Signal chain
Mono, Stereo and Wet/Dry Pedalboard Routing
Stereo labels describe connections, not the size of the sound. Design from the destination backward.
Research guide · Updated July 27, 2026Begin at the speakers or recording inputs
A stereo pedal needs two distinct downstream channels to remain stereo. If both outputs eventually collapse to one mono input, verify how the pedal sums and whether phase relationships remain safe.
For recording, two interface inputs can preserve stereo. Live, two amplifiers or a stereo direct path add cabling, level matching and venue coordination.
Separate wet and dry deliberately
A wet/dry rig sends an unprocessed or core tone to one path and effects to another. Decide whether the wet side also contains dry signal and whether both paths stay phase-aligned.
Isolation transformers, ground-lift facilities and phase reversal may be needed when feeding two amplifiers. Use purpose-built splitting equipment rather than lifting safety earth.
Choose complexity you can reproduce
Document every output mode, cable and amplifier setting. A rich stereo patch that cannot survive a small stage or mono recording input is less useful than a strong mono version with an optional expansion path.
Build and save a mono-safe baseline first. Add stereo width only where the musical arrangement and destination preserve it.
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