MOD Dwarf Output Volume: DSP attenuation or analog attenuation?

#1

Hi MOD team,

I have a quick question about the MOD Dwarf output gain staging.

From the wiki and forum posts, I understand that the output stage is actively buffered and safe for both TS and TRS connections. What is still unclear is where the user-adjustable “Output Volume” attenuation actually happens.

At a high level, is the Output Volume:

  • implemented as DSP-level attenuation before the DAC, with a fixed-gain analog output buffer,
    or
  • does it include any form of analog attenuation after the DAC (e.g. VCA or digitally controlled analog attenuator)?

I’m not looking for schematics — just a conceptual clarification to help with proper gain staging and post-Dwarf (post-amp) design.

Thanks in advance.

#2

Hey @Shin.K,

Thanks for your question, and it’s eventually something that I will try to clear out also on the wiki.
I’m not sure if I fully understood the question, yet, the Output Volume control (from here)) happens on a DAC level.
Something like the Pedalboard Out Gain (from here) happens still on a digital level. As well as (obviously) any gain staging from plugins inside the virtual pedalboard.

Does that answer your question?

#3

thanks a lot for the clarification, that answers my question very well.

So to confirm my understanding:

  • The Output Volume control on the screen affects the signal at the DAC level.
  • Pedalboard Out Gain and plugin gain staging are handled purely in the digital domain.
  • The physical output itself is therefore an active line output, not a passive attenuator.

That makes perfect sense, and it helps a lot for proper gain staging when feeding external analog gear.

Thanks again for taking the time to explain this — looking forward to the wiki update as well.

Best regards,
Shin

#4

Great :slight_smile:

On the screen of the MOD Dwarf, yes.

exactly

I guess yes. This here is already a bit out of my scope of knowledge.

Great :slight_smile: I’m happy to help

Yes! On that, I’ve been working on quite a lot of things over there, but these “small gaps” are always hard to find. So I take them case by case and try to understand where the info could better make sense.