At its core, distortion is any change made to an audio signal between its input and output. Technically, even your EQ and compression are forms of distortion because they alter the original waveform. However, when most people use the term, they are referring to —what happens when you push a piece of gear (like an amp or a preamp) past its limits. 2. The "Good" vs. "Bad" Debate
These are often associated with "warm" tube amps. They occur at twice the frequency of the original note (an octave higher), which the human ear finds very pleasing. 5 : Distortion
These add a bit more "edge" or "grit." While second-order distortion is smooth, third-order distortion feels more aggressive and is common in tape saturation or certain solid-state circuits. 4. Overdrive, Distortion, and Fuzz At its core, distortion is any change made