"Show Clipping" Options

[Arpaleggia]

Hello,

I have noticed that the "Show Clipping" feature highlights every single sample above a value of 0dB or 1 (magnitude) with a red line.
I'm of the opinion that clipping is only significantly important when it comes to multiple samples adjacent to each other that meet the criteria above; 1 sample on its own is unlikely to cause audible distortion, whereas 2 or more are, as they then begin to form the usually unwanted square-wave.

Additionally, when there's a lot of clipping, the waveform becomes buried in red.

If at all possible, I would please like:

• • the option to "Show Serial Clipping", showing lines (white where clipping begins, red where it ends) only where at least one 'clipped' sample follows another.
  • the option to modify the opacity of the lines shown

Feedback on how effective this idea seems, as well as comments on the worth having to worth coding ratio, would be highly appreciated.

Thank you

[kozikowski]

We agree with you that one sample reaching 0 is not cause to have a red bar, so I believe the latest series of Audacity programs wait for three or more. If you have three successive samples jammed at 0 the chances are really good that there is damage or distortion worthy of attention.

the option to modify the opacity of the lines shown

Are you requesting a volume control on the fire alarm?

Koz

[Arpaleggia]

In that case, I look forward to seeing the results of the newly implemented clipping indication

Are you requesting a volume control on the fire alarm?

Only so I can better hear who is screaming for help when I already know the fire is present.

Outside of the analogy, I'd say allowing the user to have as much information as they want available to them at the same is a bonus, although in this context, not a massively important one.

However, I can see how you may think (correct me if I'm wrong/inaccurate) to some extent that users might be discouraged from thinking the prevention of clipping is important, thus more people's ears suffer.

[kozikowski]

It's perfectly valid. This is not a large, rich corporation. It's just a bunch of volunteers cranking out code — and helping with the forum. Each new version creates new opportunities for errors, so smoke and fire problems do get first crack.

"How come my half-hour recording is silent...?"

Koz

[Gale Andrews]

We agree with you that one sample reaching 0 is not cause to have a red bar, so I believe the latest series of Audacity programs wait for three or more.

I don't know what Koz means, but Show Clipping still shows a red line when there is a run of only one clipped sample.

Meter Toolbar shows clipping when four or more adjacent samples are clipped.

Analyze > Find Clipping... labels the runs of clipped samples and lets you choose the clipped samples "start" and "stop" thresholds for the labels.

I agree it would be nice to configure the sample count trigger for Show Clipping but some may feel it may not be worth the screen estate. I think it's a little unexpected that meter clipping, Show Clipping and Find Clipping all work on different default thresholds.


Gale

[Arpaleggia]

Analyze > Find Clipping... labels the runs of clipped samples and lets you choose the clipped samples "start" and "stop" thresholds for the labels.

My utmost gratitude for pointing out this feature, as I did not know about it previously. For now, I'll use that in cases where I want to identify instances of serial clipping.

In terms of screen estate, I'd say having another track containing labels encroaches on that, if only to a small degree.
Perhaps the sample count trigger configuration could be tucked away in the Interface - Display section of the preferences.
Of course, there's always the argument that because an extremely similar feature is already available (i.e. that which you mentioned), one should deal with it ( ) as is

[kozikowski]

I don't know what Koz means, but Show Clipping still shows a red line when there is a run of only one clipped sample.

I thought after the last discussion that 'one sample' thing bubbled up higher in the fixit list. It's an in-your-face measurement tool that, without putting too fine a point on it, is lying much of the time.

Koz

[Gale Andrews]

I don't know what Koz means, but Show Clipping still shows a red line when there is a run of only one clipped sample.

I thought after the last discussion that 'one sample' thing bubbled up higher in the fixit list. It's an in-your-face measurement tool that, without putting too fine a point on it, is lying much of the time.

I only had two votes counted for requiring three or four consecutive clipped samples to show the red vertical line.

Are there more votes?


Gale

[kozikowski]

How many votes are required to repair a broken tool?
Koz

[steve]

How many votes are required to repair a broken tool?

Probably the wrong question. If something is broken then fixing it is not a matter of opinion, it needs to be fixed.
The questions are:
* How much priority should be given to fixing it.
* How many votes are needed to convince a developer that a feature is broken.

I'm not convinced that it is broken, but I was not happy with the description in the manual, so I have updated it:

Click this menu item to turn display of clipped samples on and off - a check mark in the item indicates that display is turned on. A clipped sample is one that is outside the volume envelope defined by +1.0 to - 1.0 (this is the vertical scale to left of the waveform when default Waveform view is enabled, as shown below). Clipped samples are bad, as they cause distortion and lost audio information - avoid them where possible, for example by setting the recording level correctly. Red vertical lines are displayed as a warning whenever a sample value touches or exceeds 0 dB. A solid block of red will usually indicate severe clipping. Turn "Show Clipping" off if it behaves sluggishly on slower machines.