Input gate tames a little high end?

Yes, I always use the gate off unless the noise is driving me crazy. :D

Whether I'm using computer virtual amp software or third-party modelers, I turn it off if I can, and if not, I lower it to the lowest setting.

Many beginners claim, "My modeler/multi-effects unit has worse input dynamics than my real amp," without completely removing the gate.

This YouTuber shares tips for turning off the noise gate and slightly adjusting the input dynamics of the amp block to create a more vibrant and realistic amp experience.


*Fractal's noise gate is so high-performance(On the contrary, there is something like IK Don'tX;))
that it doesn't show a night and day difference, but it's subtle, and if you can hear the difference, it's important.
 
francis said:
Yes, I always use the gate off unless the noise is driving me crazy. :D

Whether I'm using computer virtual amp software or third-party modelers, I turn it off if I can, and if not, I lower it to the lowest setting.

Many beginners claim, "My modeler/multi-effects unit has worse input dynamics than my real amp," without completely removing the gate.

This YouTuber shares tips for turning off the noise gate and slightly adjusting the input dynamics of the amp block to create a more vibrant and realistic amp experience.


*Fractal's noise gate is so high-performance(On the contrary, there is something like IK Don'tX;))
that it doesn't show a night and day difference, but it's subtle, and if you can hear the difference, it's important.
Click to expand...

Personally, I feel like this is smoke and mirrors in a sense. I've played several gigs with input dynamics at 0, 2 and 5 and I'll be buggered if I can sense a difference.
 
Yes , I've experimented with the input dynamics tweak myself, and it didn't really resonate with me, so I'm not advocating for it. However, as youtuber mentioned, the ability to remove the slight noise generated when the noise gate is turned off by adjusting the input dynamics is a feature I hadn't known about before and I think it quite useful tip for idle noise.

*I sometimes prefer and use a tip that slightly reduces the 'p.a. hardness'. I think it hides my mediocre guitar skills a little bit haha:laughing:
 
The noise gates do affect the frequency response when the gate is closed. The Intelligent and Noise Reducer models have a high end roll off and the Classic mode has a small low end roll off. Intelligent and Noise Reducer modes also have notch filters to remove mains hum and its harmonics. That depends on your setting of the AC Line Frequency in the Setup menu.

If the gate is closing on you prematurely or opening too slowly, you need to adjust the threshold, attack and release to avoid that. When the gate is open, there's no effect on the response.

I'll try to get some numbers together using a spectral analyzer in Reaper.
 
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mr_fender said:
The noise gates do affect the frequency response when the gate is closed. The Intelligent and Noise Reducer models have a high end roll off and the Classic mode has a small low end roll off. Intelligent and Noise Reducer modes also have notch filters to remove mains hum and its harmonics. That depends on your setting of the AC Line Frequency in the Setup menu.

If the gate is closing on you prematurely or opening too slowly, you need to adjust the threshold, attack and release to avoid that. When the gate is open, there's no effect on the response.

I'll try to get some numbers together using a spectral analyzer in Reaper.
Click to expand...
There is no filtering in Classic mode.
 
Not sure if this applies, but I notice high end rolloff and lack of transient/attack dynamics ONLY with my EMG 81 equipped guitar. The rabbit hole I went down was insane. Took the thing to the tech. Read the "they need to kiss the strings/no, you need to lower them a bit/ check the battery/ quick connect EMG 81's sound worse than the older solder versions. After trying all of this, I finally decided on lowering it (just a tad) and backing off the input gate. The look on my face when all of the "balls" and "aggression" just "flooded" back in my signal was priceless. I didn't have a dud! I was just looking at the most complicated stuff first. Lowering it stopped the clipping, and backing the gate down was like stepping off of a garden hose and increasing the psi. Anybody else who has this issue, please try this instead of thinking it's your Pup or the unit!❤️❤️💪
 
I was seeing a roll off in Classic mode last time I checked. Just checked again in Reaper and it's indeed flat. I must have screwed something up last time. I'm looping white noise from the synth block from Output 4 back to Input 1. The graphs are re-centered for easier comparison.

Here's the Intelligent mode response at default settings and max Threshold (gate closed):
1759344877121.png

Here's the Classic at the same settings (gate closed):
1759344946875.png

And here's with the input gate off completely:
1759345020918.png

The gate open response matches the gate off response until you get closer to the threshold.
 
Random Hero said:
Anybody else notice this? If I set it to 0 it feels a little more open?
Click to expand...
Yes, I found that using the input gate was also causing additional artifacts in the high end almost like "kkshhhkk" sounds lol. Could be a combination of things I'm using which is causing the input gate to reach like that too.
 
mr_fender said:
I was seeing a roll off in Classic mode last time I checked. Just checked again in Reaper and it's indeed flat. I must have screwed something up last time. I'm looping white noise from the synth block from Output 4 back to Input 1. The graphs are re-centered for easier comparison.

Here's the Intelligent mode response at default settings and max Threshold (gate closed):
View attachment 160203

Here's the Classic at the same settings (gate closed):
View attachment 160204

And here's with the input gate off completely:
View attachment 160205

The gate open response matches the gate off response until you get closer to the threshold.
Click to expand...

"The gate open response matches the gate off response until you get closer to the threshold."

As in, fully open it should have no impact?
 
Yes. When the gate is fully open, there is no impact on the signal. That's why turning the threshold all the way down turns off the gate. It can't close because the signal level is always above the threshold at that point. Keep in mind that there's a bit of a soft knee to the the threshold though. The gate's effect starts "fading in" as you get within a few dB of the set threshold level. It's not a hard knee on/off kind of transition for the gate.
 
Last night i shut off the gate in an atomica preset I've been messing with. I thought the amp got real muddy when i turned my guitar down, losing the gate improved that a lot.

I'll see what i think about that today.
Humbuckers, but still do hear some noise without it, but worth it.

I should try classic mode too.
 
The high end roll off of Intelligent and Noise Reducer modes can soften the bite of the pick attack a bit more than Classic mode at some settings. A gate is always a bit of a compromise between dynamics and sustain vs noise level. I typically use it only to fully silence the signal when I mute the strings. I ride the guitar volume knob a fair bit, so the gate threshold has to be low enough to not mess with that.
 
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