noise gate

[Warlord]

Can somebody explain me what is a noise gate (for the guitar of course) please?

[halo71]

Taken from Kramerlectronics.com

"Sophisticated circuitry, which discriminates between unwanted low energy noise signals and the signal being processed. Noise gates and automatic noise gates are integrated into high quality processing devices."

[Warlord]

Thanks!
So...is it integrated in guitar pickups?

[halo71]

I would say no, to some extent. The cheap pups im my old Westone squeel like a pig in Deliverance when close to my stack. But the pups in my Charvel and Schecter's are quite as a mouse. But that is not really from a noise gate I think, but rather the quality of the pup itself.

[Rick S]

Take a look here: http://www.bossus.com/index.asp?pg=1&tmp=107

[halo71]

Warlord, if you are looking for one. I'd highly recommend the Digitech RP80. Its got a lot more than just a noise gate and is rather affordable!

http://www.guitarcenter.com/DigiTech-RP80-Modeling-Guitar-Processor-102538246-i1124388.gc?source=4WWRWXGB

http://images.guitarcenter.com/products/full/DigiTech/632866102494826202.jpg

[Warlord]

does xt or x3 live and gt8 got noise gate?

[halo71]

I know the GT8 has, not sure about the others.

[TBDREE]

A noise gate is a limiter. You set the threshold and anything below that level gets shut down. Anything above it gets thru. Maybe your guitar is humming and you hate it so you set the gate to shut out the hum and if your pickup signal is higher than the gate threshold then it gets heard. When its falls below the threshold it gets gated out. Make sense??

[halo71]

Warlord, think of it as being kinda like a firewall on your comuter. You "set" it to allow certain thing, "set" it to deny certain things. If that makes any sense!

[Warlord]

yeah but what is that "certain thing" that you are referring in your post?

[imbas]

For the most part, noise gates are used to prevent electrical hum in your signal loop. Electrical hum is generally caused by ground problems, or mismatches in the electrical system you are plugging your gear into. This things work great to take out fluorescent light interference noise, or 60 cycle hum. The power system is different in Europe tho, so you may not have the same noise problems there.

[halo71]

Warlord, I meant by certain things, different programs, websites, connections, open ports etc. Kinda the same way some noise gates can be set. Although mine is automatic, cant change any settings.

[Tuttermuts]

I want to try one too :p

=> What it is. Usually it's found amongst effects: pedals , multifx, rackunits,...

What it does. If you activate your noisegate, it'll shut off your "whole signal"(not entirely true but lets say it does for now). Nothing passes from your guitar-effects-... through the gate. It's like having your amp without plugging your guitar in. Then once you hit a note it'll open until you stop playing, it'll shut the signal off again.

It's handy when something in your setup is noisy/makes humming sounds/...

Now that I think of it, it is what it is called. It's like a gate from a stronghold and the guards won't open it until they hear it's something you played.

http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_pictures/grail/large/HolyGrail065.jpg

[sticktrix1]

OK a noise gate

I'll explain in a hopefully easily understandable way


think of it as a literal gate,

say a childrens gate to keep them in a certain room
it will let the BIG 'LOUD' adults (soundwaves) thru and keep out the little ones (lowlevel unwanted noise)

the 'Threshold' level can be set...

this is usually in a measurement of dB,

if u set it to -2dB u will lose everything under -2dB, ALOT of your guitar tone will go and u'll lose gain aswell as cut sustain very short.

but if u set it to say -62dB it will cut out everything that is below -62dB.

so the trick is to find the noise level and set the threshold level and decay levels correctly, so u don't lose tone or sustain.

and yes the pod xt live's have a noise gate.

[Warlord]

I might get an X3 live or a Boss Gt8. What do you suggest?

[halo71]

in my experience the GT8

[kb7010]

I will give it a shot also so that you have a 100% grasp of it.. it lets the good sounds through.. but won't let the bad noises get by.. like hum as a example.. when you are not playing anything but your amp is sitting there just humming away because of all the stomp boxes you have in front of you.. a noise gate will not let that hum from your guitar or effects get through to your amp.. so you hear this ( ____________ ) nothing.....!!!!!
which is what you want when you aren't playing anything.. make since..????

now it will sometimes cut off a noise you want..like you are playing a lead and holding a note for a long time.. you don't want that right...??? that is where the adjustment part comes in like sticktrix1 was talking about.. get it..???

[slowmotion]

I have a boss NS2 stopbox, I can't imagine life without it.

Seriously.

[PacerMedic]

When modulation (string vibration) drops below a preset level, the noise gate kicks in and shuts off signal to the amp. Thus, if you damp the strings for more than 0.2 seconds, you hear quiet.

Voila!

And yes, Pods have the function just like any compressor/limiter does.

[JGB]

I have a boss NS2 stopbox, I can't imagine life without it.

Seriously.

That's a great pedal. Excellent live when you have stops and quiet parts.

[Warlord]

Nice thanks for your explanations :thumbsup
btw, does the both the gt8 an the x3 live got the acoustic guitar effect (for electric), pitch shifting and drum machine?

[paul525715]

Nice thanks for your explanations :thumbsup
btw, does the both the gt8 an the x3 live got the acoustic guitar effect (for electric), pitch shifting and drum machine?

GT8 - Acoustic effect - yes, Pitch shift - yes, drum machine - no.

Oh... and I forgot to say... I went and looked for the Marshall 6100 anniversary head on 3rd January but it had sold.

Paul

[Warlord]

that's ok paul, I'm planning on buying a JVM 410h. I know it is good :)
I need comments on the x3 live :help

[paul525715]

It depends if you're using it for recording or live work. Read this thread...

http://line6.com/support/thread.jspa?threadID=21354&tstart=0

For recording, the Line 6 stuff is so easy. But, for live work I'd still go with the Boss. You can use the GT8 to control the JVM that you want using midi and for effects it really can't be beat. I've used the GT-3, GT-5, GT-6 and GT-Pro (rackmount version of the GT-8) and this is just my personal opinion!

Paul

[Warlord]

I have read that thread that you posted paul and have to thank you for that! :thumbsup
just got one last question: does the GT-8 got the ability to connect to my PC via USB?

[paul525715]

The GT-8 has no USB. It has standard 1/4" jack outputs and digital coax output (for sound) or midi inputs and outputs (for programming). If you want to use USB you need Line6 stuff or the Boss GT-Pro.

All the best,

Paul

[Warlord]

damn with the USB connection, I play the pedal plugged to the amp, not to the PC :D .
Let's see if I'm lucky this year to buy the 2 things, GT-8 and the Jvm.