May be obvious but make sure that you are as hot as you can be at each gain stage. i.e. If you have a drum track that is causing problems make sure that the gain and volume are set to 0 db and then look at your level indicator in the mixer. Make sure that you are getting a hot signal there, say something around -6 to -10 db (if want some headroom). If you are seeing a muck weaker signal there check to see if something else is limiting the volume (i.e. if this is a sampler make sure the sample has been normalized or that the volume of the sampler is set to 0db to -6db for headroom again) If your volume is low coming out of that track and you are pushing it later to try and add gain you are adding a lot of noise to the signal and that will help clip you out early. I had these exact problems and learning what the volume at each gain stage is crucial. Example signal path for sampler. 1. Audio file [has been normalized or is volume of source low] 2. Sampler a. what is the volume for the zone set to b. Do you have volume being controlled by hit velocity > if so make sure your velocity in matrix editor is high by using velocity tool c. check sampler master output volume level > just set it to 0db I am sure there are much more detailed explanations that some of the experts on this list could provide but I bet you need to make sure your source has a hot signal through the whole audio path. 3. Audio Instument track a. make sure volume of fader is set to 0db 1. if it is weak here maybe add some compression to see if that helps b. Audio Insturment Outputs -- check output tracks volume faders are set to 0db (i.e. if outputting to Bus 1/2 make sure that Bus 1/2 isn't limiting the signal as its volume fader should be set to 0db as well) c. if outputting to Bus 1/2 make sure that its output tracks are set to 0 db and aren't limiting signal) ie. Output 1/2 d. check output tracks volume level set to 0db. Output 1/2 also remember that many of the effects plugins also have gain staging occurring so look at every item your audio flows through. anyway, just trying to demonstrate that there are so many places where gain staging occurs it is mind boggling. :) Just break it down one connection at a time and make sure you have a hot signal. Paul