Cramping (or "squeezing") is a distortion that occurs in the curve of digital equalizers, especially at high frequencies.

In older or simpler digital equalizers that operate at low sampling rates (such as 44.1 or 48 kHz), the equalization curve becomes asymmetrical and "squeezed" as it approaches the Nyquist frequency (half the sampling rate).

Instead of a symmetrical and smooth bell curve, as in an analog EQ, the boost or attenuation at high frequencies takes on a "deformed" and narrow shape.

This results in a change in phase response and a sound that may be perceived as harsher, more resonant, or simply different from what was expected.

Modern digital EQs generally solve this problem using a technique called oversampling, where the audio is processed internally at a much higher sampling rate, allowing the equalizer curve to remain symmetrical and natural across the entire spectrum.