Roland Octacapture and Sonar X1 Reference Levels Question

  Relatively new to forum, have a few questions and would greatly appreciate anyone who can help me with this. I am running a mic preamp into one of the standard octacapture xlr inputs (not the high headroom 7/8). I have the octacapture gain set at minimum and am feeding out of the +4db XLR output of the preamp. Here's the issue and subsequent question. The Octa is showing the flashing clipping lights at relatively low output levels from the third party preamp (its set at "2" roughly). However, within Sonar X1, my X1 meters are not clipping, actually are only peaking around -3 or -4. I'm assuming the Octa is chopping off those few db in a not ideal way or maybe the metering is not precise within the software. So (1) I'm wondering if the input reference level of the Octa is wanting to see a -10db signal (which would require me using a TRS 1/4" from an optional -10db output of the preamp). (2) Anyone know the correct config and official specs from Roland? Not clear in manual. The bigger issue is I don't want to be clipping the Octa unknowingly even though Sonar shows me as being in the clear and the obvious perils of clipping its converters. (3) Does anyone have experience with the higher headroom Octa inputs, channel seven and eight, and their sonic behavior when driven past zero? I am working at 48k/16bit if that has any relevance, so keeping the signal hot is more of a priority with the limited headroom. Also, I want to make sure I'm optimizing the preamp / gain staging, since its set questionably low. I'd prefer to not put a level shifter or mixer of some sort between the preamp and interface. I've consulted the Anderton article and search function and web, there is no mention anywhere of the input reference level with Octa preamps set at zero. Thanks guys.

Yeah, the octacapture input will flash whether or not the compression is activated. I'm assuming that the built in compression cant catch all the transients, though. I really think the unit is design to accept a lower level signal since it has those built in preamps (which I have no interest in using). Cool unit otherwise. Anyone experts out there know the input reference level of this device? thanks jkleban for reaching out.