# Distortion
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## Microsims — p5.js
### Distortion (p5.js) · `nonlinearity`
<div class="microsim-player">
<iframe src="https://editor.p5js.org/sciencenibber/full/arJtYHTr8" width="100%" height="480" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin" title="Distortion — p5.js microsim"></iframe>
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*Any unwanted change to a signal's shape, from clipping to intermodulation.*
**Open in the editor:** [▶ fork this sketch](https://editor.p5js.org/sciencenibber/sketches/arJtYHTr8) · movement *VIII · Imaging, audio & sensors* · library `p5js`
### Related microsims
Live sims on neighbouring articles — 6 of them inside this article's own Wikipedia link tree:
- [[Communication_channel]] *(in tree)*
- [[Decibel]] *(in tree)*
- [[Frequency_response]] *(in tree)*
- [[Noise_(electronics)]] *(in tree)*
- [[Signal-to-noise_ratio]] *(in tree)*
- [[Sine_wave]] *(in tree)*
*Sim hosted off-article; the article owns the reference, not the runtime (WIKI_RULES §10.4). Placed by `g08_place_microsims.py`.*
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## Links (Wikipedia order)
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`180-line_television_system` · `343-line_television_system` · `375-line_television_system` · `405-line_television_system` · `441-line_television_system` · `455-line_television_system` · `819_line` · `Acoustic_quieting` · `Acoustics` · `Active_noise_control` · `Additive_white_Gaussian_noise` · `Aliasing` · `Amplifier` · `Amplitude_distortion` · `Analog_television` · `Anisotropic_diffusion` · `Antenna_(radio)` · `Architectural_acoustics` · `Atmospheric_noise` · `Attenuation_distortion` · `Audio_signal` · `Audio_system_measurements` · `Autoencoder` · `Background_noise` · `Bias_distortion` · `Bilateral_filter` · `Black_level` · `Blanking_level` · `Block-matching_and_3D_filtering` · `Broadcast_television_systems` · `Broadcast_transmitter` · `Brownian_noise` · `Burst_noise` · `CCIR_System_A` · `CCIR_System_B` · `CCIR_System_C` · `CCIR_System_D` · `CCIR_System_E` · `CCIR_System_F` · `CCIR_System_G` · `CCIR_System_H` · `CCIR_System_I` · `CCIR_System_K` · `CCIR_System_L` · `CCIR_System_M` · `CCIR_System_N` · `Carrier-to-noise_ratio` · `Cartography` · `Channel_noise_level` · `Chrominance` · `Circuit_noise_level` · `Clear-Vision` · `Clipping_(audio)` · `Clipping_(signal_processing)` · `Coaxial_cable` · `Color_burst` · `Color_frame_sequence` · `Color_killer` · `Color_television` · `Colors_of_noise` · [[Communication_channel]] · `Composite_video` · `Contrast-to-noise_ratio` · `Copyright_status_of_works_by_the_federal_government_of_the_United_States` · `Cosmic_noise` · `Crossover_distortion` · [[Decibel]] · `Differential_gain` · `Differential_phase` · `Digital_television_transition` · `Diplexer` · `Dipole_antenna` · `Dispersion_(optics)` · `Distort_(disambiguation)` · `Distortion_(disambiguation)` · `Distortion_(music)` · `Distortion_(optics)` · `Distortion_synthesis` · `Distortionmeter` · `Dolby_noise-reduction_system` · `Dot_crawl` · `Dummy_load` · `Eb/N0` · `Effective_input_noise_temperature` · `Electric_guitar` · `Electrical_impedance` · `Electrical_reactance` · `Electronic_component` · [[Electronics]] · `Equivalent_noise_resistance` · `Equivalent_pulse_code_modulation_noise` · `FM_broadcasting` · `Fading` · `Field_strength_meter` · `Filter_(signal_processing)` · `Flicker_noise` · `Flutter_(electronics_and_communication)` · `Frequency-shift_keying` · `Frequency_mixer` · `Frequency_modulation` · `Frequency_offset` · [[Frequency_response]] · `Gain_(electronics)` · `Gaussian_blur` · `Gaussian_noise` · `General_Services_Administration` · `Ghosting_(television)` · `Gradient_noise` · `Grey_noise` · `Hanover_bars` · `Harmonic` · `Health_effects_from_noise` · `Heavy_metal_music` · `High-pass_filter` · `Horizontal_blanking_interval` · `Horizontal_scan_rate` · `Image_noise` · `Image_warping` · `Infrasound` · `Integer` · `Intercarrier_method` · `Interference_(communication)` · `Intermediate_frequency` · `Jitter` · `Johnson–Nyquist_noise` · `Latitude` · `Linear_filter` · `Linear_function` · `List_of_noise_topics` · `Lossy_compression` · `Low-pass_filter` · `Luma_(video)` · `MIL-STD-188` · `Magnetic_tape` · `Magnification` · `Mains_hum` · `Map_projection` · `Mark_and_space` · `Median_filter` · `Mercator_projection` · `Microwave_transmission` · `Modulation_error_ratio` · `Multichannel_Television_Sound` · `NICAM` · `NTSC` · `NTSC-J` · `Noise` · `Noise,_vibration,_and_harshness` · [[Noise_(electronics)]] · `Noise_(spectral_phenomenon)` · `Noise_(video)` · `Noise_and_vibration_on_maritime_vessels` · `Noise_barrier` · `Noise_control` · `Noise_figure` · `Noise_floor` · `Noise_generator` · `Noise_measurement` · `Noise_pollution` · `Noise_power` · `Noise_reduction` · `Noise_regulation` · `Noise_shaping` · `Noise_spectral_density` · `Noise_temperature` · `Nominal_analogue_blanking` · `Non-local_means` · `Null_fill` · `Operational_amplifier` · `Optical_axis` · `Optical_fiber` · `Optics` · `Outline_of_television_broadcasting` · `Output_power_of_an_analog_TV_transmitter` · `Overscan` · `Overtone` · `PAL` · `PAL-M` · `PAL-S` · `PALplus` · `Path_loss` · `Perspective_(graphical)` · `Phase_(waves)` · `Phase_distortion` · `Phase_noise` · `Phase_velocity` · `Pink_noise` · `Propagation_delay` · `Pseudorandom_noise` · `Pulse` · `Punk_rock` · `Push–pull_output` · `Quadrature_amplitude_modulation` · `Radiation_pattern` · `Radio_frequency` · `Radio_propagation` · `Raster_scan` · `Repeater` · `Residual_carrier` · `Resonator` · `Rock_music` · `Root_mean_square` · `SECAM` · `Safe_area_(television)` · `Shot_noise` · `Shrinkage_Fields_(image_restoration)` · [[Signal]] · `Signal-to-interference-plus-noise_ratio` · `Signal-to-interference_ratio` · [[Signal-to-noise_ratio]] · `Signal-to-noise_ratio_(imaging)` · `Signal-to-quantization-noise_ratio` · [[Signal_processing]] · [[Sine_wave]] · `Single-sideband_modulation` · `Skew_(antenna)` · `Slew-induced_distortion` · `Slew_rate` · `Sound_masking` · `Soundproofing` · `Sparklies` · `Spectrum_analyzer` · `Split_sound_system` · `Square_wave_(waveform)` · `Stereo_imaging` · `Superheterodyne_transmitter` · `Synchronization_of_TV_transmitter_and_receiver` · [[System]] · [[Telecommunications]] · `Teletext` · `Television_channel_frequencies` · `Television_interference` · `Television_lines` · `Television_receive-only` · `Television_transmitter` · `Terrestrial_television` · `The_Weeping_Woman` · `Thermal_radiation` · `Total_harmonic_distortion` · `Total_variation_denoising` · [[Transfer_function]] · [[Transistor]] · `Transmitter_station` · `Transposer` · `Tube_sound` · `Ultra_high_frequency` · `VIT_signals` · `Vacuum_tube` · `Value_noise` · `Vectorscope` · `Vertical_blanking_interval` · `Vertical_interval_timecode` · `Very_high_frequency` · `Visual_arts` · `Waveform` · `Waveguide` · `Wavelet` · `White_clipper` · `White_noise` · `Worley_noise` · `Wow_(recording)` · `Zero_reference_pulse` · `Zweikanalton`
> Signal Processing concept · part of the Signal Processing Portal · movement VIII · !82 音響 onkyō.svg
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*Rendered from the live microsim (▶ motion).*
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## See it next
[](Effects_unit)
*→ Effects unit*
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---
Back to Signal Processing Portal · the room · Semiotic gateway
## What it is
Distortion is any alteration of the shape of a signal's waveform relative to its original form, typically introducing frequency components that were not present in the input.
## How it works / why it matters
When a system responds nonlinearly to its input, its output waveform no longer matches the input, and the deviation is called distortion. Nonlinearity generates harmonic distortion (integer multiples of an input tone) and, with multiple input tones, intermodulation distortion (sum and difference frequencies), both of which can be measured as a fraction of the signal. Distortion is usually an unwanted defect in amplifiers, converters, and transmission channels, but it is deliberately cultivated in music — for example the overdriven sound of an electric guitar.
## Signs & universals
Instantiates: signal · harmonic · amplitude · spectrum.
## Related
Distortion adds spectral content much as a nonlinear Effects unit does, and stands beside Dynamic range compression, Limiting, and Reverberation as an audio process. It contrasts with Noise reduction and is studied within Audio signal processing and via [[Convolution]] and Digital filter modelling.
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*Built to the [[WT!P5_js_Microsim_Master_Class|p5.js Master Class]].*
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## Wikipedia : Wikitube
**Strict pair:** [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distortion) : [Wikitube](https://en.wikitube.io/wiki/Distortion)
## Previous hub tags
Tree parent: [[Feedback]].
Legacy hubs: none.
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*Sources: 1 legacy note. Minted wave 1, 2026-07-30 (v1.6 order).*