Clipping Detector
Check whether a recording or master is distorted by clipping, and where it happens.
MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, Opus, AIFF, WMA, AMR and the sound of most videos. Files stay on your device.
How it works
- Choose an audio file.
- Read the count of clipped samples and the longest runs.
- Jump to each clipped region on the waveform.
How clipping is found
Clipping happens when a signal is pushed past the highest level a format can store, so the tops of the waves are cut flat. The detector looks for runs of consecutive samples at or above a threshold (default -0.1 dBFS) and reports a region when the run is at least the minimum length (default 3 samples). Lower the threshold to catch peaks that were flattened by a limiter below full scale, and raise the minimum run to ignore isolated peaks.
The list shows where each region starts, how many samples it has and which channel. The waveform marks the regions, and Play lets you listen to a second around each one.
Inter-sample overs
A file can sound distorted without any clipped sample. When the reconstructed waveform between samples goes above 0 dBFS, a converter or an MP3 or AAC encoder can overload. The option "Find inter-sample overs" reports these places as true-peak regions above 0 dBTP, and tells you when no single sample reached the ceiling.
What to do about it
Clipping cannot be undone: the flattened part of the wave is gone. If you still have the original, lower the level before exporting. If you only have the clipped file, a limiter or a lower volume stops it from getting worse, for example when it is converted to a lossy format, but it will not restore the lost peaks.
Questions
Is a little clipping a problem?
A few short runs in a loud master are often inaudible. Long runs, or many runs per minute, sound harsh. The page rates the result as none, light or heavy.
Why does it report a region when no sample is at full scale?
That is an inter-sample over: the true peak between samples is above 0 dBTP. Turn the option off to see only clipped samples.
Can it repair clipped audio?
No. It only finds the problem. Reduce the level at the source if you can.
What threshold should I use?
The default of -0.1 dBFS works for most files. Use 0 dBFS for strict full-scale detection, or a lower value such as -1 dBFS to find material that was limited hard.