What is a Noise Gate and How to Use It

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What is a Noise Gate and How to Use It


Feb 17, 2023


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If you 're a musician, then you know how annoying it can be when the microphone picks up everything that 's going on around you. This is where a noise gate comes in handy. In this blog post, we 'll explain what a noise gate is and how to use one effectively.

A noise gate is a tool that eliminates the background sound in your audio track. It works by letting all sounds through and then closing when it hears an input signal. The result: only part of the recorded audio will be played, so you can focus on what 's important for your video or song.


As an Audio Engineer it 's important for you to know what key your singer is singing in at all times! This helps you set microphone levels properly so that they always sound crisp and clear without any distortion whatsoever! If you 're recording a song featuring vocals that change keys frequently during the course of the track (like many metal songs do) then it 's especially crucial that you keep accurate tabs on this information, because if singers don't sing back in the same key as they were originally recorded in, it can make for a very messy and cluttered mix.

To use a noise gate effectively, you 'll need to adjust several parameters:


  • Threshold - this is the volume when the gate opens. A low threshold means that it will open at a sound level lower than your vocals or instrument playing. Make sure not to set it too high, otherwise it won 'st catch all of what 's necessary and parts of your recording will be cut off.
  • Attack/release - this is how quickly the gate closes after it opens. If you set the attack too short, certain parts of your track will get cut out (e.g., if there 's noise in between singing phrases). A longer release means that all sounds are heard even though they 're quiet and only last for a short time.
  • Range - this parameter sets the volume range that the gate will work on. For example, if you have a noisy track with both loud and soft sounds, you 'll want to set the range higher so that the gate catches all of the relevant sounds. If you just want to get rid of the background noise, then set the range low so that only the loudest sounds are cut out.


By using a noise gate effectively, you can clean up your audio track and make sure that only the important parts are heard. This is especially helpful when recording vocals or instruments, as it eliminates any unwanted background noises. Experiment with the different parameters to find the setting that works best for your track.

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