Clipping (Soft vs Hard)
Definition
Soft clipping is a form of gradual waveform limiting where the signal is progressively compressed as it approaches and exceeds the ceiling, rounding off the top of the waveform rather than truncating it. Produces even-order harmonics that sound more musical than hard digital clipping.
In Simple Terms
Soft clipping gently rounds off loud peaks, adding warm distortion — like what analog tape does naturally. Hard clipping chops them off brutally, creating harsh digital distortion. One can sound great on purpose; the other almost never does.
In Practice
A tube amplifier or tape saturation plugin exhibits soft clipping characteristics — the louder the signal is pushed, the more harmonic distortion is added, but the transition is gradual and often pleasing rather than harsh.
Common Confusion
Soft clipping is intentional and can be musically desirable. Hard clipping — where the waveform is truncated abruptly — is almost always undesirable in digital audio and cannot be undone.