What Are Noise Gate Pedals?

Noise gate pedals are a type of guitar effect pedal designed to reduce unwanted noise or hum in your guitar signal. They work by cutting off the signal when it falls below a certain threshold, effectively muting any noise that occurs when you're not playing. This can help to keep your guitar sound clean and clear, especially when using high-gain distortion or overdrive pedals.

There are several different brands of noise gate pedals available on the market, each with their own unique features and benefits. Some popular options include the Stone Deaf Noise Reaper, ISP Decimator, Boss Noise Gate, MXR Smart Gate, Fortin Zuul, and Pigtronix Gatekeeper.

Stone Deaf Noise Reaper

The Noise Reaper is a high-end noise gate pedal that offers a wide range of features, including adjustable threshold and true bypass switching. Its rugged construction and sleek design make it a favorite among many professional guitarists.

What is a Noise Gate Pedal?

A noise gate pedal is an electronic device that works by analyzing the incoming guitar signal and muting it when it falls below a certain threshold. This threshold is set by the user, and can be adjusted to suit different playing styles and levels of background noise.

There are several different types of noise gate pedals available, including hard gate, soft gate, and multi-band gate. Hard gate pedals work by cutting off the signal completely when it falls below the threshold, while soft gate pedals gradually reduce the volume of the signal. Multi-band gate pedals use different settings for different frequency bands, allowing for more precise control over the noise reduction process.

Compared to other noise reduction tools like noise suppressors, EQs, and filters, noise gate pedals offer a more targeted approach to reducing noise, allowing you to preserve the natural tone of your guitar while still eliminating unwanted background noise.

In the next section, we'll explore the benefits of using a noise gate pedal and how it can improve your guitar tone.

Benefits of Using a Noise Gate Pedal

Using a noise gate pedal can have several benefits for your guitar tone. Firstly, it can help to reduce unwanted noise and hum, especially when playing through high-gain distortion or overdrive pedals. This can result in a cleaner, more focused guitar sound, with less interference from external sources.

A noise gate pedal can also help to improve your playing dynamics, as it allows you to more accurately control the volume and sustain of your notes. By cutting off the signal when you're not playing, it can create a more pronounced contrast between your quiet and loud passages, giving your playing a more dynamic, expressive quality.

Different noise gate pedals offer different features and benefits, such as adjustable threshold levels, release times, and multi-band control.

Noise Gate Pedals and Their Placement in Your Effects Chain

When using a noise gate pedal, it's important to consider where to place it in your effects chain. Generally speaking, it's best to place the noise gate pedal at the end of your chain, just before your amplifier. This allows it to effectively eliminate any unwanted noise or hum introduced by your other pedals.

However, This entirely depends on the type of Noise Gate pedal you are using. For example; some lower end Noise Gate pedals are a simple design with 1 input and 1 output option - place these ideally either at the end of your pedal chain or just after your “noisy” drive pedals. Then there are high end Noise Gate pedals such as the Stone Deaf Noise Reaper that operate on a loop system in which you chain all your “noisy” drive pedals within the noise gates own loop, meaning only your “noisy” pedals are gated leaving your modulations, reverbs and delay trails as clean as possible thus, improving your overall sound.

There are some situations where you might want to place the noise gate pedal in a different position, such as in the effects loop of your amplifier. This can provide more precise control over the noise reduction process, especially if you're using high-gain distortion or overdrive pedals.

Different noise gate pedals are designed for different placements in your effects chain, so it's important to choose one that is suitable for your specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Noise Gate Pedals

There are several common questions that arise when using a noise gate pedal. Here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:

- Is a noise gate pedal necessary?

It depends on your playing style and the level of background noise you're experiencing. If you're playing in a noisy environment or using high-gain distortion pedals, a noise gate pedal can be very useful.

- Does a noise gate pedal stop feedback?

It can help to reduce feedback, but it's not a complete solution. You may need to adjust your playing technique or use other tools to eliminate feedback entirely.

- Do pro guitarists use noise gates?

Yes, many professional guitarists use noise gates to help eliminate unwanted noise and hum from their signal.

- Is a limiter the same as a noise gate?

No, a limiter is designed to control the overall volume of your signal, while a noise gate is designed to eliminate unwanted noise and hum.

- What is the release time for a noise gate?

The release time determines how quickly the noise gate pedal re-engages the signal after it has been muted. Shorter release times can result in a more natural, dynamic sound, while longer release times can result in a more abrupt, gated effect. The Stone Deaf Noise Reaper boasts one of the fastest response times in the industry.

Top Noise Gate Pedals on the Market

When it comes to choosing the best noise gate pedal for your guitar rig, there are a lot of options to consider. Here are some of the top noise gate pedals on the market:

1. Stone Deaf Noise Reaper: The Stone Deaf Noise Reaper is a high-end noise gate pedal that offers a wide range of features, including adjustable threshold and true bypass switching. Its rugged construction and sleek design make it a favorite among many professional guitarists. The Noise Reaper retails for around £120.

2. ISP Decimator: The ISP Decimator is a popular noise gate pedal that has been around for over 20 years. Its simple design and reliable performance make it a go-to choice for many guitarists. It features an adjustable threshold and a hard-gate mode for extreme noise reduction. The Decimator is priced at around £150.

3. Boss Noise Gate: The Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor is a classic noise gate pedal that has been a staple in many guitar rigs for years. It features a simple design with adjustable threshold and decay controls, as well as a send/return loop for adding other effects. The NS-2 is priced at around £90.

4. MXR Smart Gate: The MXR Smart Gate is another popular noise gate pedal that offers a lot of features for its price. It has a unique Hush threshold control that allows you to dial in the perfect amount of noise reduction, as well as a gate indicator LED and true bypass switching. The Smart Gate is priced at around £120.

5. Fortin Zuul: The Fortin Zuul is a high-end noise gate pedal designed specifically for metal guitarists. It has a three-knob design with adjustable threshold, release, and hold controls, as well as a built-in boost function. It also has a unique "Dark" switch that adds a bit of extra filtering to your tone. The Zuul is priced at around £230.

6. Mooer Noise Killer: The Mooer Noise Killer is a compact noise gate pedal with a simple two-knob design. It features adjustable threshold and true bypass switching, as well as a small size that makes it easy to fit on any pedalboard. The Noise Killer is priced at around £60.

7. Donner Noise Gate: The Donner Noise Gate is an affordable option that still offers a good range of features. It has a simple design with adjustable threshold and a two-mode switch for hard or soft gating. It also has true bypass switching and a compact size that makes it easy to fit on any pedalboard. The Donner Noise Gate is priced at around £30.

8. Pigtronix Gatekeeper: The Pigtronix Gatekeeper is a unique noise gate pedal that offers a lot of flexibility. It has a two-knob design with adjustable threshold and release controls, as well as a built-in effects loop that allows you to add other effects to your noise reduction chain. The Gatekeeper is priced at around £115.

9. Darkglass Noise Gate: The Darkglass Noise Gate is a high-end noise gate pedal designed specifically for bass guitarists. It features adjustable threshold and release controls, as well as a unique "Time" control that allows you to adjust the release time of the noise reduction. The Darkglass Noise Gate is priced at around £200.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a noise gate pedal can be a valuable tool in any guitarist's arsenal. It helps to eliminate unwanted noise and create a cleaner, more defined sound. Whether you're a professional guitarist or a hobbyist, a noise gate pedal can be a worthwhile investment.

When choosing a noise gate pedal, it's important to consider your specific needs and budget. There are a variety of options available and each of these pedals has its own unique features and pricing, so take the time to do your research and find the one that's right for you.

Ultimately, whether you choose to use a noise gate pedal or not is up to you. But if you're looking for a way to eliminate unwanted noise and improve your guitar tone, a noise gate pedal can be a game-changer.