diff --git a/native-bridge/src/audio/engine.rs b/native-bridge/src/audio/engine.rs
index 8e212b28..ee581ce7 100644
--- a/native-bridge/src/audio/engine.rs
+++ b/native-bridge/src/audio/engine.rs
@@ -987,18 +987,26 @@ impl AudioEngine {
             false // Default to not muted - let audio through
         };
 
-        // DRY monitoring: hardware bypass for zero-latency monitoring
+        // WET monitoring: apply effects chain for local monitoring
         let should_monitor = monitoring_enabled && !is_muted;
 
         if should_monitor {
-            if let Ok(state) = processing_state.try_read() {
+            if let Ok(mut state) = processing_state.try_write() {
                 let gain = state.track_state.input_gain_linear();
                 let volume = state.track_state.volume;
                 let (pan_left, pan_right) = state.track_state.pan_gains();
 
-                // Apply gain, volume, and pan to stereo pairs
+                // Apply input gain first
+                for sample in stereo_buffer.iter_mut() {
+                    *sample *= gain;
+                }
+
+                // Process through effects chain (if any effects are enabled)
+                state.effects_chain.process(stereo_buffer);
+
+                // Apply volume, pan, and monitoring volume to stereo pairs
                 for chunk in stereo_buffer.chunks_exact_mut(2) {
-                    let base_gain = gain * volume * mon_vol;
+                    let base_gain = volume * mon_vol;
                     chunk[0] *= base_gain * pan_left;
                     chunk[1] *= base_gain * pan_right;
                 }
diff --git a/native-bridge/src/effects/types.rs b/native-bridge/src/effects/types.rs
index c9716f05..6594d24b 100644
--- a/native-bridge/src/effects/types.rs
+++ b/native-bridge/src/effects/types.rs
@@ -6,21 +6,36 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct EffectsSettings {
-    // Base effects (15)
+    // Base effects (15) - all have defaults so partial updates work
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub wah: WahSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub overdrive: OverdriveSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub distortion: DistortionSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub amp: AmpSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub cabinet: CabinetSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub noise_gate: NoiseGateSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub eq: EqSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub compressor: CompressorSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub chorus: ChorusSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub flanger: FlangerSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub phaser: PhaserSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub delay: DelaySettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub tremolo: TremoloSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub reverb: ReverbSettings,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub limiter: LimiterSettings,
     // Extended effects (20)
     #[serde(default)]
diff --git a/src/components/daw/native-bridge-gate.tsx b/src/components/daw/native-bridge-gate.tsx
index b15ab693..965d5d0e 100644
--- a/src/components/daw/native-bridge-gate.tsx
+++ b/src/components/daw/native-bridge-gate.tsx
@@ -72,16 +72,8 @@ export function NativeBridgeGate({
     }
   };
 
-  // If already connected and running, auto-proceed
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (isConnected && isRunning) {
-      // Small delay to show the success state
-      const timer = setTimeout(() => {
-        onJoinAsPerformer();
-      }, 500);
-      return () => clearTimeout(timer);
-    }
-  }, [isConnected, isRunning, onJoinAsPerformer]);
+  // Note: We don't auto-proceed anymore - user should explicitly click "Join as Performer"
+  // Audio starts AFTER joining, so isRunning will be false on this screen
 
   return (
     <div className="min-h-screen bg-gradient-to-br from-slate-900 via-indigo-950 to-slate-900 flex items-center justify-center p-4">
@@ -229,21 +221,21 @@ export function NativeBridgeGate({
 
           {/* Join Options */}
           <div className="space-y-3 pt-2">
-            {/* Performer option */}
+            {/* Performer option - only requires connection, audio starts after joining */}
             <Button
               size="lg"
-              disabled={!isConnected || !isRunning}
+              disabled={!isConnected}
               onClick={onJoinAsPerformer}
               className={cn(
                 "w-full h-14 text-base",
-                isConnected && isRunning
+                isConnected
                   ? "bg-gradient-to-r from-indigo-600 to-purple-600 hover:from-indigo-500 hover:to-purple-500"
                   : "bg-slate-700 text-slate-400"
               )}
             >
               <Mic className="w-5 h-5 mr-2" />
               Join as Performer
-              {isConnected && isRunning && (
+              {isConnected && latency.total > 0 && (
                 <span className="ml-2 text-xs bg-white/20 px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full">
                   {latency.total.toFixed(0)}ms
                 </span>
diff --git a/src/hooks/useNativeBridge.ts b/src/hooks/useNativeBridge.ts
index 8def450b..94cd722f 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useNativeBridge.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useNativeBridge.ts
@@ -406,17 +406,24 @@ export function useNativeBridge() {
     nativeBridge.setSampleRate(state.sampleRate);
     nativeBridge.setChannelConfig(channelConfigToUse);
 
-    // Send track state to native bridge for direct monitoring
+    // Send track state AND effects to native bridge for direct monitoring
     if (currentUserId && primaryTrack) {
       nativeBridge.updateTrackState(primaryTrack.id, {
         isArmed: primaryTrack.isArmed,
         isMuted: primaryTrack.isMuted,
         isSolo: primaryTrack.isSolo,
         volume: primaryTrack.volume,
+        pan: primaryTrack.pan ?? 0,
         inputGainDb: primaryTrack.audioSettings.inputGain || 0,
         monitoringEnabled: primaryTrack.audioSettings.directMonitoring ?? true,
         monitoringVolume: primaryTrack.audioSettings.monitoringVolume ?? 1,
       });
+
+      // Send effects to native bridge on startup
+      if (primaryTrack.audioSettings.effects) {
+        console.log('[useNativeBridge] Sending initial effects to native bridge');
+        nativeBridge.updateEffects(primaryTrack.id, primaryTrack.audioSettings.effects);
+      }
     }
 
     // Start audio - processors are already ready to receive it
diff --git a/src/lib/audio/native-bridge.ts b/src/lib/audio/native-bridge.ts
index a1c65b68..e9cac34f 100644
--- a/src/lib/audio/native-bridge.ts
+++ b/src/lib/audio/native-bridge.ts
@@ -340,9 +340,9 @@ export class NativeBridge {
           break;
 
         case 'streamHealth':
-          // Only log if there's an issue (overflow or unhealthy)
-          if (msg.overflowCount > 0 || !msg.isHealthy) {
-            console.warn('[NativeBridge] Stream health issue:', msg);
+          // Only log overflow issues - empty buffer on reconnect is normal
+          if (msg.overflowCount > 0) {
+            console.warn('[NativeBridge] Buffer overflow:', msg.overflowCount, 'batches,', msg.overflowSamples, 'samples dropped');
           }
           this.emit('streamHealth', {
             bufferOccupancy: msg.bufferOccupancy,
@@ -593,6 +593,11 @@ export class NativeBridge {
    * Update effects
    */
   updateEffects(trackId: string, effects: Partial<UnifiedEffectsChain>): void {
+    // Log which effects are enabled for debugging
+    const enabledEffects = Object.entries(effects)
+      .filter(([, v]) => v && typeof v === 'object' && 'enabled' in v && v.enabled)
+      .map(([k]) => k);
+    console.log('[NativeBridge] updateEffects:', { trackId, enabledEffects });
     this.send({ type: 'updateEffects', trackId: trackId, effects });
   }