Nat 3Nat 4Nat 5HigherAdvanced Higher
Distortion/overload
Distortion or overload happens when a signal is driven too hard for a system or deliberately processed for a rougher sound.
Also called: Overload
Level relevance: introduced at Nat 3; tagged for every later level where the same concept remains useful.
Explanation
Unwanted overload can damage recording quality, while controlled distortion can be a creative effect. Learners should distinguish technical faults from intentional sound design.
Topics
LevelsRecordingTechnical faults
Curriculum statusofficial concept
Review statusdraft
Sources
- National 5 Music Technology course specification, May 2023, version 3.0 · accessed 2026-07-08
Used for the National 3, National 4, and National 5 technology and music concept tables.