when running my POG 2 after my preamp, I noticed that my levels would drop with it in. Setting up a new sound, if I turn down all but the dry, switch it in and out to match levels, the bring in octaves, at a certain point my dry sound would drop. It’s as though the dry, and octaves, were competing for head room. Everything had a compressed sound.

As an experiment I set it up at instrument level before my preamp, and there was plenty of level available with any combinations of settings. Going back to line level after my preamp, I brought it’s output down and made up for it after the POG 2, and things seem to be fine, up to a point..

I’m just wondering if there is some kind of level protection, sounding like compression, not clipping, in play with the pedal.
I guess the broader question is, is there a point at which input level is detrimental to best intended performance. If so, any way to determine that? Trial and error?

Thanks