When a HPF Causes Clipping (Filtering, Phase, & Constructive Interference)

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How can a low-pass filter increase amplitude even though filters remove frequencies?

In this video, I explain how *phase shifts* introduced by your filters can cause constructive interference, increasing amplitude and even leading to clipping. We’ll explore:
-Why filtering can boost amplitude
-How phase changes affect waveform shape
-Strategies for filtering in synthesis and mixing

Understanding this concept can up the game of sound designers, mixing engineers, and anyone working with EQ or synthesis.

More synthesis and MIDI fundamentals here:

The Three-Oscillator Problem: Chaos and Emergence

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Simple rules to sonic chaos: the “three-oscillator problem” & Rob Hordijk’s “Benjolin”

In this video, I talk about the “Three-Body Problem” and created an analogous Pure Data patch, where three oscillators frequency-modulate each other. Just as in the physics problem, this cross-modulation network creates unpredictable, chaotic patterns.

This emergent complexity from simple rules perhaps connects to ideas of motivic development in music, how great artistic works can grown from simple and small ideas.