A SmolskiTech Loop is for use anywhere to eliminate loading down of signal. If you use lots of pedals (like I do), by the time your signal has made its way through all the circuitry, it may have suffered a loss of tone and/or volume. This signal loss can be especially evident when the pedals are bypassed (or off). True bypassing an effect loop is like plugging straight into your amp. It's fun bypassing different units and chains to hear the difference. Especially on a gig or while recording!

Another potential benefit is automated switching of multiple effects at the press of one footswitch. When the effects in a Loop are bypassed (LED off), they can be 'pre-loaded' for one footswitch use.

(ie. while playing clean rhythm guitar during a performance, you realize a solo is coming up in which you'd like to use overdrive, chorus and delay. By turning on the effects within the bypassed loop ahead of time [or pre-loading], you've reduced the number of footswitches which need to be depressed upon start of the actual solo. Upon start of the solo, you press one footswitch on the Loop, the LED comes on and subsequently the pre-loaded effects for the solo.)

A Loop can simplify operation of your setup and most importantly improve its sound. It can also function as a great 'kill switch' if something gets out of hand (like an effect that won't turn off or a bad connection).

Alex Knutsen's live setup, Japan 2006 - see (Who's using these?)