'Overmodulation' is the condition that prevails in
telecommunication when the instantaneous level of the modulating
signal exceeds the value necessary to produce 100%
modulation of the
carrier.
Overmodulation results in spurious emissions by the modulated carrier, and
distortion of the recovered modulating signal.
Overmodulation in the sense of this definition is almost always considered a
fault condition. If defined as the condition that prevails when the mean level of the modulating signal is such that peaks in the modulating signal exceed the value necessary to produce 100% modulation of the carrier, overmodulation is sometimes considered permissible.
See also
Related topics
★
clipping (audio)
★
VOGAD (Voice Operated Gain Device)