problem
Clipping before limiting can trade peak control for extra harmonic distortion.
A clipper shaves fast peaks instead of turning the whole signal down like a limiter. Placed before a limiter, it can reduce how hard the limiter has to work.
That can make loud masters feel steadier, but it also means the clipped peaks become distortion rather than clean gain reduction.
The chain is helping when the limiter pumps less and the mix keeps its punch. It is hurting when cymbals, vocals, bass, or kick transients become flat and fuzzy.
Check the export, not just the live chain, because clipping can interact with sample-rate conversion and codec encoding.
Use small amounts of clipping on brief peaks, then leave true-peak margin after the limiter. If the clipper has to work constantly, fix the mix or reduce the target loudness.
Meter Core makes peak, true-peak, and loudness changes visible so you can judge whether the clipper is solving a real problem.