Some compressors, like the dbx 166xs, include limited gating controls. Units like the dbx 1074 QuadGate and the Behringer MULTIGATE PRO XR4400 are rack-mounted gating processors used in conjunction with the console. Gate controls are located in the following: By altering the speed in which the gate opens and the signal strength required to open it, you can give it a punchier sound by only opening the gate once the initial sound level is much higher. It takes fractions of a second for the volume to build. For example, imagine the sound of a kick drum being struck. This type of effect could be used on multiple instruments but you have to ask the question, “would it benefit the sound?”Īnother way to use gating as an effect is by adding punch. Now imagine the signal was cut off after the initial hit was heard. Imagine the sound of a snare being hit and the sound naturally decaying in volume. Knowing how to use a noise gate will definitely improve the house mix by reducing the extra buzz from electric guitars and amplifiers.Īudio gating as an effect, now that’s where things get interesting. In this case, noise gating could be used to keep out the hum when the musician wasn’t playing.

This is sound coming from the intended instrument but it’s not a useful sound. Consider an electric guitar signal which sends hum along the line.

Gating can be used for clearing up a signal. Use of a gate would stop those lower signal level stage noises from being broadcast when the singer wasn’t singing. The microphone should capture the singer’s voice but it should not reproduce the stage sounds into the house mix. An open microphone should pick up the intended source and very little else.įor example, look at a vocal microphone. The stage is full of sound, from the instruments and singers to the wash of floor monitors and slapback. Using these properties, a number of audio gating techniques can be used. How soon the gate can be fully opened again.Gating is more than controlling if a signal passes through the channel. The higher volume level is what opened the gate. Then you yell, “I WANT TO COME IN” and this time the gate opens.

Imagine standing in front of a fence gate and whispering, “I want to come in.” Nothing happens. In some cases, it’s referred to as a noise gate. It’s based on factors including the signal level strength. Gating is a simple process which, when used at the right time, produces great results.Īudio gating is the control of when and to what degree audio passes through a channel.

Noise gates and compressors