Plz Critique My Layout

[CR0SSBL4DE]

Instead of worrying some much in aesthetics, I would consider functionality.
Try to have ground fill. Good for noise and signal integrity.
Keep high impedance nets' traces short. Low impendance nets can be long and not have induced noise.
Keep the feedback networks on amplifing stages as close as possible to the active element.
Keep the circuit input componentes before an active element as close as possible. This will avoid unwanted feedback.
Keep the relay as close as possible from the inputs (short bypass signal path), and make sure the switching circuit components are clustered and do not share traces with the audio (the current spikes can induce noise).
Have a 100nF ceramic cap next to each opamp, this is always recommended by chip manufacturers, and a really good idea if there's opamp clipping.

Those are the ones that come up to mind right now. I'm sure I'm missing more, I don't design many PCBs these days.

(Edit) P.S: don't listen to the hate, you are doing great. Experience is key on PCB design.

 

[Stickman393]

Instead of worrying some much in aesthetics, I would consider functionality.
Try to have ground fill. Good for noise and signal integrity.

Don't mind me. I just think it's funny when I pretend to get angry.

It'll have a ground plane. I just don't add those until I've completed my traces 100% because, it's a PITA to have to continually delete and re-pour on kicad.

Keep high impedance nets' traces short. Low impendance nets can be long and not have induced noise.

Makes sense! I suppose I need to learn to differentiate between the two.

Keep the feedback networks on amplifing stages as close as possible to the active element.

Yes. Active element. Which, believe me, I totally understand what you mean. But for the sake of the rubes in the audience, could you explain what you mean by "active element?".

Keep the circuit input componentes before an active element as close as possible. This will avoid unwanted feedback.

Ok, I'm getting that means transistor base in this case. Or does that also apply to the collector as well? Or now I'm wondering if I'm thinking about "inputs" the right way. Eep.

Keep the relay as close as possible from the inputs (short bypass signal path), and make sure the switching circuit components are clustered and do not share traces with the audio (the current spikes can induce noise).
Have a 100nF ceramic cap next to each opamp, this is always recommended by chip manufacturers, and a really good idea if there's opamp clipping.

Excellent point there. I'll revise what I've got here a bit to separate those.

Those are the ones that come up to mind right now. I'm sure I'm missing more, I don't design many PCBs these days.

(Edit) P.S: don't listen to the hate, you are doing great. Experience is key on PCB design.

The hate feeds me. It makes me grow stronger. It has a subtle umami flavor that goes quite well with a nice swordfish and pilaf, add some lemon, then use the swordfish to slit the throat of ones enemies. *Chefs kiss*.

 

[CR0SSBL4DE]

Makes sense! I suppose I need to learn to differentiate between the two.

Ok, I'm getting that means transistor base in this case. Or does that also apply to the collector as well? Or now I'm wondering if I'm thinking about "inputs" the right way. Eep

These 2 are actually related.
The impedance you can see as how easily current can flow to/from a point in the circuit.
An output of an opamp, the emitter on a Bipolar transistor, ground, etc. are nets that can take/deliver high currents, and those are ideal for long traces.
In the other hand, the circuit input, from the pedal POV, has high impedance, and it's desired to avoid signal loss. But if you have long not-shielded cables or long traces before an amplification stage (opamp, transistor, buffer), noise and crosstalk with other nets can be easily induced. In the cases the net inducing the crosstalk is a copy of the same signal, you can get self oscillation.

Yes. Active element. Which, believe me, I totally understand what you mean. But for the sake of the rubes in the audience, could you explain what you mean by "active element?".

Feedback networks are a concept from classic control. Basically means connecting the output of a circuit back to the input. Usually used as negative feedback, to reduce gain of a higher gain circuit. This gives extra control over the circuit.
In the case of a transistor, any component from emitter to ground or from collector/emitter to base is creating feedback. In an opamp, any component from the output back to the inputs.
A classic example are the antiparallel diodes in opamp overdrives. The feedback networks are suceptible to noise and crosstalk (well, not the trace of the opamp output), and also to parasitic capacitances.
In some high gain circuits the parasitic capacitance can even make the opamp oscillate. This is a common issue on the friedman BE-OD pedal or the soldano SLO pedal.

 

[vigilante398]

General note: if you're going to be doing a ground fill, don't bother drawing ground traces. It takes up space that could be used for other signals and can cause unnecessary vias and sloppy routing to go around things that aren't going to be there permanently. When I'm doing 2-layer boards with ground pour I leave the ground unconnected until I'm ready to place the pour.

You still have a couple spots where the traces could be farther away from the pads, but it's a lot better than it was.

 

[Stickman393]

General note: if you're going to be doing a ground fill, don't bother drawing ground traces. It takes up space that could be used for other signals and can cause unnecessary vias and sloppy routing to go around things that aren't going to be there permanently. When I'm doing 2-layer boards with ground pour I leave the ground unconnected until I'm ready to place the pour.

You still have a couple spots where the traces could be farther away from the pads, but it's a lot better than it was.

Wise words. Though: perplexing words. I don't have any traces in place for my ground nets.

Unless I'm going mad. Which is a possibility.

Each pad now has about a 0.25mm minimum clearance, but I've been nudging those further away as much as I can.

Latest update:

 

[vigilante398]

I don't have any traces in place for my ground nets.

I may have been looking at something else and/or typing with my eyes closed, apologies for the confusion.

0.25mm is a good start, but if you're doing something on the higher end of the gain things you'll definitely want more than that.