Zero Crossing
Definition
The point in a waveform where the signal passes through zero amplitude. Editing audio at zero crossings prevents the clicks and pops that occur when cuts are made while the waveform has energy.
In Simple Terms
The moment where an audio waveform passes through silence. If you cut audio at this exact point, there's no click or pop at the edit. Most DAWs can snap your edits to zero crossings automatically.
In Practice
The DAW's snap is set to zero crossings when editing dialogue, ensuring every edit point in the timeline produces a clean, click-free transition.
Sources & Verification
- Pohlmann, K. C. — Principles of Digital Audio (6th ed.)McGraw-Hill, 2011
- Huber, D. M. & Runstein, R. E. — Modern Recording Techniques (10th ed.)Routledge, 2023
Last verified: 2026-05-05