MP wrote:Track1->audio output 1
Track2->audio output 2
Track3->VI->audio output 3
Track4->VI->audio output 4
Yes but those numbers on the end represent channels. They all output to the same physical output so they must be summed together. When a clip occurs it must be indicated somewhere. There are no audio output master faders or clip indicators for each physical output (In Metro at least).
MP wrote:Are you saying that any clipping happening at "audio output 1" will activate the clip indicators for outputs outside of it's audio path?
No or err... perhaps. Remember in Metro the faders go up to 0 db. This means a single audio output (with no plug-ins) can never clip. The audio channel is being summed with other channels to be output to the physical core audio output. If the intermediate sum involving this channel exceeds the clip level, the signal is clipped and the indicator goes on for a short time.
MP wrote:I was expecting to see any clipping due to summing at the master channel's indicator.
The master vu and clip indicator's are approximations since they need to account for MIDI data whose amplitude is unknown and therefore is estimated based on the MIDI volume level (Controller 7), and velocity.
If the master clip indicator is not lighting then perhaps it is a bug.
You might take a look at a plug-in like RMS buddy to check exact levels at any time. This plug-in can be placed on an aux buss and audio can be routed to it.