Best noise gate?

[badguitarist]

Hi there,
I'm gonna invest a noise gate pedal. Not intending to get the best. But what do you recommend? Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks all, mates.

 

[Zor]

Try the ISP Decimator, it's a really cool noise gate pedal

 

[tristan]

Try the ISP Decimator, it's a really cool noise gate pedal

yep, that's easy and excellent.

 

[JPMotorSport]

ISP Decimator - def.

I went through almost all the noise gate pedals out there, (boss, rocktron, MXR, etc), and the ISP was the only real 'gate' before having to get a rackmounted one.

 

[dwells]

dude i just brought an NS-2 boss pedal and its awesome so tight and works great with high gain amps
cheers

 

[leftyguitarblue]

ISP Decimator - def.

I went through almost all the noise gate pedals out there, (boss, rocktron, MXR, etc), and the ISP was the only real 'gate' before having to get a rackmounted one.

I will definetely check one out.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

I've heard good things about the Boss one... I haven't found myself being assaulted by hum yet, though.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

People seem to talk highly of the MXR Smart Gate.

 

[billybling]

The NS-2 is nice because it can power other pedals too. I've been using the MXR Smart Gate lately though. It is much more versatile. Especially if it's run through the FX loop.

 

[mesaboogieman]

I'm using a Boss NS2 with my Mesa Triple Rec. I couldn't live without that pedal!

 

[badguitarist]

So 3 for ISP, 3 for Boss NS2 and 2 for MXR. Anyone please decide the winner? )

So anyone can explain what is the main effect of noise gates? Do we really need them?

 

[Zor]

I'm far from being a specialist but I use my Isp only when I have a Booster, or overdrive preamp added to the lead channel of my amp, it allows for lots of gain without too much hum, buzz, noise, I think it is also useful when playing loud

Anyway as usual it's a matter of compromise, you can get really good results without altering your original tone.......

 

[badguitarist]

A noise gate does not remove noise from the signal. When the gate is open both the signal and the noise will pass through. ---> that's what I read on wikipedia. Is this pointing out that while playing loud the noise gate is coming useless?

 

[beej]

Is this pointing out that while playing loud the noise gate is coming useless?

The noise gate is a quick cut-off based on an adjustable threshold. When you're playing it doesn't do anything, but as the signal dies out it will decay your note and kick in so you don't hear a wall of hiss coming from the amp. If you're playing with a lot of gain it can quiet your amp down quite a bit and prevent unwanted feedback, etc.

Personally, I just use the volume control. But I don't have ungodly amounts of noise, just the usual amount.

 

[Astrofreq]

I've heard the Decimator is awesome as well. I have an old HUSH unit, but the technology is cleaner now than it was back then.

 

[Jimmyb]

A gate reduces the signal volume to zero when it goes below a certain threshold. If you're playing quiet passages you might need to kick it off, but then again, in quiet parts you probably won't be using massive ammounts of gain to dirty up the signal.

It sounds really patronising, but the best way to reduce noise is to not let it get in there in the first place. Try and experiment with your effects and the PSU's to see if there are any that cause more noise. If you power them all on batteries (as a test) you can also isolate if your psu is bringing noise into the chain. Loopers are also quite good to use, you can put the noisy pedals on a separate loop, so that they don't affect your signal when you don't need to use them.