Clipping Type Isuse

I recently recorded a background vocal track in Sonar 8.5 Producer on my Win7 64 bit machine with a Rhode NT1A mic thru a Mackie 1402-VLZ pro mixer to a Presonus Firebox interface.  When recording the levels in Sonar looked good around -9 on the meters.  When I play it back I am getting an odd clipping type sound.  When I look at the track, in Sonar, the waveform looks like it is clipping in that it seems to be cropped at the top and bottom but the top and bottom is between -12 to -9.  When I play it back, the meters still don't show clipping but it sound like it is clipping.  This is my first real project since I wiped my hard drives and installed Win7 and re-installed Sonar Producer 8.5.  My computer used to have vista on it.  I also increased the RAM and now have 12gb of ram.  Some other random information:
Reording at sampling rate of 44100 with 24 bit depth.  ASIO mode. In audio options, I do not have 64-bit double precision engine checked, I don't recall if that used to be checked in my vista setup.  I did notice that in audio options ASIO advanced, the record latency adjustment (samples) is set to use device=creative ASIO instead of my firebox, but if I change it, it doesn't seem to stick. What should I try to fix this issue?  I am not used to having something clip when the levels aren't showing high in sonar...
Thanks,
  Andrew V. Romero

+1

Id check you levels in the entire chain before the DAW (the Mic, Mackie, etc...) 

Ive also noticed poor XLR connections cause this.

My guess would be the Mackie is overdriving the Firebox. I'm guessing the Firebox doesn't have a clipping indicator on it, but hopefully it does have an input level control. I'd do a series of test recordings until I'd found the ideal level setting. If you have to turn it way, way down to avoid clipping, then it's likely you're trying to use a microphone input with a line-level output from the Mackie. The interface may have a line/mic or instrument/mic switch; if so, set it to line/instrument.

WTF all of a sudden I can't post any pictures?? Using IE
It shows in the pre view??

No, not the input level on the mixer. It's unlikely you can overdrive the mixer with a microphone. The mixer probably isn't clipping. The issue is more likely between the output of the mixer and the input of the audio interface.

The mackie alt3-4 outputs (aka sends used when the mute button is pressed) is being used to feed the line inputs of the firebox.  I am using TRS 1/4 cables to connect the output of the mixer to the inputs on the firebox. 
 
Now I am a little confused, if the mixer is overloading the firebox, wouldn't the meters in sonar show peaking when I am recording?  I thought the point of the meters in sonar was so show when the signal was too hot. 
 
Thanks,
  Andrew V. Romero

Part of the problem is your interface does not have clip lights for the line in jacks right? You could try using the front jacks and pad them down , at least you'll have clip lights. I seem to remember that those mixers have a very hot output. Turn it down.