overdrivesäröefektit

Överdriftsäröeffekter, often referred to as overdrive or distortion effects in English, are a group of audio signal processing techniques that introduce harmonic and intermodulation distortion to an audio signal. This distortion is typically achieved by clipping the signal, meaning that the peaks of the waveform are flattened when the signal amplitude exceeds a certain threshold. This clipping process generates new frequencies, called harmonics, that are integer multiples of the original signal's fundamental frequency. Intermodulation distortion occurs when multiple frequencies are present in the signal, and their interactions create sum and difference frequencies.

These effects are widely used in music production, particularly with electric guitars, to achieve a more aggressive, rich, or sustained tone. Different types of overdrive circuits and settings can produce a wide spectrum of sounds, from subtle warmth and grit to heavily saturated and fuzzy tones. The amount of distortion, the shape of the clipping (hard or soft), and the resulting harmonic content are key parameters that influence the final sound. Beyond guitars, overdrive effects can also be applied to vocals, bass guitars, and other instruments to add character or to achieve specific sonic textures. The term "overdrive" itself suggests that the effect is often designed to mimic the sound of an amplifier being pushed beyond its clean operating range.