A gate plugin is a dynamic processor used to control the volume of audio signals based on their level, similar to an expander, but with more emphasis on completely silencing audio below a certain threshold. Essentially, it acts as an "automatic mute" for audio that falls below a set level, and is especially useful for eliminating unwanted noise or bleedbetween tracks.
Here’s a breakdown of when and how to use gate plugins effectively in your music production:
1. Noise Reduction (Removing Background Noise)
Where to Use:
- Vocal recordings or any track where there is background noise, like hum, buzz, or room tone.
- Guitar or bass recordings where noise from the amp or pedalboard is unwanted between notes.
How to Use:
- Set the Threshold: Place the gate's threshold just above the level of the background noise but below the desired signal level (e.g., the quietest parts of the vocal or guitar).
- Ratio and Attack: Use a gentle ratio (e.g., 2:1 or 3:1) with a fast attack time to cleanly remove unwanted noise while allowing the musical signal to pass through.
- Release: Adjust the release time to be moderate, allowing the noise to be quickly silenced but ensuring it doesn’t cut off the tail of your performance (e.g., the end of a word or note).
- Hold: If the gate cuts off sounds too abruptly, you can use the hold control to keep the gate open for a brief period before closing again, to avoid cutting off short sounds.
Example: A vocal recording with background hum or a slight room noise can benefit from gating to only allow the vocal itself to be heard, silencing the noise between phrases.
2. Drum Tracks (Reducing Bleed)
Where to Use:
- Drum microphones: In situations where multiple microphones are picking up sound from other drums (e.g., snare mic picking up toms, or overhead mics picking up kick drum bleed).
- Individual drum mics: On snare, kick, and tom mics to isolate the drums and reduce the pickup of other instruments or noise.
How to Use:
- Threshold: Set the threshold just below the level of the main drum sound (e.g., snare hit or kick drum thump) but higher than the bleed from neighboring instruments.
- Attack: Use a fast attack to make sure that the gate opens as soon as the drum hit occurs, allowing the transient to pass through.
- Release: Set a medium to fast release time to ensure the gate closes quickly after the drum hit, cleaning up the background noise without cutting off the sustain or aftersound of the drum.
- Range: You can use the range to control how much gain reduction is applied to the bleed. For instance, you could reduce it significantly or just lower it slightly.
Example: On a snare mic, a gate can be used to prevent unwanted tom or cymbal bleed from coming through when the snare is not being hit. This keeps the snare sound clean and tight.
3. Tightening Up Instrumental Sounds (Clearing Up Muddiness)
Where to Use:
- Bass guitar: To clean up unwanted noise or hum during quiet sections between notes or chords.
- Electric guitar: In high-gain situations (like distorted guitars) where you want to cut out the noise between riffs and chord hits.
How to Use:
- Threshold: Set the threshold just below the level of the desired sound (e.g., the quietest guitar pluck or bass note).
- Attack: Use a fast attack to ensure that it engages immediately after the note stops.
- Release: Set a fast release to ensure the gate cuts off noise quickly but doesn’t clip any longer notes.
- Range: You can set the range to make the gate more aggressive (e.g., cutting out more of the noise) or more subtle (e.g., slightly lowering the noise floor).
Example: On a distorted electric guitar, gating helps tighten up the sound by removing hum or noise between notes or riffs, making the guitar sound more focused and polished.
4. Cleaning Up Microphone Bleed in Multi-Instrument Tracks
Where to Use:
- Live recordings or multitrack sessions where microphones are picking up unwanted sounds from other instruments.
- Recording a band where drums, vocals, and other instruments are all in the same room, and microphones inadvertently pick up bleed from each other.
How to Use:
- Threshold: Set the threshold to only allow the main instrument’s sound to pass through while silencing unwanted bleed (e.g., background vocals, or other instruments).
- Attack and Release: Use a fast attack to immediately silence the bleed and a moderate to fast release to avoid cutting off any musical tails or sounds.
- Hold: Use hold to prevent the gate from closing too quickly, especially in the case of instruments that have a long sustain or reverberation.
Example: On a live drum recording, the snare mic may pick up unwanted vocal bleed. A gate on the snare mic can help to isolate the snare hits from the vocal bleed in between snare hits.
5. Sidechain Gating (In EDM and Dance Music)
Where to Use:
- Sidechain effect: In electronic music, sidechain gating is commonly used to create that "pumping" effect, where the music ducks in volume (e.g., the bass or pads) in time with the kick drum.
How to Use:
- Set a sidechain input: On the gate, set the sidechain input to listen to the kick drum (or another track that triggers the gating effect).
- Threshold: Set the threshold on the gated track to trigger when the kick hits, causing the track to reduce in volume (i.e., the gate will close, reducing the level of the track).
- Attack and Release: Use a medium-to-fast attack time for a pronounced, snappy effect, and adjust the release to match the tempo of the song for a rhythmic pumping effect.
Example: In a house or techno track, sidechain gating can be used on the bass or pads, causing them to "duck" in time with the kick drum, creating a rhythmic, pulsating effect that drives the track forward.
6. Gating on Synths or Percussion (Creating Tight Transients)
Where to Use:
- Synths or pads: To eliminate background noise or control unwanted sustain between notes.
- Percussion elements: If you’re working with sampled percussion sounds or electronic beats that have inconsistent sustain or noise.
How to Use:
- Threshold: Set the threshold just below the quietest part of the signal.
- Attack: Fast attack to ensure the gate opens immediately when the note starts.
- Release: Use a medium to fast release, depending on how you want to shape the sustain of the sound.
- Range: Set the range depending on how much you want to reduce the sustain or quiet portions of the signal.
Example: On a synthetic kick drum, you could use a gate to remove any extra reverb or tail that makes the kick sound less punchy and more focused.
Key Settings to Adjust on a Gate Plugin
- Threshold: The level at which the gate activates. Anything below this level is muted or reduced in volume.
- Ratio: Controls how much gain reduction occurs when the gate is active. A higher ratio means the signal is cut off more aggressively.
- Attack: How quickly the gate opens once the signal exceeds the threshold.
- Release: How quickly the gate closes after the signal falls below the threshold.
- Range: How much volume reduction is applied to the signal below the threshold (e.g., a full cut or a subtle reduction).
- Hold: The amount of time the gate stays open before it starts to close after the signal drops below the threshold.
General Tips for Using Gate Plugins
- Use gates subtly: Overuse of gates can make your track sound unnatural, so it’s often best to apply them subtly to clean up unwanted noise or control dynamics, rather than making drastic cuts.
- Fine-tune attack/release settings: Adjusting these parameters carefully helps avoid abrupt changes in volume that could make the gate effect noticeable or unnatural.
- Listen in context: Always check how your gate sounds in the context of the mix. It should help clarify sounds without removing important musical information or creating artifacts.
- Use gating in conjunction with other dynamics processing: Gates can complement compressors or expanders to clean up signals or fine-tune dynamics.
Conclusion
Gate plugins are extremely useful for cleaning up audio tracks, reducing background noise, and isolating specific instruments in a mix. Whether you're working with vocals, drums, or synthesisers, understanding when and how to use a gate can greatly improve the clarity and focus of your recordings and mixes.
By the Stealify Team!
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