distortion, types of distortion, linear vs non-linear system

distorted

If the shape of the waveform is altered, the signal is _______

undistorted

If the system reproduces the waveform faithfully, the signal is _______

frequency, transient, amplitude

types of distortion

amplitude distortion

• Occurs when the output signal amplitude doesn't follow the input linearly.

• Common in overloaded amplifiers — the waveform becomes "clipped" or flattened at peaks.

• Introduces harmonics that weren’t present in the original signal.

frequency distortion

• Happens when different frequencies are amplified unequally.

• Changes the tone or timbre of the sound (e.g., treble boosted more than bass).

• what criminals use to change their voices

• the amplitude of different frequencies change

transient distortion

• Result of really short rise time or really short fall time, like any other system sound takes time to reach its maximum amplitude

• If you create a sound with a fall time less than rise time, that can also be a transient sound because energy is no longer concentrated at one frequency

linear system

• output equally changes with input

• can create problems with hearing aids if the sound is already loud / loudness limit does not change with hearing loss

non-linear system

output is not proportional to input