If your guitar or bass sound is being messed with by the kind of buzz, hum and noise that you don't want, then you can clean it up with the help of a noise gate or suppressor pedal. Plug it in and it'll eliminate any noise that falls under a specific volume threshold to clean up your sound.
Noise Gate Pedals
A noise gate can be a chunk of rack equipment or software that influences the incoming audio signal in a really specific way. When, for example, a guitarist's or bassist's sound is interrupted by the humming noise of a single-coil pickup, a noise-gate pedal can really help. You simply set the noise gate to kick in at a specific volume, and everything that lies above that volume level is sent out of the pedal via the output, while everything below that threshold is filtered out. So a gate pedal doesn't just remove noise, but can filter out the string noise caused when you slide up and down the strings or change chords - a definite bonus if you use a lot of distortion stompboxes. Noise gates aren't active while you're playing but during the bits in between. So as soon as there's a rest in the lick or riff, the gate will kick in to wipe out the hum and buzz in between. There are also guitar and bass effect pedals that are designed to focus in on and suppress specific frequencies to reduce noise while playing.
Noise Suppressor or Noise Gate?
You could say that a noise gate caps the signal as soon as it falls below a certain volume level, while a noise suppressor is much more focussed - but in practice, the terms suppressor and gate are used interchangeably. As such, it's best not to assume anything from the name but to read the description, double check the specifications and maybe watch a video to decide if a pedal will actually do what you want it to.
Downloading Noise Gate Software or VSTs
Besides stomboxes and rack gear, you can also get software-based noise gates and suppressors. These are often plugins that you can use within DAW recording software.
Frequently Asked Questions About Noise Gates & Suppressors
What is a noise gate?
A noise gate is a piece of equipment or software that effects the sound of an electric guitar (for example) by filtering out any noise that occurs below a certain volume threshold. This way, any unwanted noise is removed from the rests or silences between your playing, cleaning up your sound.
Are noise gates and suppressors the same thing?
You could say that a noise gate caps the signal as soon as it falls below a certain volume, while a noise suppressor is much more focussed - but in practice, the terms suppressor and gate are used interchangeably.
Do you actually need a noise gate?
If your guitar sound is being messed with by a fluffy background of humming and buzzing noise as soon as you stop playing, then a noise gate can be used to clean up the 'silences' and tighten up your sound.
