An effect that occurs when an analog signal is digitally sampled. See the graphical example of 44,100 Hz sampling [by coincidence, 44.1 kb]. Samples (black circles) of a 10,000 Hz tone are identical to samples of a 34,100 tone. In general, samples of a tone of frequency f are identical (except for a phase shift) to samples of a tone of frequency Fs - f, where Fs is the sampling rate. Thus if f equals, say Fs/2 + f0, the digital recording will produce a false tone of Fs/2 - f0. Anti-aliasing filters are used to eliminate tones above Fs/2 to avoid this effect. See the Signal Processing Section for more detail.

This definition is in context to Audio Technology. See more contextual defintions for Aliasing.