In/out and DC jack placement on pedals - What's your preference?

[BigDave16]

Here's my set-up. My board has, in order, TU3, LMB and ODB-3 into the amp. I also have a Chorus and Flanger in the effects loop. The first three are bottom row and the last two are top row on my board. All are side i/o.

Now the dilemma. In its current configuration, if they were top mount, my size 14 shoe would undoubtedly step on the cables when trying to switch top row pedals.

However, the side out from my overdrive has been disconnected in my last 2 gigs. Once by the drummer walking past and once by me (head hung low in shame) when moving my Mic stand. I keep the board directly in front of my rig.

I originally voted top. But after typing this out, I would rather stay side but have a way to lock the cable into the pedal or secure it to the board. Considering a screw down cable strap.

Oh, the life of playing small clubs.

[BigDave16]

After reading other comments, Top doesn't refer to the stepping surface but rather the top edge (as in where all my Boss pedals have the power Jack, duh). Top edge it is. It would solve all my issues.

Also, any pedal with stereo should use a TRS Jack instead of two mono jacks.

[father of fires]

Everyone will say top mounted for use with pedal boards but personally I like side mounted because I generally use one pedal at a time and I like the way the cables lay with a single side mounted pedal.

[Downunderwonder]

If top was standard we could fit more pedals on our boards. You'd think Darwinism would sort that out quickly. I always feel jealous of the whizzbang boards with all top jacks.

[Thecomedian]

carrots. lots of carrots.

I haven't gotten to house my test pedals yet, but I'd say side to side, buttons on top, and DC input front. You don't want to step on the DC cord and rip it out, so it being away from you is good. You dont want the audio cables to hang in their sockets from the top, creating a danger where you can hang your foot up in them if you get too close, and so on.

These would be my design preferences.

[Downunderwonder]

No accounting for tanglefoot carrot munchers.