I apologize. Technically it's soft-clipping when clipping converters (the knee is like 0.03dB or something silly like that). But in my mind it's hard-clipping, so I understand the confusion. Sorry about that.
Whatever works, works. One just have to find the workflow and technique that works for them(selves). Hard-clipping (digital brickwall clip) can be great for shaving off occasional peaks, while excessive and over-use of hard-clipping can sound pretty bad. I'm a bit dissapointed in myself for staying in the "clipping is only BAAAD!"-mindset for so long. It's a tool, like any other.

 

Last edited: Sep 2, 2022

I agree it sounds particularly bad (hard-clip) when too much, that's why I was like "wtf why are people using it"
now after some practice I understand it - it's a good way to make these tall trees in the signal a bit, well, clipped :D so the audio going into other dsp processor is a bit more tamed and we get more repetitive response from let's say limiter
I wasn't expecting I would like this technique but I must admit, I find it really useful now and use it all the time since I learned it

 

It depends on what sort of physical reaction one is attempting to elicit.
Sure, if you want violent rejection of existence and murderous / suicidal responses, you go for digital distortion.
Some of this pop music has become like the soundtrack to the end of the world, with the devil ass-raping everyone with his flaming cock as the nuclear holocaust rages.
More like John Carpenter than Karen Carpenter.

 

what the fuck... but this is quite on point actually