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Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 3:00 pm
by psicomagia
I just had this idea about how 100% of people hates digital clipping and that maybe a cool thing to play with but is that even possible? Does anyone know any artists who uses digital clipping intentionally?

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 5:16 pm
by Root
I could think of aphex twin...

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 6:03 pm
by dcom
Root wrote:I could think of aphex twin...
Which tracks in particular? I'd like to check them out, too. Digital clipping sounds like a terrible aesthetic device, almost as bad as inadvertent analog does.

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 6:34 pm
by Mattias
There are loads of old EPs on vinyl where the audio clips digitally. However I'm sure that's more unintentional and bad practice / knowledge from the artists.

If you like the sound of it then why not utilize it? Obvious digital clipping sounds bad to my ears and it's hated by many.

However, it's a great trick to use in mastering (or tracking / mixing for certain genres...) to gain some. Not to be practiced by anyone though.

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 7:30 pm
by sergiobR1
You don't want to clip on digital cos some zeros and ones are lost in the way.

On analog you don't loose information trough the process so everyone bring that beautiful natural distortion

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 8:14 pm
by psicomagia
I'm trying to find examples but can't find any. If anyone knows any track that has this particular artifact would be cool to hear.

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 8:18 pm
by Lost to the Void
Lots of people. I've been using digital distortion units that use digital clipping for ages as I'm sure anyone who makes hard industrial, noise, industrial techno or any noise music does.
It can be disgustingly wonderful

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 8:42 pm
by sergiobR1
Examples ? there are a lot of them, I think oliver kucera has some digital clippin, same as mark morris.

But idk maybe the old tracks, someone should confirm this.

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 8:49 pm
by Mslwte
I've used digital clipping loads in the past. It's been hit and miss but I do remember getting some good results.

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 5:30 pm
by psicomagia
It would be nice if someone could post a track with digital clipping, I just couldn't find any that the producer used it intentionally.

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 5:38 pm
by Lost to the Void
Just listen to literally any IDM

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 2:25 am
by tsaro
Digital clipping has been used creatively as long as there has been digital audio. Back when I was using trackers you could find lots of mods where it was used as an effect, and I used it extensively myself, for example to boost weak kicks (just by amplifying it over 0). Partly out of necessity, because trackers didn't tend to have many built in fx.
It tends to work bst with percussive sounds as the extra harmonics will be less noticeable, or with tonal sounds like basses that don't have a lot of harmonics to get in the way. Though you can try it with anything and see if it sticks.

Sometimes I still boot up Renoise and grab a random single cycle from something, and edit it with the drawing tool to drive it into the ceiling for some nice distorted basses. Or just as easily draw the whole thing straight in. When you combine that with filter and drive envelopes at sample level you've basically got a really flexible, nasty (bass) generator.

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:21 am
by Merah
Cool info, im going to experiment with this as never really tried before, for some reason i thought it was a complete red flag..

Re: Any producers that uses digital clipping intentionally?

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 12:15 am
by CRDM
I've been demoing SIR Audio standard clip this week, just on drums so far and it can do some pretty cool stuff. The saturation on it is nice and I found it good for fattening things up in the few times I used it.

Grab a demo of something like that and see for yourself.