In the context of beatmaking and music production, an “artifact” refers to any unintended sound or distortion that occurs in an audio recording or production process. Artifacts can arise from various sources and processes, including:
- Digital Processing: When audio is processed digitally, artifacts can occur due to limitations in bit depth, sample rate, or data compression. For example, when audio files are compressed into formats like MP3, some data is lost, which can result in audible artifacts such as a “warbling” sound.
- Time Stretching and Pitch Shifting: When audio is manipulated to change its tempo or pitch without affecting the other property, artifacts can be introduced. These might include unnatural sounding echoes or distortions.
- Quantization Errors: In digital audio, quantization errors can occur when converting an analog signal to digital form, leading to noise or distortion.
- Clipping: This occurs when the audio signal exceeds the maximum level that a system can handle, resulting in distortion.
- Background Noise: Unwanted noise captured during recording sessions, such as hums, hisses, or other environmental sounds, can be considered artifacts if they are not intended to be part of the final mix.
Artifacts are generally undesirable as they can detract from the quality and clarity of a beat or track. However, in some creative contexts, producers might intentionally use certain types of artifacts to achieve a specific aesthetic or effect.