Noise gate's - what's my options and what's the best?

Beexter

Always had great results with an NS-2

Gassage

timmysoft said:

Gassage said:

I fundamentally believe that if you need a noise gate something is not right in your rig.

That's why so many pros use them, all their rigs are wrong. Check out Born Of Osiris if you want to hear some super tight gating.

im an ns2 user, in the past I've actually used one in front and one in the loop for ultimate silence. I don't tend to use them now I'm playing with less gain, but for modern metal they are an essential.

Do they work as an effect then?

mike_l

My preference is the MXR Smartgate for normal day to day use. works perfectly for removing single coil hum to noise from pedals.

For high-gain Pantera-esque staccato riffage where immediate silence is needed the Boss NS-2 is perfect.

I'd happily have either on my board. 

timmysoft

Gassage said:

timmysoft said:

Gassage said:

I fundamentally believe that if you need a noise gate something is not right in your rig.

That's why so many pros use them, all their rigs are wrong. Check out Born Of Osiris if you want to hear some super tight gating.

im an ns2 user, in the past I've actually used one in front and one in the loop for ultimate silence. I don't tend to use them now I'm playing with less gain, but for modern metal they are an essential.

Do they work as an effect then?

They can be used as an effect, the hard gated sound is very popular amongst heavier bands, it makes the chugs really stand out, plus most of these guys are using boosted 5150 style amps, theres a lot of noise generated during that process.



Gated AF

Bidley

I had an NS2, now use a Decimator. The Decimator is way easier to dial in, and is less finicky, IMO.

Not sure why we have to have the "noise gates aren't valid" discussion every time someone asks about them. If you don't need/use them, fine. I don't use compressors and I would never have any need for them, doesn't mean they shouldn't exist.

DesVegas

I like the MXR Smart Gate. I keep it on top of the amp but still going into the front (Sonic Stomp in the loop)

timmysoft

Bidley said:

I had an NS2, now use a Decimator. The Decimator is way easier to dial in, and is less finicky, IMO.

Not sure why we have to have the "noise gates aren't valid" discussion every time someone asks about them. If you don't need/use them, fine. I don't use compressors and I would never have any need for them, doesn't mean they shouldn't exist.

compressors shouldn't exist mate, apart from the one i use for pumping up my tyres.

Voxman

timmysoft said:

Bidley said:

I had an NS2, now use a Decimator. The Decimator is way easier to dial in, and is less finicky, IMO.

Not sure why we have to have the "noise gates aren't valid" discussion every time someone asks about them. If you don't need/use them, fine. I don't use compressors and I would never have any need for them, doesn't mean they shouldn't exist.

compressors shouldn't exist mate, apart from the one i use for pumping up my tyres.

Tell that to studio engineers - arguably one of the most used studio effects. 

Jonathanthomas83

professorben said:

The best noise gate I've yet found is on my Eleven Rack, and I would possibly use it just for that if I ever tired of the fx. 

Its as many have said 'horses for courses' I can't imagine any worthwhile metal high gain tone being bearable without a gate.

@Jonathanthomas83 be wary of advice on these matters, as people's uses of a noise gate vary considerably, I believe most on this forum that use 'em fall into two categories,

1) high gain guys (me) looking to silence the fat fryer between songs and get a brutally tight rhythm chug and use it almost as an effect, 
2) the gain stacking strat dudes that want to put a TS into a Klon to goose their Muff before it hits the front end of their cooking Princeton and are just trying to reduce 50cycle hum.

Try and work out which you are and then you stand a better chance of figuring out which would suit you better. 

Great advice, thank you. Thanks everyone for your replies.

Im definitely in both camps, I'm afraid. Will wire my board up and will see where things stand. My Piod is fairly quiet, so maybe I just need isolated power on the Muff and watch my cables. 

Thanks again!

Bidley

At least with the muff you have control. If it's just noise in between songs that's doing your head in, just turn it off.

Single coils, high volume and a muff is a recipe for noise and unwanted feedback, all things considered.

professorben

This is where multi fx can really make your life better, on my Eleven Rack I can change the gate settings for each patch, off for clean, tight for rhythm, subtle for leads. 

I struggled to find a good compromise with a single pedal. 

PolarityMan

Decimator

Jonathanthomas83

professorben said:

This is where multi fx can really make your life better, on my Eleven Rack I can change the gate settings for each patch, off for clean, tight for rhythm, subtle for leads. 

I struggled to find a good compromise with a single pedal. 

Sounds good! I've just got myself a looper, so may be able to replicate that.

VJIves

I think the TC Sentry is excellent. I prefer it to the Decimator, although it doesn't look anywhere near as cool.

professorben

Jonathanthomas83 said:

professorben said:

This is where multi fx can really make your life better, on my Eleven Rack I can change the gate settings for each patch, off for clean, tight for rhythm, subtle for leads. 

I struggled to find a good compromise with a single pedal. 

Sounds good! I've just got myself a looper, so may be able to replicate that.

Hmmm but do you really wanna tie up several loops with as boring a pedal as a gate?!

I sometimes wish I liked shoegazer ambient indie crap, then I could play with4 delays,  reverbs and rainbow machines and just play the same 3 notes all night.  

clarkefan

Not sure why there's a debate,  pick up an NS-2 off the bay for like 40 quid or so, then stick it back on the bay if it's useless to you, worth scratching the itch at least.

Motorhate

jonnygreentrees said:

nah certain styles of metal rely on you having dead silence between your chord chugs, horses for courses

That's exactly what I use it for. It also tightens up palm muting. I have mine on full, with no decay at all. Crap if you want to do solos though.

Dave_Mc

Sassafras said:

Although not intended as such and I keep banging on about this but the VHT Valvulator is the most effective noise clamp I've ever used and as a bonus it sweetens and 'embiggens' your sound.

Does it make your tone any more cromulent, though?

Grumpyrocker

Best noise gate I've used is the ZNR one in the Zoom effects units - both the MS70CDR and G3 have it. I'll often have an MS70CDR patch running on my board that's just the ZNR .