Gate (Noise Gate)
Definition
A dynamics processor that silences or heavily attenuates a signal when it falls below a defined threshold. Used to remove background noise, mic bleed, or low-level room sound between notes or phrases.
In Simple Terms
An automatic mute button that silences a track when nothing important is playing. It stays open when the singer is singing or the drummer is hitting, but snaps shut in between to kill background noise and mic bleed.
In Practice
A noise gate on a snare microphone closes between hits, removing hi-hat bleed and low-level room sound that would otherwise accumulate across a dense mix.
Common Confusion
A gate set too aggressively cuts the natural decay of a sound. An expander is often a more natural-sounding alternative.