Uneven mono guitar waveform?

[tpann]

I recorded some electric guitar onto a mono track, and the waveform is nonsymmetric. The 'bottom' of the waveform is ragged, meaning the amplitude was free to go its full extent. But the 'top' of the waveform is cut off at a specific level, so that it looks like a buzz cut.

What's causing this?

Thanks!

[zedhed]

Do you have a compressor/Limiter anywhere in the signal chain/track/bus?

Have you inadvertently 'Normalized' the track?

[BobbyDazzler]

Some distortion units give asymetric waveforms. Its just the way they work.

[tpann]

I'm going through a Digitech RP250 and a Boss distortion pedal.

Either way, is this something I need to correct for?

[WernerF]

What does it sound like? To quote a fellow DUC member "if it sounds good it is good". If that's the case there's really no need to worry about what it looks like.

[bashville]

I've seen this depending on how you play. If you're picking hard, the string can vibrate off its normal axis so it's not vibrating in equal distance swings from the relative pickup section. If you're whacking hard at some rhythm part, there may well be more energy coming "back" at the guitar pickup after the first picking swipe then in subsequent vibrations, and if it's a repeated rhythm (Ramones come to mind) the string may not get a chance to recenter itself before the next pick. So you'll see the one side, positive or negative, more than the other side until you let up and let the string vibrate on its own for a moment. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong, unless it sounds wrong. Good to observe, though.

[daeron80]

Originally Posted by WernerF

To quote a fellow DUC member "if it sounds good it is good"

That originated with Duke Ellington, actually. But I agree. Vertically asymmetric waveforms can be normal for some instruments, including trumpet and distortion guitar.

[albee1952]

If you're still worried about it, try using the Audiosuite plugin called DC Offset Removal(or something to that effect) from the "Other" sub-menu. Process the clip and see if that makes any significant visual change to the wave.

[The Weed]

And/or recalculate waveform.

Cheers,

[Doug Ring]

Perfectly normal. Only a pure sine wave is exactly symmetrical. Your asymmetry is causing it to sound as it does, so as was already said, if it sounds good that's all that matters.