Signal overload

[RideTheCrash]

I recorded a drummer today, and it had been a while since I recorded but I've still been sorting out my levels and dBVU and FS and all that stuff.

I use a 1010lt and board outs from each channel are unbalanced I believe. So I'm unbalanced to unbalanced. The first two inputs are balanced, so I'm going unbalanced to balanced (1/4" to XLR (third pin left unused)). Since I use the one click insert jack method, only the gain controls the signal going into the soundcard. I have to adjust the gain of course for everything, but the drums are so loud, I leave them all the way down and they go over -18dBFS.

The first two inputs give a stronger signal on Cool Edit, I'm assuming because of the funny connection I have...so they clip like no tomorrow (this is with gain all the way down on the mixer), so I drag the faders all the way down in the 1010lt's software for the signal level of the first two inputs and I still get a loud signal.

The thing is, when the transient reaches a certain point it brickwalls. CEP says it hasn't clipped, but it looks almost like the waveform is brickwalling when you zoom in. When you zoom out you can see where it "cuts off". Why? The the tracks I recorded on the first two were using dynamic mics, not condensors.

[RideTheCrash]

Alright, so I suppose a pad would do the job.

So now my remaining questions are...

1) I know there is an impedence issue with the first two inputs because of the unbalanced to balanced thing...but that actually makes it louder than my other unbalanced to unbalanced connections?

2) What exactly are the sliders in the Delta software doing? It seems like it brings down the headroom and peaks will cut off at whatever you set it to, and CEP says it's not clipping, but it looks like it.