diff --git a/src/ezmsg/sigproc/gaussiansmoothing.py b/src/ezmsg/sigproc/gaussiansmoothing.py
index 6a697962..f0f01507 100644
--- a/src/ezmsg/sigproc/gaussiansmoothing.py
+++ b/src/ezmsg/sigproc/gaussiansmoothing.py
@@ -14,10 +14,13 @@
 
 
 class GaussianSmoothingSettings(FilterBaseSettings):
-    sigma: float | None = 1.0
+    sigma: float | None = 0.01
     """
     sigma : float
-        Standard deviation of the Gaussian kernel.
+        Standard deviation of the Gaussian kernel, in **seconds**. Converted
+        to samples using the sampling rate of the first message.
+        The -3 dB corner frequency is sqrt(ln 2) / (2 * pi * sigma); the
+        default of 0.01 s is equivalent to a ~13.2 Hz low-pass.
     """
 
     width: int | None = 4
@@ -38,6 +41,8 @@ def gaussian_smoothing_filter_design(
     width: int = 4,
     kernel_size: int | None = None,
 ) -> BACoeffs | None:
+    """Design a normalized Gaussian FIR kernel. ``sigma`` is in **samples**;
+    callers with a time-domain sigma must scale by the sampling rate first."""
     # Parameter checks
     if sigma <= 0:
         raise ValueError(f"sigma must be positive. Received: {sigma}")
@@ -61,6 +66,12 @@ def gaussian_smoothing_filter_design(
             "The kernel may be truncated."
         )
 
+    if kernel_size == 1:
+        warnings.warn(
+            f"kernel_size=1 (sigma={sigma} samples, width={width}) yields an "
+            "identity (single-tap) kernel: no smoothing will be performed."
+        )
+
     from scipy.signal.windows import gaussian
 
     b = gaussian(kernel_size, std=sigma)
@@ -74,10 +85,9 @@ class GaussianSmoothingFilterTransformer(FilterByDesignTransformer[GaussianSmoot
     def get_design_function(
         self,
     ) -> Callable[[float], BACoeffs]:
-        # Create a wrapper function that ignores fs parameter since gaussian smoothing doesn't need it
         def design_wrapper(fs: float) -> BACoeffs:
             return gaussian_smoothing_filter_design(
-                sigma=self.settings.sigma,
+                sigma=self.settings.sigma * fs,  # settings.sigma is in seconds
                 width=self.settings.width,
                 kernel_size=self.settings.kernel_size,
             )
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_gaussian_smoothing_filter.py b/tests/unit/test_gaussian_smoothing_filter.py
index 1d701008..5ab2c2d7 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_gaussian_smoothing_filter.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_gaussian_smoothing_filter.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def test_gaussian_smoothing_filter_function(axis, sigma, width, kernel_size):
 def test_gaussian_smoothing_settings_defaults():
     """Test the GaussianSmoothingSettings class with default values."""
     settings = GaussianSmoothingSettings()
-    assert settings.sigma == 1.0
+    assert settings.sigma == 0.01  # seconds; ~13.2 Hz low-pass (-3 dB)
     assert settings.width == 4
     assert settings.kernel_size is None
 
@@ -136,9 +136,9 @@ def test_gaussian_smoothing_filter_process(data_shape):
 
     msg = AxisArray(data=data, dims=dims, axes=axes, key="test_gaussian_smoothing")
 
-    # Instantiate transformer (not unit)
+    # Instantiate transformer (not unit). sigma is in seconds: 0.02 s @ 100 Hz = 2 samples.
     transformer = GaussianSmoothingFilterTransformer(
-        settings=GaussianSmoothingSettings(axis="time", sigma=2.0, width=4)
+        settings=GaussianSmoothingSettings(axis="time", sigma=0.02, width=4)
     )
 
     # Process message using __call__ method
@@ -152,8 +152,9 @@ def test_gaussian_smoothing_filter_process(data_shape):
 
 def test_gaussian_smoothing_edge_cases():
     """Test edge cases for gaussian smoothing filter."""
-    # Test with very small sigma
-    coefs_small = gaussian_smoothing_filter_design(sigma=0.01)
+    # Sub-sample sigma degenerates to an identity kernel and warns.
+    with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match="identity"):
+        coefs_small = gaussian_smoothing_filter_design(sigma=0.01)
     b_small, a_small = coefs_small
     assert len(b_small) > 0
     assert np.isclose(np.sum(b_small), 1.0)
@@ -206,10 +207,11 @@ def _calc_smoothing_effect(msg):
 
     original_variance = _calc_smoothing_effect(msg_in)
 
-    # Initialize filter with small sigma (minimal smoothing)
+    # Initialize filter with small sigma (minimal smoothing).
+    # sigma is in seconds: 0.0025 s @ 200 Hz = 0.5 samples.
     proc = GaussianSmoothingFilterTransformer(
         axis="time",
-        sigma=0.5,
+        sigma=0.0025,
         width=4,
         coef_type="ba",
     )
@@ -221,8 +223,8 @@ def _calc_smoothing_effect(msg):
     # Small sigma should have minimal effect
     assert np.allclose(variance1, original_variance, rtol=0.1)
 
-    # Update settings - change to larger sigma (more smoothing)
-    proc.update_settings(sigma=3.0)
+    # Update settings - change to larger sigma (more smoothing): 3 samples @ 200 Hz
+    proc.update_settings(sigma=0.015)
 
     # Process the same message with new settings
     result2 = proc(msg_in)
@@ -234,7 +236,7 @@ def _calc_smoothing_effect(msg):
     # Test update_settings with complete new settings object
     new_settings = GaussianSmoothingSettings(
         axis="time",
-        sigma=5.0,  # Even larger sigma
+        sigma=0.025,  # Even larger sigma: 5 samples @ 200 Hz
         width=6,
         kernel_size=None,
         coef_type="ba",
@@ -248,6 +250,40 @@ def _calc_smoothing_effect(msg):
     assert np.all(variance3 < variance2)
 
 
+def test_gaussian_sigma_is_in_seconds():
+    """The same settings must yield the same temporal smoothing at any fs:
+    kernel length in samples scales with the sampling rate."""
+
+    def _kernel_len(fs: float) -> int:
+        proc = GaussianSmoothingFilterTransformer(GaussianSmoothingSettings(sigma=0.02, axis="time"))
+        msg = AxisArray(
+            data=np.zeros((int(fs), 2)),
+            dims=["time", "ch"],
+            axes={
+                "time": AxisArray.TimeAxis(fs=fs, offset=0),
+                "ch": AxisArray.CoordinateAxis(data=np.arange(2).astype(str), dims=["ch"]),
+            },
+            key="test_gaussian_sigma_seconds",
+        )
+        _ = proc(msg)
+        b, _a = proc.state.filter.settings.coefs
+        return len(b)
+
+    len_100 = _kernel_len(100.0)  # sigma = 2 samples
+    len_1000 = _kernel_len(1000.0)  # sigma = 20 samples
+    assert len_100 == int(2 * 4 * 0.02 * 100.0 + 1)
+    assert len_1000 == int(2 * 4 * 0.02 * 1000.0 + 1)
+
+
+def test_gaussian_identity_kernel_warns_and_passes_through():
+    """An explicit single-tap kernel warns and leaves the data unchanged."""
+    proc = GaussianSmoothingFilterTransformer(GaussianSmoothingSettings(sigma=0.02, kernel_size=1, axis="time"))
+    msg = make_msg()
+    with pytest.warns(UserWarning):
+        result = proc(msg)
+    assert np.allclose(result.data, msg.data)
+
+
 def test_gaussian_empty_after_init():
     from ezmsg.sigproc.gaussiansmoothing import GaussianSmoothingFilterTransformer, GaussianSmoothingSettings