An apparatus for generating a multicarrier communication signal having a reduced crest factor enables efficient power amplifier operation. The apparatus includes a plurality of shaping filters (205-n) for outputting a plurality of shaped baseband transmission signals. A plurality of mixers (210-n) then multiplies each signal by one of a plurality of complex carrier signals. A window function generator (235) generates a clipping window signal based on power levels of the unshaped baseband transmission signals. A plurality of window output units (245-n) outputs a plurality of subtraction-based clipping window signals. At least one summing unit (260) then generates the multicarrier communication signal having the reduced crest factor from the plurality of subtraction-based clipping window signals and the plurality of shaped baseband transmission signals.