Clipping

[ricox3]

Can clipping damage the converters of an audio interface? I bought a mic preamp and connected it to my interface.And now the question is, is there an explicit order what to switch on first? I felt kinda stupid because normally i turn on the interface first and the monitors second.This time with the preamp as a second device i turned on the interface first then the monitors and then the preamp. And when i turned the preamp on,for a short moment the clip LED of the input gain of the interface was flashing even all gain and volume knobs of all devices where complete on zero. So could the short voltage spike of the preamp while turning on damage the converters of the interface? And next time i will turn on the preamp first?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Unlikely to cause damage, but I'd turn the preamp on first, then the interface, and finally the speakers.

And turn off in the reverse sequence — speakers, interface, preamp.

Those sequences are least likely to result in audible splats and allow the sources to settle before downstream gear is powered.