wow

sound distortion

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July 23, 2026

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"Wow" in sound reproduction refers to a specific type of distortion characterized by a slow fluctuation in pitch. This occurs due to irregularities in the speed of playback equipment, such as turntables or tape drives, during recording or reproduction. These speed variations cause a noticeable waver in the reproduced tone, often described as a fluctuation in pitch. This is distinct from "flutter," which involves higher-frequency speed irregularities that cause a roughening of the sound. While "distortion" is a broad term for any change that alters a signal's waveform, "wow" specifically describes a low-frequency pitch variation caused by inconsistent playback speed.123

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flutter and wow
wow, in sound reproduction, waver in a reproduced tone or group of tones that is caused by irregularities in turntable or tape drive speed during recording, duplication, or reproduction. Low-frequency irregularities (as one per revolution of a turntable, referred to as “once arounds”) cause wow…
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wow, in sound reproduction, waver in a reproduced tone or group of tones that is caused by irregularities in turntable or tape drive speed during recording, duplication, or reproduction. Low-frequency irregularities (as one per revolution of a turntable, referred to as “once arounds”) cause wow…
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sound recording
The phonograph disc
…pitch of the recording, called wow, and rapid variations, called flutter, the rotation speed of the record is carefully controlled by use of a heavy turntable and a precision motor. Mechanical vibration of the turntable is isolated from the stylus to avoid “rumble.” The stylus itself is elliptical in shape,…
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…pitch of the recording, called wow, and rapid variations, called flutter, the rotation speed of the record is carefully controlled by use of a heavy turntable and a precision motor. Mechanical vibration of the turntable is isolated from the stylus to avoid “rumble.” The stylus itself is elliptical in shape,…
Read More