Gain Stage
Adjusts the signal level at any point in the chain — boost or cut without adding any tonal character.
What it does
The Gain Stage is a transparent level control. It makes the signal louder or quieter at the exact point it appears in the chain, without adding any saturation, colour, or other effect. It is useful for fine-tuning how loud the signal is going into the next effect in the chain — for example, to drive a subsequent overdrive pedal harder, or to balance levels between parallel paths.
Parameters
| Parameter | Range | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gain | −24 to +24 dB | 0 dB | The amount the signal level is raised (+) or lowered (−). 0 dB = no change (unity gain) |
Common uses
| Use | Setting |
|---|---|
| Boost signal into next overdrive/amp | +3 to +12 dB |
| Trim a loud signal before a sensitive effects | −3 to −10 dB |
| Match levels between two parallel paths | Adjust each path's Gain Stage to equalise |
| Silent stage preset (mute a channel in the Multi-Preset Mixer) | −24 dB (or use the Mute control) |
Tips
- Use a Gain Stage before a drive or amp model to push it harder — this is a "clean boost" approach that increases the amp model's saturation and sustain without adding the colour of an overdrive pedal.
- Place a Gain Stage after a cab IR that is louder or quieter than your other presets to level-match without changing any tone settings.
- In a parallel Splitter/Mixer path, add a Gain Stage on each path to independently control how much each branch contributes to the final mix — more flexible than only using the Mixer's gain control.
- The Gain Stage has no effect on tonal character — if you want to boost level and add harmonic content at the same time, use the Overdrive with Drive set low instead.