Before Using Basics Section AppendixGetting Started Reference
124 01X Owner’s Manual
Parameter Lists
Gate (GAT) and Ducking (DUK) parameters:
Threshold (THRESH) sets the level at which the gate closes,
cutting off the signal. Signals above the threshold level pass
through unaffected. Signals at or below the threshold cause the
gate to close.
For ducking, trigger signal levels at and above the threshold
level activate ducking, and the signal level is reduced to a level
set by the Range parameter.
The trigger signal is determined using the KEY-IN parameter.
Range controls the level to which the gate closes. It can be used
to reduce the signal level rather than cut it completely. At a set-
ting of –70 dB, the gate closes completely when the input signal
falls below the threshold. At a setting of –30 dB, the gate only
closes so far allowing an attenuated signal through. At a setting
of 0 dB, the gate has no effect. When signals are gated abruptly,
the sudden cutoff can sound odd.
For ducking, a setting of –70 dB causes the signal to be virtually
cutoff. At a setting of –30 dB the signal is ducked by 30 dB. At a
setting of 0 dB, the duck has no effect.
Attack determines how fast the gate opens when the signal
exceeds the threshold level. Slow attack times can be used to
remove the initial transient edge of percussive sounds. Too slow
an attack time makes some signals sound backwards.
For ducking, this controls how soon the signal is ducked once
the duck has been triggered. With a fast attack time, the signal is
ducked almost immediately. With a slow attack time, ducking
fades the signal. Too fast an attack time may sound abrupt.
Hold sets how long the gate stays open or the ducking remains
active once the trigger signal has fallen below the threshold
level.
Decay controls how fast the gate closes once the hold time has
expired. A longer decay time produces a more natural gating
effect, allowing the natural decay of an instrument to pass
through.
For ducking, this determines how soon the ducker returns to its
normal gain after the hold time has expired.
Gate and Ducking
-70
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
+10
+20
-70 -50 -30 -10 0 +10+20
Input Level
Output Level
dB
dB
Threshold = -10dB
Range = -30dB
Range = -70dB
-60 -40 -20
-70
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
+10
+20
-70 -50 -30 -10 0 +10+20
Input Level
Output Level
dB
dB
Range = -30dB
Threshold = -20dB
-60 -40 -20
A gate, or noise gate is an audio switch used to mute signals below a set threshold level. It can be used to suppress
background noise and hiss from valve (tube) amps, effects pedals, and microphones.
Ducking is used to automatically reduce the levels of one signal when the level of a source signal exceeds a specified
threshold. It is used for voice-over applications where, for example, level of background music is automatically reduced,
allowing an announcer to be heard clearly.