What is Distortion?
1.
An effect used it many rock songs (Think Nirvana) that makes a guitar sound loud, gritty, and much more 'heavy hitting'
In 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' the opening riff is played clean twice then distortion kicks in.
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2.
A sound that is not part of the original signal. Distortion can be a modification of the original signal (intermodulation distortion), or generating new signals that result from the interference of a combination of signals (harmonic distortion). Can be characterized as a roughness, fuzziness, harshness, or stridency in the music. There are many distortions that can be measured: IM (intermodulation distortion), harmonic distortion, and TIM (transient intermediation distortion).
Distortion can cause breakup, where the headphone can’t handle the power or the low frequencies, which causes sound to crack up.
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3.
Usally associate this word with drugs, crime and prison
Oh man, what a distorted life you have
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