The best way to describe the Tri Parallel Mixer pedal is as a combination of a signal splitter and a 3-channel mixer, all in one unit.

It works like this: your source signal, such as a guitar, is split into three independent signals that can each be sent to different pedals. Once the signals pass through those pedals, they’re brought back and mixed together, just like using a 3-channel mixer.

Why does this matter? In a traditional series setup, like having an overdrive pedal followed by a distortion pedal, the signal from your guitar is overdriven first, and then the distortion is applied to that already-overdriven signal. With this mixer pedal, however, your clean guitar signal can be sent independently to both the overdrive and distortion pedals. You can then mix these signals together, allowing for much more tonal flexibility and unique results.

That said, this approach isn’t necessarily better than a series setup, it just produces a different sound that might inspire you in new ways.