Question with using GATES

[griff71177]

I used to have an Alto Voice Plus mic pre that worked great for gating my vocals. I just got a Joe Meek 1Q (big upgrade from that for the mic pre, comp, eq, and de-esser) but I miss the gating that preamp gave me.

I had the gate closed enough to kill all the room noise but it would open as soon as I breathed on the mic, which was nice because it really didn't take away anything sonically from my vocal, atleast not that I noticed (tested side by side comparissons).

Now when I record I have room noise from my computer. I know, I know...I should move the computer or the mic, but I don't have that luxury right now. Should I set up blankets around/between the mic and the computer or try to gate the vocals after recording (which I don't think would have the same effect as not hearing the room noise while recording, which is what the gate on the other preamp did for me)?

I have been thinking about buying some longer mogami mic, usb, and serial cables to hook up my mic, keyboard, and monitor away from my cpu, but they would all still be in the same room.

My mic is an Oktava ML-19 ribbon mic...it has a cardioid pick up pattern so, if I were to have the computer directly behind the mic, it should cut down on pick up of that noise...blankets+more distance between mic and computer should help too...Yeah, this is the LOW END forum, remember that. lol!

Am I wasting time with the gate issue? Thanks...

[casrec]

I would just say gate after the fact. But if you would really like to gate while tracking there is the Samson S-gate or the Alto, Alotgate. Both are four channel and reasonably priced. DBX make a good four channel unit but about three times as much,., I don't know of any single channel units off hand.

[griff71177]

Thanks...I'll keep that in mind and think about how much it means to me next recording session. Preeshutate it...

[MikeFFG]

Originally Posted by griff71177

Thanks...I'll keep that in mind and think about how much it means to me next recording session. Preeshutate it...

ya gate after the fact. I assume you're using a DAW? Just delete the parts between the phrases and fade out...better than gating. I don't think gates are used in studios any longer, probably still in live sound but that's about it.

[griff71177]

Only reason I'm using the gate is for the room noise...if I can eliminate or minimize that, I'll be happy.

[MikeFFG]

Originally Posted by griff71177

Only reason I'm using the gate is for the room noise...if I can eliminate or minimize that, I'll be happy.

right...just cutting it out after works. The gate will not eliminate the sound of the room while you are singing. It simply removes it once it goes below the threshold. This is easily done manually on a computer and you can get it done perfectly, far more accurately than a gate.

[griff71177]

Yeah, the noise is still there but I don't notice the noise when I'm singing, which is good, no distractions. But yeah, doing it after would be more accurate. Thanks for the input

[MikeFFG]

Originally Posted by griff71177

Yeah, the noise is still there but I don't notice the noise when I'm singing, which is good, no distractions. But yeah, doing it after would be more accurate. Thanks for the input

Ah so you don't notice it when you are singing. I understand now.

[surflounge]

Which high-end vox pres with gates can stop stage noise for live recordings?

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by MikeFFG

ya gate after the fact. I assume you're using a DAW? Just delete the parts between the phrases and fade out...better than gating. I don't think gates are used in studios any longer, probably still in live sound but that's about it.

Right about editing vocals, wrong about gates in general - so very, very wrong!

True, in the times of DAWs, you don't need to gate for noise in the same way. The OP should not be using a gate in the record or the mix stage - he should first minimise the noise in his room, then edit it out in the DAW when no vocals are happening.

This is (for me) the way to go whenever you need "hard gating" for noise. I edit toms in this way.

But..the comment re gates in studios only underlines a lack of experience/innovation I'm afraid!

Just a few uses:

sidechaining - eg for drums, I do things like keying a distorted mic on a snare off the clean mic - lets the distortion through on the snare but not triggered on cymbals etc.

Also can be used creatively eg listen to "dirge" by death in vegas - the end organ is gated and chopped by some sort of drum, possibly a HH figure.

dynamic shaping - look at an SSL, there's gates on every channel! just about every SSL based engineer will use them, not necessarily as hard gates but often in expander mode to shape the drum sound, bring down the spill between hits but not eliminate it.

noise - eg to mute compression or noisy FX units when not being used.

that's just a few uses - there's many many more.

[LeMauce]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Right about editing vocals, wrong about gates in general - so very, very wrong!

True, in the times of DAWs, you don't need to gate for noise in the same way. The OP should not be using a gate in the record or the mix stage - he should first minimise the noise in his room, then edit it out in the DAW when no vocals are happening.

This is (for me) the way to go whenever you need "hard gating" for noise. I edit toms in this way.

But..the comment re gates in studios only underlines a lack of experience/innovation I'm afraid!

Just a few uses:

sidechaining - eg for drums, I do things like keying a distorted mic on a snare off the clean mic - lets the distortion through on the snare but not triggered on cymbals etc.

Also can be used creatively eg listen to "dirge" by death in vegas - the end organ is gated and chopped by some sort of drum, possibly a HH figure.

dynamic shaping - look at an SSL, there's gates on every channel! just about every SSL based engineer will use them, not necessarily as hard gates but often in expander mode to shape the drum sound, bring down the spill between hits but not eliminate it.

noise - eg to mute compression or noisy FX units when not being used.

that's just a few uses - there's many many more.

+1 on all and +10 on the dynamic shaping, after knowing how to use the gates on a 4000G+ a world of new way of drum tracking opens to me.

[crowchaser]

Originally Posted by LeMauce

+1 on all and +10 on the dynamic shaping, after knowing how to use the gates on a 4000G+ a world of new way of drum tracking opens to me.

i was very luck to go to s school with an SSL G series board, and watching some of the more seasoned teachers use those gates/expanders was just great knowledge to pick up, i wish i could own a SSL console

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by crowchaser

i was very luck to go to s school with an SSL G series board, and watching some of the more seasoned teachers use those gates/expanders was just great knowledge to pick up, i wish i could own a SSL console

The SSL plugins (of any manufacturer) come pretty close.

[LeMauce]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

The SSL plugins (of any manufacturer) come pretty close.

Indeed! I worked for some time on a real 4000G+ with a great in house engineer. After that I bought my self the WAVE SSL package and it translated almost for 95% of the "effect".
@ the SAE in Paris we have/had (not longer student over there) a Neve VR Legend and the gates on that where no way as "effective" as the SSL 4000G+ one. (For me btw a VR serie Neve isn't a "real" Neve...)

Originally Posted by crowchaser

i wish i could own a SSL console

Don't... the maintenance and the "famous" pc problems with it are so big downer. Or your rich or your just nuts...

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by LeMauce

@ the SAE in Paris we have/had (not longer student over there) a Neve VR Legend and the gates on that where no way as "effective" as the SSL 4000G+ one. (For me btw a VR serie Neve isn't a "real" Neve...)

I don't know many people who like the VR dynamics, and several who would agree with you on the "real Neve" comments.