AHHHH   everything seems to be clipping
 
Tried 2 projects
 
Then new project   Only session drummer
every sample sounds to be clipping
 
all projects play fine using x2
 
no major changes to the computer in the last week
 
ran v-vocal about a million times, using 8.5.3, last Friday night
 
sunday morn all is unhappy
 
Any ideas?
 
 

Sounds like it's clipping? Or is visibly clipping on the audio meters and/or the wave forms?
Check your outputs that they're being sent to the correct device.
Check your Options>Audio settings that nothing has changed.
If monitoring with headphones, check if the speakers sound better, or vice versa.

The clipping has to be happening at the master bus or later, since the Session Drummer samples would not normally be clipped at the default volume settings. 
 
First, make sure everything's routed through the master bus. Mute the master and all should go silent. If it doesn't, then there's a routing problem.
 
Next, determine whether the signal is clipped at the master bus. The meter should not hit the red. You can also turn on wave preview on the master, to visually check for flat-topping.
 
If there is no obvious clipping at the master bus, export the song and copy it to another, totally separate, playback device such as an iPod. Or burn a CD and take it out to the car. If there is no distortion, then the issue lies with your monitoring.
 
The most likely culprit would be your interface settings. Second-most likely is the interface itself. Fortunately, the least-most likely suspect are your powered speakers. 
 

Thank for your thoughts.
 
This is happening with a new project. I loaded session drummer because it is quick to get to a sound.
 
The three projects play fine in X2, so the interface is fine, the drivers working. Browsers play music and video without issue.
 
Spent way much time on this on Sunday looking in all the suggested places. Just plain weird.
 
I own the X's but prefer 8.5. So I am a bit sad.
 
I installed 8.5.3, no change.
 
No windows updates between Friday night and Sunday morn.
 
Prolly next to uninstall 8.5 and install again.
 
I have been preparing a new OS disk. Got it loaded with all the audio programs. Been too busy to complete the transition, moving all the data, settings,... I will connect it later to test.
 
 
 
 
 

I don't think you'll get anywhere re-installing. This doesn't sound like that kind of a problem at all.
 
You haven't told us yet where the clipping occurs and how. Tracks, Master, main outs? Audible distortion or meters going red?
Could it be you've messed something with accidental offset mode in 8.5.? That or similar would explain the projects are OK in X2. Or actually, I don't know if offset setting is saved with the project or not :o/

Thank you for your response.
 
No visual clipping on any of the meters.
 
I can hear the drum sound, and some distortion, like digital clipping, overlaid, and some echoing, as drum fades. Using a dry kit.
 
Tested with dropzone piano sound. A quick strike results in the piano sound and the distortion.
 
Holding a key, the clipped sound is repeatedly echoed until the piano sound has faded.
 
No effects in sonar. None used in the interface.
 
Will try other stuff later.  Prolly mess with the interface driver.
 
The thought about reinstalling is to get files reregistered, and verify they are not corrupted.
 
Just strange.
 
 
 
 
 
 

I am using an emu 1820m with the 1616m beta drivers since they were released in 2009.
 
Used this interface with w 7, 32/64, and w 8, 8.1, and now 8.1.1.
 
Using the dock inputs, and connected to an mixer via adat.
 
Patchmix has been using the same template for months.
 
Same motherboard/cpu/ram for about 18 months: phenom ii 3 core, BE, at 25% OC.
 
No clipping anywhere. No effects anywhere.
 
Oh well. Something to do in my spare time.

Using the new os disk.
 
All is good.  No distortion.
 
I do not have the new disk ready; not all programs installed, files not transferred,....
 
But now prolly have to be in a hurry now.  Better than trying to fix the current stupid.
 
 

jm24
But now prolly have to be in a hurry now.  Better than trying to fix the current stupid.
 

Can I quote that?
It's oddly appropriate here in Texas.