Noise gates
> Step by step
7. Basic noise gate setup
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1 > Gates differ from expanders in that they work by switching between two states – open and closed – rather than responding continuously to the signal level. Here, we’re gating a snare drum to remove mic bleed and ghost notes. First, set a fast Attack, then adjust the Threshold upwards from minimum until the gate only opens for the main hits.
2 > Now adjust the Hold time, which sets how long the gate stays open once the level drops back below the Threshold. It’s great for drums, enabling accurate timing and preventing rapid opening/closing caused by levels hovering around the Threshold. Here, around 100ms does the trick. Be prepared to adjust the Threshold as you tweak the Hold time.