Gain staging is managing levels at each stage of the signal path. Swap the order and remove or add plugins as needed. Using the same order of plugins may not work for every sound or situation. Moreover, it’s important to remember these are general mixing suggestions and not hard rules. This workflow provides a good starting point. However, there is a traditional order of effects widely adapted. The order you insert your plugins depends on the source material, what you’re trying to achieve, and what sounds best to your ears. What’s the correct order for plugins in an effects chain? This topic is confusing because there is no absolute rule. Knowing how the order of plugins influence sound can help you make mix decisions and troubleshoot problems. A plugin will affect the sound differently depending on its position along the effects chain.

The order of your plugins in an effects chain does matter.