Distortion

Question 1

Types of distortion

Answer 1

Overdrive
bit crushing
Vinyl crackle

Question 2

Overdrive

Answer 2

The clipping of the signal
Once an amp runs out of headroom (The amount of volume by which the circuit can amplify signal) it clips
Driving an amplifier beyond it’s limit causes overdrive

Question 3

Bit crushing

Answer 3

Take place on a digital signal
Reduces the bit depth of a sampled piece of audio
Results in a grainy sound

Question 4

Vinyl crackle

Answer 4

Vinyl records are a physical media
Susceptible to dust and grit getting into the grooves
The needle picks up these bits of dust, reduces quality
Scratches on a record, break the audio and add additional noise

Question 5

Tape noise

Answer 5

Tape machines are mechanical
Susceptible to electrical interference
Noise can end up on the recording
Caused by poorly maintained machines/electrics
Normally a low hum sound