You say it sounds like a dry signal, do you mean a DI signal? If so, make sure to use the usb 3/4 channels; channel 1 and 2 are for DI of inputs 1 and 2.
Regarding the clipping, there’s a known bug in the NDSP driver that causes static noise, could be mistaken for clipping. For info on this bug see also Occasional Audio Glitches as USB Interface.
Try using Asio4all and make sure the levels of your inputs in the QC are not clipping, too (slide down from the top to open the i/o menu).
Hope that helps