Hi, sorry it took so long to respond. I’d have to post some screen shots to show examples.
Kevin, Mosaic, the topic I’d suggest you both explore more is “Unity Gain.” This means, very basically, that input signal is equal to the output signal. While a 32 bit file might not be able to be “clipped” this is really another question. We’re talking, here, about the system’s audio inputs and outputs and those can be clipped. Be careful is you start changing Cubase’s defaults on this!
I’d suggest working with the TG (Tone Generator) and you’ll quickly see what’s going on with it. I"ll post a few screen shots next week some time. Maybe we’ll get lucky and some other people will as well. Setting your base-line levels really is a very important thing to discuss. I’m sure some of the others here could offer suggestions for optimizing signal quality and preserving headroom and how the TG can help that process.
Most professional mixing desks include a built-in TG which is used to establish “line-up” levels. Typically, Test Tones are recorded at the head of nearly all mixes and masters, TV spots and shows, films. This way one facility knows what levels were used in a recording it receives for use in whatever purposes. Test tones, combined with a simple verbal slate is essential for a clean hand-off. “This was recorded on (date), at (location), by so and so, using a sampling rate of X, time-code (give TC reference used), on (recorder type), other relevant information (camera roll, e.g.) as needed, contact information (or not – depending on the client 
) … What follows is line-up at 1K referenced to X (Reference level you used)” 60 seconds of Tone at the stated reference level, sine wave understood. (For video, the camera displays color bars, the audio channels have the tone, “bars and tone.”)_
Studio Mixes and Masters typically have a full set of tones at different frequencies and levels to help the engineers line up their levels with a previous studio’s levels.
In the Tape Days, professional studios had very expensive Test Tapes that were pre-recorded with a whole host of Test Tones for different purposes – setting levels, biasing tape deck inputs and so on, checking a submitted tape’s stated levels against a known reference, checking the performance of a recorder.
**In Cubase, each audio channel has the Pre-Gain setting. So to get an optimal signal chain, you might consider reducing the channel trim by say -3 to even -10 db or more;**the TG can be a great help with this kind of thing. Preserving headroom, optimizing dynamic range. This way your mastering engineer has room for the finishing touches or whatever else is needed for the project.
Anyway, I’ll post a few screen shots and maybe we’ll get lucky and some others will jump in on this. I hope this helps a bit. It’s something worth working with and it will help your tracks sound better and if you have to hand-off to another studio, it will help them get it right. Good luck on this. It is important. Some great youtube videos over at MixBus TV on subject – that’s one place I’d look for sure.
Good luck. 