-144dB is as low down as a 24-bit converter can go (and about 20dB below the real noisefloor!) so can be regarded as zero percent, being as low as can be measured.
Clicking can be expected if you start during a signal that has high LF content, so I think perhaps Bob's suggestion should be re-tried diring a silent pasage -either before the downbeat or after the tail... then tell us if it clicks. If you get a click during silence, you have DC. (an inaudible signal that only gives away it's presence by it's commencement or interruption)
BTW, Much respect to bobkatz. -Bob, I should drop round again soon... Also, Level, it was a great surprise to meet you with Mike the other day... I haven't replied to your PM in the other forum yet... been busy as hell, but I'll certainly let you have a copy of the 'classical Brass' project as soon as it's edited and shaped up a bit! ... which is all a bit premature since the record window isn't till late August!!!
BTW I had this problem once with a Neotek console (no blocking caps and a hefty DC offset on most outputs) and a Synclavier (input converters actually do record down to DC...) people thought that the signal they were seeing on the meters was HF noise... it was actually the other end of the spectrum!
Keith