This control is more commonly seen on studio or broadcast kit, where for example, triggering a gate on short pauses in speech may not be desirable. Hold determines how long the gate stays open after the signal falls below the threshold. A fast release will result in the sound stopping dead, while a slower release is a more gradual attenuation. Release does the inverse - it's the length of time taken to go from open to closed. You might consider this like a fade in control.
The Attack control controls the length of time it takes the gate to move from closed to fully-open. The Threshold control sets the level at which the gate will 'open' and let signal through. As a result, access to these parameters is probably the most important choice you need to make. In a compact noise gate pedal however, some of these parameters might be pre-set or, in a digital pedal, only accessible via companion software. On studio-grade, rack-mount noise gates, you would expect all of the parameters to be present.
Generally speaking, noise gates have many of the same controls as a compressor, although their function is a little different. It's likely that this pairing will be more effective than even high-end studio gates, and although by no means cheap, a pair of ISPs is comparable, if not cheaper in price. Since you can sync two units, one can be put before a guitar pre-amp and one after, resulting in the most comprehensive noise-suppression possible. If budget isn't an issue, then the ISP Decimator II or the even more advanced G-string version are worth looking into. However, should you not be interested in tinkering with it on the computer, out of the box it's still a capable and powerful noise gate. Due to its multi-band structure, it's one of the more advanced units on the market, and additional control of the parameters is available using TC's TonePrint software. Best pedalboard power supplies for your ’boardīest noise gate pedals: Guitar World’s Choiceįor most players, something like the TC Electronic Sentry is going to be more than adequate for suppressing pickup hum and taming noisy drive and fuzz pedals.Best pedalboards: organize your pedal collection.Even the cheapest of gates, stuck at the start of your chain and left on, can make a world of difference. Do enough club shows however, with bad wiring at the venue, a loud amp that's four feet from the nearest stage wedge, and a single-coil equipped electric guitar, and you'll realize that a noise gate is by no means a tool only for the pros.