Jun 21, 2008 01:28 pm Using the software gate will work just as well, and allow you to experiment with different settings after the track(s) are recorded.
Dan
Noise Gate: Hardware or software?
Posted on Jun 21, 2008 09:50 am
Johnny Hero
Member Since: Apr 26, 2002
So I'm looking into recording some live drums in the not too distant future, and I'm pricing drums mics and such, and I'm wondering if I would get better results with an outboard noise gate before I hit the preamps of my interface, or would I get pretty much the same results using the software gate in logic?
Any opinions?
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Jun 21, 2008 01:28 pm Using the software gate will work just as well, and allow you to experiment with different settings after the track(s) are recorded.
Dan
Jun 21, 2008 02:02 pm Yep, gotta agree with OD. I always used an external unit thinking that was the best way to do it. But after a few years of doing it in software I found it is a little easier to control the outcome in the end.
Jun 21, 2008 02:34 pm That's what I was thinking too. I just wanted to get some other opinions. I guess I can put more money into the drum mic budget for sure. Score.
Jun 22, 2008 08:09 pm I'm still a fan of the hardware counterparts. Each compressor/gate has it's own unique flavor and feel and sound which is hard to emulate in software. I apply some software effects in the mix, but all the reamps, compressors, eqs, stmop boxes, gates, sampler settings, reverb and the like are always done in hardware in my studio. Just personal opinion, but I think it sounds better in most cases.
Jun 22, 2008 08:37 pm But a gate does not add anything to the sound at all. So hardware or software they both are the same. A hardware gate has no benefits at all as to adding or subtracting anything from the finished piece.
Jun 22, 2008 09:36 pm I guess that's true. I was thinking more along the lines of a compressor/gate combo unit. In that case, it does affect the sound. It might be minimal, but it's there. I personally like the sound of a pumping gate and I find it easier to get that sound by using the hardware. Gates don't really add to the sound, but they each color the sound just a little bit depending on how they're made, etc. I also don't know of any gates or compressors in software form that are definetly better than the hardware form. I may be fooling my ears, but for dynamic processing such as gate, compressors, eqs, etc, i prefer the way the hardware functions and sounds. MAybe I've just yet to find a good gate vst
Jun 22, 2008 10:22 pm Even on a compressor/gate combination the gate does not color the sound at all. A compressor does not color the sound either in that respect. The gate simply opens and shuts the door for sound to come in and go out. There is no pumping effect with a gate. It is a simple on/off type effect which on the fancier ones will add a time equation as well to open and close the gate slower or faster depending on what you want. The compressor could color the sound if you are talking about an old school tube unit, then it can add some artifacts to the sound, but very slight only.
And just a note, the gate and compressor are different types of processor's then an EQ which is not a dynamic processor.
I do agree that different units will react differently, and I do prefer some hardware comp's over software. But those are extremely expensive and not in your normal home studio set up.
Many of the good software comp's will blow away the average home studio type compressor. I use the PSP Vintage Warmer or Cakewalks VC-64 and both will completely blow away anything under a grand in the hardware compressor market.
I've used a lot of gear over the years and trust me on this one. I've even heard a couple of the freeby comp's that are stunning.
Jun 23, 2008 12:28 am dude i trust what you tell me more than i trust my own ears. But yeah I was talking more about the sound of the unit itself, rather than the function, so yeah like the sound of a tube comp is going to beat the sound of it's software counterpart any day, in my opinion.
I'll have to look into this vintage warmer you speak so highly of. Cause unfortunatley I don't have a nice compressor or gate, only a cheapo unit that does both.
Jun 23, 2008 07:20 pm Dude, sometimes the cheapo compressor's work out well though. Especially some of the odd ones. I've used a Behringer Composer Pro for years and gotten very good results.
Mind you, it doesn't compare to the nice ones I can access at other studio's but for my quick needs at times here it works just fine.
So never diss a cheapo compressor if it is working for you.
Jun 24, 2008 01:05 am oh it works great for what I need it to do, which is why I still have it, but when i need to upgrade my rack it's definatley going to get a serious upgrade into some vintage gear.
Jun 24, 2008 07:42 pm Make sure and let me know when you start hunting. I always hear about that stuff through the old grapevine. Most times it is at a more then reasonable price too.
Jun 26, 2008 03:11 pm it'll be a while as I got way too much bull going in my life right now, but I will definitely give you a heads up when I start searching.
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