dubdisciple
As an FYI, DC offset is a hardware Issue and to my knowledge is not produced by DAW. The fact that it started now is likely a coincidence. If it is DC offset, the link scook provided should help. 

Hiya, Dub. I figured it was likely a hardware thing but was skeeved on the concept of DC Offset. Never had to deal with it before and it does not seem to be the case here but this is all very educational. Thanks and I hoep you've been well.
 
Cheers.

OldTimerNewComer

Beepster
cleanish guitar output from the XLR line out from my old Traynor amp going into my Mackie CR1601 then being routed via the mixer's direct out for that channel into my Scarlett Focusrite 18i6 via one of the 1/4" line inputs on the back. In Sonar the input is set to a mono input (Right Focusrite Line 3 which is the mono input on the device).

After some thought I believe Dubdisciple is right.
Perhaps you have an unbalanced(1/4in.) output from the Mackie
you could try then compare the waveforms...
check to see if more than one buss from the Mackie is going to
your direct out;
 
more than one signal, summed to mono, WITH
dc offset could probably alter your input  to Scarlett
in the manner you describe(squashed tops).
 
Mel
 

Beepster 
 Seems to be from the amp.

 
Edit:I see that you are already on that trail... good job.
(Bloddy two-finger typing)

This brings up an interesting point...
 
Could this perhaps be an issue with my XLR cable? I used the same cable for these tests.

Possibly.
 
Can you try hanging a mic in front of the amp and record that?

Beepster

OldTimerNewComer

Beepster
cleanish guitar output from the XLR line out from my old Traynor amp going into my Mackie CR1601 then being routed via the mixer's direct out for that channel into my Scarlett Focusrite 18i6 via one of the 1/4" line inputs on the back. In Sonar the input is set to a mono input (Right Focusrite Line 3 which is the mono input on the device).

After some thought I believe Dubdisciple is right.
Perhaps you have an unbalanced(1/4in.) output from the Mackie
you could try then compare the waveforms...
check to see if more than one buss from the Mackie is going to
your direct out;
 
more than one signal, summed to mono, WITH
dc offset could probably alter your input  to Scarlett
in the manner you describe(squashed tops).
 
Mel
 

Beepster 
 Seems to be from the amp.

 
Edit:I see that you are already on that trail... good job.
(Bloddy two-finger typing)

This brings up an interesting point...
 
Could this perhaps be an issue with my XLR cable? I used the same cable for these tests.

That was going to be my next suggestion, occurred to me
earlier but I wanted to work backward from Sonar .

Bristol_Jonesey
Possibly.
 
Can you try hanging a mic in front of the amp and record that?

I just swapped the cable and used a different channel on the mixer (and input on the interface because I already had that routed from that channel). Ain't the cable. Definitely looking like the amp at this point.
 
It does seem very strange that the wave looks normal during recording and this "asymmetrical" wave only appears after the fact.
 
Oh and I can't turn this thing up at all for micing. Bad soundproofing in this place and I don't want to attract ANY attention in this heckhole of a building.

Good point.

aaand I think I may have discovered a Platinum Comping bug while doing this but I'll have to test it out more.
 
Just deleted a new take lane with a clip segment in it. After it was gone that section of the original clip remained split and muted (expected behavior would be that that muted section gets re-promoted/the split would heal after the other clip was gone).

Anyway... unless anyone can give me a reason why this wonky wave is problematic I'm just going to chalk it up to the amp's "color" and not worry about it and keep tracking. I'll also study up on asymmetrical waves to see what the dillio is.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I'm still confused but a little smarter now (I think).
 
;-)
 
Cheers.

"Essentially the top half of my mono wave looks like it has been compressed/limited very agressively while the bottom half looks more dynamic and normal but extends down way further than the top. Essentially it looks really unbalanced."
 
I noticed this also when I was trying to set levels for tracking. Guitar was plugged directly into audio interface.

rcklln
"Essentially the top half of my mono wave looks like it has been compressed/limited very agressively while the bottom half looks more dynamic and normal but extends down way further than the top. Essentially it looks really unbalanced."
 
I noticed this also when I was trying to set levels for tracking. Guitar was plugged directly into audio interface.

I just did a test in X3 using the same set up and in an earlier (but very recent) version of this project and I still had the "offset/asymmetry".
 
So this does not seem to be a Platinum issue.
 
One weird thing though... I also opened up that CHC project where I had used this set up and hadn't noticed the problem. The wave looked pretty much normal. I recorded into it again in a new track and the waves looked very slightly askew but more normal than what I've been getting in the other project(s).
 
But just for the record... after this troubleshooting I do not think this is a Platinum thing.