsh distortion — is bad. But deliberate, controlled clipping before the limiter is a legitimate modern loudness technique that shaves peaks so a master can go louder cleanly.
How do I avoid clipping when mixing?
Leave headroom — keep your master bus peaking around -6 dBFS while mixing, gain-stage each channel so levels don't stack up, and bounce with no limiter slammed against the ceiling. Clean input beats fixing distortion later.
Related terms
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