Distortion: Difference between revisions

[[file:Distortion_OS.png|300px|right|thumb|The default screen of distortion and volume control seen on OS]]'''Distortion''' is an audio effect that was implemented in the test server in November 2021, being fully released in its present state in January 2022. It is found under advanced settings and is typically used to give a harsher timbre to instruments. It can also be used to change one instrument to mimic another, like adding distortion to a flute to make it sound more like strings. This second use is mostly specific to Online Sequencer.

This is not to be confused with audio distortion or hard distortion caused by a sound exceeding the threshold of the speaker causing an increase in harsh harmonics. Generally speaking, hard clipping/distortion should be avoided as it is hard on the hearing and could potentially lead to hearing loss.      

OS's distortion works by changing the amplitude of a signal based on a distortion function. Without distortion, signals at a low amplitude are played at a low amplitude, and high-amplitude signals are played back at a high amplitude. This can be described as a linear response to amplitude. A distortion function takes the instrument's amplitude and applies a function that modifies it to behave non-linearly.  

Distortions can sound wildly different from instrument to instrument, with [[#Percussion|drum kits]] behaving very differently from most other instruments. Also, please note that these names often are not very helpful to understand what they do so it's recommended to listen to each one and understand the effect it has on an instrument.