I do not know how to set the hard gate

[357mag]

I'm using single-coils so if I could get it set right it would be the best way for me to go. But it's too complicated to set. First you got Open then you got Close then you got Hold then you got Decay.

 

Would it be the simplest to first turn all four dials all the way to the left? Then just start with the first dial which is called Open? But where does that get set?

 

I'm having chop...chop...notes are getting cut off sharply. It sounds very unnatural. Trying to figure out how to set it so it sounds as if nothing is there.

 

It is better at preserving tone than the noise gate is, but it's way harder to understand how to set it up.

 

And Me-Am-Bobo and his guide merely give data. He doesn't give instructions on which dial to set first and which to set second. I need some kind of plan of execution here.

 

Which dial should I start with? Which dial is second?

 

What should I be listening for when I make my adjustments?

[BBD_123]

There's a good overview here~:

 

http://foobazaar.com/podhd/toneGuide/ampTone#noiseGates

[BillBee]

I am not a Hard Gate Master \m/ but in general (off the top of my bean):

 

Think of it sort of like a garden gate and the people (good and bad noise) want to come in your garden (for that kickass yard sale of gear).

 

Thresholds: what will trip the gate to close/what will make it open

Hold Time: How long do you want the gate to pause before closing

Decay: How fast do you want the gate to close

 

Its tough to chuck out #s as it can be different depending on your goal/gear.

 

Thresh open: you want the gate to open when you are playing and this is the one. Play softly and adjust until you get that point where it isn't choked off.

 

Thresh close: This will be where you set your "I can't take this   background noise" anymore level.

 

Tight, fast - metal - decay 0 ms.  With a Strat you probably are not doing that so a gradual decay would be better .5 - 1 ms - the longer time allows for a bit of breathing in there instead of slamming the gate shut. Explains your "chop, chop, chop" :)

 

Keep open > close, and the longer the decay the less abrupt the sustaining notes will sound, hold is a big (eh?) at times and I get that puppy mixed with the decay times (longer hold vs shorter decay or visa versa).

 

Just starting the gate out you do need some noise going through so try: open ~ 60 and close ~ 40 & decay = 1 ms,

 

Then like you thought: Open, Close, then Hold or Decay.

 

Hope that helps. :D

[Palico]

Billbee pretty much nailed it.

 

Start with your tone, without playing. You should hear some static/60 cycle hum/etc... if you don't hear any of that, then you don't need a gate.

Set the knobs to the left

Adjust the open just to the point you don't hear this noise anymore. Now play a note and make sure it opens fast enough. Usually if you adjust just to point the static/noise is no longer heard it will open for even soft note.

Now play a note and dial up the close until it cuts off the note. Now dial it back a bit until you get the all note sustain you want before it closes. 

 

As Billbee pointed out the hold and decay gives you the capability to tailor the gate a bit more to your liking on how fast the gate shuts and if you want to hold open for a bit after opening. Usually I dial these up just a bit so it doesn't slam shut and hold open a for just a bit if hit a single note. 

[brue58ski]

And don't forget to put your noise gate at the very beginning of the path. Then do what Palico posted.

[Meiannatee]

Great tips. Summarizing and adding a few points:

1) set all controls to left (0%)

2) increase the open threshold until your softest intentional playing (SIP) can't open the gate. Be sure to mute strings after every check to allow the gate to close.

3) back down the open threshold until your SIP gets through but hum and handling noise do not. Remember to mute! If you have trouble closing your gate, do step 4) and come back to step 3).

4) increase the close threshold to about 5-10db below your open treshold. Play a sustained note and check to see that the gate doesn't close until the note decays almost completely. Make sure the gate will still close despite the hum and handling noise.

5) check and repeat 3) and 4) until satisfied

6) decay: for an always on gate, set to around 20-500ms to sound natural. Tight metal would need a very short decay, but 0ms sounds weird to me.

7) hold: doesn't matter too much if your other settings are good. I usually set mine to 0-100ms, it's up to you