Noise gate

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 29 Aug 2002 10:44 am

What is this effect? Is it supposed to cut down on a noisy effects chain?
How do I use it on a TubeFex?
Does it have any disadvantages?

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 29 Aug 2002 11:54 am

this is the Harmony Central explanation -- hope this helps.

If you use too much noise gating on pedal steel, you will cut off the 'tail' of your notes, since the gate closes once the signal gets quieter. The steel player may want even that weak signal near the end of the sustain period to be heard. This can cause the sound to 'breathe' as the gate opens and closes. I have used a gate from time to time, but it may be difficult to get the desired reduction in noise without the side effects of 'breathing' and cutting off the end of the notes.

Put it after all other effects, but before reverb (and maybe delay). It's often used to minimize the noise when using overdrive or distortion.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 29 August 2002 at 01:01 PM.]

Buck Dilly · Post by **Buck Dilly** » 29 Aug 2002 12:39 pm

Having used inexpensive Noise Gates in the past, my experience has been to avoid them when using an instrument that utilizes volumn pedals. It is better to try to reduce noise at its source, (less compression, distortion; higher quality FX, etc.) I have some very noisy stuff, but if I don't leave these on in quiet passeges, it is not a problem. A noise gate will not solve the problem, only mask it.

Bob Kagy · Post by **Bob Kagy** » 30 Aug 2002 11:40 am

Larry, great description of something I was recently fighting and beginning to blame on deteriorating volume pedal technique.

"Breathing" described part of it; squinching down the sustain abruptly was the other. I knew it was in my fx, but was blaming it on using a touch of compression and thinking the box(a POD) was not deeply edited in the proper way. Turning off the noise gate was the magic key that solved the whole thing.

Thanks.

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 30 Aug 2002 1:27 pm

From my experience, when using a noise gate with pedal steel or electric guitar, the noise gate HAS to be in front of the volume pedal or it will not work. On the all-in-one boxes like the POD, etc. you don't have the option to put the volume pedal after the noise gate but before some of the effects, so you're forced into having to turn it off.

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 30 Aug 2002 1:50 pm

I use a an "Alesis 3630" in my rack system and find that I generally don't need the "noise gate" function too often. It does have a habit of cuttin' off the signal as it degrades, and I have had to really learn to fine tune this part of the processor in order to acheive the desired results.

All in all, I think the "3630" is a fine device and wouldn't think of recording
without it.