Multiple boards · multi-chain signal flow · to-scale layout · power supply check. All measurements in inches.
Signal chains & power supplies
Signal chains
Power supplies
Pedals
+ Suggest a pedal
Typical order: Tuner → Dynamics → Drive → EQ → Modulation → Delay → Reverb. Each chain sorted independently.
Layout
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Take your board into
RigWork to add MIDI presets, scenes, and signal routing.
▸⚡ Power Analysis
Add your pedals by type; the tool sorts them into recommended order and explains why each stage goes there. Use the arrows to override.
Your chain
Got your order? Switch to the
Pedalboard tab to lay it out to scale and map power.
Rack unit too hot, too quiet, or noisy in your FX loop? It's almost always a loudness mismatch (-10 dBV vs +4 dBu).
What's wrong with my loop?
Pick your amp's loop and your rack/pedal gear.
The two standards
-10 dBV
316 mV
Consumer / instrument level. Most guitar amp FX loops, pedals, home gear. Unbalanced (TS) connectors.
+4 dBu
1.23 V
Pro / studio level. Rack units, studio interfaces, PA mixers. ~11.8 dB louder than -10dBV. Usually balanced (TRS / XLR).
The gap is ~11.8 dB. A +4dBu unit into a -10dBV loop clips before you touch the send level. The same unit in reverse comes out noisy and thin.
Level converter
Enter a level in either standard to see the equivalent.
dBV = 20 × log₁₀(V). dBu = 20 × log₁₀(V / 0.7746), referenced to 1mW into 600Ω.
Common gear reference
- -10 dBV loops (most guitar amps) - Fender, Marshall, Vox, Orange, Peavey, Boss GT series, most stompbox multi-FX.
- +4 dBu loops - Mesa Boogie (many models), Kemper, Fractal AX8/FM9/Axe-Fx, Line 6 Helix, ENGL Invader.
- Switchable - Mesa Mark V, Bogner, some newer Mesa. Check the manual - usually a rear-panel or dip switch.
- Typical rack gear (+4 dBu) - dbx compressors, TC Electronic rack FX, Eventide H-series, Lexicon reverbs, Roland SDE, most studio EQs.
Always match levels before cranking send/return. A pad or level-matching DI is cheaper than a blown preamp stage.