Audio Clipping Detector
Audio Clipping Detector
Drop a mix, master or recording. The detector finds flat-topped clipped runs, reports sample and estimated true peak, and shows where in time the clipping happens on the waveform.
| # | Time | Length | Channel |
|---|
A run is three or more consecutive samples at or above the threshold, which is the signature of hard clipping. Decoded MP3s can exceed 0 dBFS even if the source did not, so treat lossy files as estimates.
How to tell if audio is clipping
Clipping happens when a signal is pushed past the maximum level a system can represent, so the top of the waveform is sliced flat. In digital audio that is 0 dBFS. A single sample touching the ceiling is harmless; a run of consecutive samples stuck there is a flat top, and that is what sounds like crackle and harshness. This detector scans the whole file for runs of three or more samples at or above the threshold, reports the sample peak and an estimated true peak, and marks every clipped region on the waveform.
Sample peak versus true peak
Sample peak is the loudest individual sample. True peak estimates the analogue waveform between samples, which can be higher after conversion and after lossy encoding. Streaming services ask for -1 dBTP; the headroom figure tells you how far you are from that.
Fixing it
If the clipping is in a recording, there is no clean undo: re-record with 12 to 18 dB of headroom. If it is in a mix or master, lower the limiter ceiling to -1 dBTP and reduce the input gain until the runs disappear.
FAQ
What counts as clipping?
Three or more consecutive samples at or above the threshold (default -0.1 dBFS). That pattern is a flat top, the fingerprint of hard clipping.
My master shows no clipped samples but a true peak above 0. Is that bad?
It can distort on playback after conversion or encoding. Set your limiter to a -1 dBTP ceiling and re-export.
Why does an MP3 show clipping that the WAV did not?
Lossy encoding adds overshoot. Decoded MP3s commonly exceed the original peaks by up to 1 dB, which is one more reason to master with headroom.
Can I repair a clipped recording?
Declipping tools can smooth short runs, but long runs lose information permanently. Prevent it with conservative gain staging.
Related free tools
Start from a pro session, not a blank one.
Recording and mixing templates from the engineers behind Burna Boy, Kanye West, Skrillex and Beyonce. Ableton, FL Studio, Logic and Pro Tools, ready to load.
Instant download. Real sessions, no fluff.Free download
Get the free Grammy Sauce PDF
The plugins and settings 100+ Grammy-winning engineers actually use — collected from 5 years of interviews, in one free PDF.
Want the full pro setup? Get the Vocal Chain Bible — 88 real chains →