Sorry I missed answering this in my other reply. Technically, the output is probably not a pad … I just refer generically to leveling switches that provide reduction in level as a pad. Probably because most pre-amps I’ve used have a level reduction switch labeled pad. The point is that you have a way to provide an attenuated signal to the pedal that is more in line with the level it wants. I think of that as padding the signal for possibly bad reasons.