ABSTRACT
A static phase relationship specifically applies to sine waves of the same frequency and it is not on the whole meaningful to talk about the relative phase of two more complex signals. Phase refers to the relative position in time of two signals or two components within a signal. Rectification refers to the removal or reversal of the negative half of any signal, such that no part of the resulting signal extends below the midline. Clipping is closely related to rectification and is often also implemented using diode based circuitry. Frequency and wavelength are related to each other by the speed of propagation of the signal. Sine waves provide a simplicity which facilitates easy of analysis but this same simplicity also imposes limitations on their usefulness in testing and characterising the behaviour of audio electronic circuits. The real world audio signals which these circuits will encounter once deployed have a far more rich and complex character.
