The Elio Engine

[Muzhik]

I recall when I worked as an audio engineer, we always made sure to keep the peak levels well below 100% in order to prevent clipping of the audio wave.

 

[slinches]

I wish they still did that when mastering CDs rather than turn up the volume until everything but the room hum clips.

 

[BilgeRat]

Cool view on things.

Power, efficiency, longevity. Pick any two. (Yeah, I kind of bastardized the original)

No matter, that's a great summary!

 

[voyager]

Cool view on things.

Power, efficiency, longevity. Pick any two. (Yeah, I kind of bastardized the original)

That's what I meant. Thanks everybody!

 

[pistonboy]

Interesting:

 

[Elio Amazed]

I recall when I worked as an audio engineer, we always made sure to keep the peak levels well below 100% in order to prevent clipping of the audio wave.

That's what they make compressor/limiters for.

 

[RSchneider]

I had a 2006 BMW 330i and it had variable valve lift (a stepper motor on the valve cover ran it), both cams had variable valve timing (BMW calls it double vanos) and the block had aluminum inside part (for the cylinders and crankshaft) and a magnesium outside part (it was bolted to the inside part).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N52

 

[Muzhik]

That's what they make compressor/limiters for.

Which, by definition, since they're altering the original waveform, introduce distortion into the output.

Clipping (more than 100% of amplitude levels) produces square waves, which are interpreted as a buzzing (due to a large harmonic content) or simply distortion. Compressors/limiters keep the waveform (or attempt to keep it) from exceeding 100%, but do that by changing the shape and thus changing the resulting sound. By definition, that is distortion. It's one of the main complaints about the Dolby Noise Reduction system, which is so ubiquitous now that most people don't even notice any distortion, because they're used to hearing recorded music sound that way.

 

[Elio Amazed]

Which, by definition, since they're altering the original waveform, introduce distortion into the output.

All true, but regardless, they prevent a lot of blown drivers from clipping due to unanticipated high peaks and/or when it's necessary to operate near the clipping threshold to produce adequate SPL for the environment. And the better professional ones don't sound too horribly bad doing it.

 

[wizard of ahs]

Hey...how about that ELIO ENGINE, what do you all think about it ?