Generating Music Tones, How to handle when tones overlap? (16bit samples)

Question

If i add the two tones then the result if two peaks are added together will be greater then the the sample max (2^15).

For the life of me I couldn't think of the right words to google. Think i have google block.

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:47

3

If you can't tolerate any distortion, then divide by 2 the amplitude of the signals you want to mix.

Please check this question

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:47

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1

answered Apr 12 '13 at 10:40

pichenettes

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score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 12 '13 at 10:43

You need to attenuate the signals. Either by reducing the gain using a gain fader control on each signal prior to mixing them or applying a compressor to each channel so that when combined they do not exceed unity.

The "Mixing 2 or more sound signals together" thread in the March 2004 archives of the MusicDSP mailing list archive (http://music.columbia.edu/pipermail/music-dsp/2004-March/subject.html) is worth a read.

Generating Music Tones, How to handle when tones overlap? (16bit samples)

2 Answers2