Круг Таро, Рейки и Магии

While testing a generated ambience in a game scene, I noticed a faint tick at each repeat. The recording has a quiet grainy layer throughout, so I am trying to separate two possible problems. My first practical option is to adjust the endpoints and audition a brief crossfade. I found a reference to ai audio artifact removal during my search, but the editing order still matters. At this stage I cannot tell whether the tick is embedded in the recording or introduced by my loop setup. Does checking the join before listening to the uninterrupted middle seem like the right diagnostic order? An untouched copy would make it easier to compare each edit with the starting point. After editing, I would check the actual game playback as well as the audio editor. What evidence would convince you that broader cleanup is appropriate after the seam has been checked?