Level

The amplitude of a signal at a given point in the chain, and the control that sets it when the point is a pedal or an amplifier.

The distinction from gain matters: a level control attenuates an already-generated signal, so turning it down does not change how much distortion a pedal produces, only how hard the next stage is driven, whereas a gain control changes where the distortion is generated. Setting levels consistently across a pedalboard is what stops one pedal's output from overloading the next, and it is the reason clarity often improves simply by turning a few pedals down.

Example: an overdrive with its level cranked will push the amplifier into distortion even with the knob's gain held low.

Level

See also