Clipping is the Term used to describe the result of an amplifier running into power supply limitation. The maximum output voltage that any amplifier can produce is limited by its power supply. Attempting to output a voltage (or current) level that exceeds the power supply results in a flattoping effect on the signal, making it look cut off or "clipped." A clipped waveform exhibits extreme harmonic distortion, dominated by large amplitude odd-ordered harmonics making it sound harsh or dissonant. Hard clipping is the term used to describe extreme clipping of a signal, producing highly visible flattoped waveforms as viewed on an oscilloscope; soft clipping refers to moderate clipping that results in waveforms having softly-rounded edges, as opposed to the sharp edges of hard clipping. PS: This is talking about clipping when you 'overdrive' an amplifier and the signal is sent to speakers i.e. - A square ("clipped") waveform that occurs when the power output of an amplifier cannot meet the power requirement of the speaker it is driving. Clipping can be very harmful to high-frequency speakers (tweeters).

When recording audio, the same theory applies in that you are 'exceeding' the maximum allowable headroom or threshold i.e. "0.0" dB {when the recorded material is viewed through an oscilliscope, etc.} and in the case of the Tyros2 when you record a song it utilizes the Tyros2' "pre-amplifier", and consequently if the levels are too high the recording itself will contain clipping and can be heard on speakers; especially if there is excessive clipping present.

In other words, you are recording at too high of a level Dennis. That is the problem. You need headroom when recording so you do not run into clipping problems in the stuff you record.

Headroom is the ratio of the largest undistorted signal possible through a unit or system, to that of the average signal level. For example, if the average level is +4 dBu and the largest level is +26 dBu, then there is 22 dB of headroom. When you go beyond (above) Maximum Headroom or relatively speaking "0.0" decibels, you then start to experience the clipping effect.

Of course, it doesn't affect the Tyros2, but the recording, whether WAV or MP3 etc., affects the speakers of people who listen to the audio that has the clipping in it. Especially if the recording has hard or "excessive" clipping like the two you posted.

When listening to your two songs I could immeadiately tell there was clipping present in the recordings because my speakers started to distort with a crunching crackling like sound. Clipping is considered a No No and makes the recorded material sound less than optimal. Btw, my speakers are just fine and are in otherwise pristine working order. So it's not my speakers mind you.

I opened both of your songs into my Sound Forge 7.0b program and it has a feature that checks audio for clipping. Both of your songs were off the richter scale so to speak.

You say you recorded at the default recording levels on the Tyros. What do you mean exactly? The "volume" levels when recording need to be adjusted accordingly also. Too high of a volume level when recording will cause resultant clipping in the recorded material. I am guessing that's what happened when you recorded those two songs. If volume levels are not necessary or required when recording on the Tyros2 then the problem lies with the Tyros2' pre-amplifier recording level configuration I would guess. Either way, something is set too high or too "hot" when recording.

So this is just to make you aware of the situation Dennis. You may want to do some research on setting line levels so as to avoid the problem in the future. If the problem is 'hardware' within the Tyros2 then Yamaha needs to address it obviously. Or not so obviously if I know Yamaha like I know Yamaha.

Best regards,
Mike

[This message has been edited by keybplayer (edited 06-03-2006).]