Gate

An audio gate (also called a noise gate) is a tool that automatically mutes or reduces the volume of an audio signal when it falls below a certain threshold. It is mainly used to remove unwanted background noise, like hum, hiss, or room ambiance, when the main sound is not playing.
Gating is done by detecting the volume below a chosen level threshold and dividing it by the factor set with ratio. Attack determines how long the signal has to fall below the threshold before any reduction will occur, and release sets the time the signal has to rise above the threshold to reduce the reduction again. Shorter signals than the chosen attack time will be left untouched.

How It Works

  • You set a threshold (a volume level).
  • When the audio falls below that threshold, the gate closes (mutes or reduces the signal).
  • When the audio goes above the threshold, the gate opens (letting the signal through).

operator_audio-gate_241204.png

Input

  • Input gain (dB)- pre-gain, -24 to +24 dB. Applies gain to the signal before Compression starts.

Gate

  • Gain reduction (dB) - Amount of gain reduction
  • Threshold (dB) - Defines the threshold (dB), or "volume", for opening (and closing) the gate,.
  • Ratio (1:1 - 20:1) - Defines a ratio by which the signal is reduced
  • Attack (ms) - Amount of milliseconds the signal has to rise above the threshold before gain reduction starts.
  • Release (ms) - Defines the time it takes for the gain reduction to be reset
  • Knee (1-9) - Defines the "softness" of the gain reduction curve.

Output

  • Makeup gain (dB) - Post-gain, 0 to +24 dB.

Advanced

  • Compressor Mode - Set the mode of operation. Default is Downward. If set to Upward mode, higher parts of signal will be amplified, expanding dynamic range in upward direction. Otherwise, in case of downward lower parts of signal will be reduced.
  • Link - The average option will use an average between left and right channels as input to the gate logic. The maxium option will use the loudest (maximum) or left and right input as input to the gate. Default is average.
  • Detection - Select between peak or RMS as input values to the gate. Default is RMS which is mostly smoother.

For more information on audio, see Working with audio in scenes.

(The operator is available in Composer R1 2025 and later releases)