Noise gate doesn't always work?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Arethor
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Arethor

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Hello, I have been recording commentary lately, and I can hear my mouse clicks and keyboard tabs quite clearly in the background, so I decided to try and use a noise gate. It worked great, but when I talk, and my voice is loud enough to go over the noise gate, it all together cancels out the noise gate, meaning that I can hear the background noise when I talk. Is this how noise gates work, and if so, does anyone have any recommendations for how I eliminate the clicks and taps? What I really need it something that reduces ALL sounds under a certain decibel level, even when there is something louder going over it. Thanks.
 
Noise gates just silence audio if it is under a certain volume. When you speak, the noise gate can't differentiate between whether it's your voice or background noise. As soon as your volume goes over the volume threshold on the gate, it lets all audio through.
 
Arethor said:
Hello, I have been recording commentary lately, and I can hear my mouse clicks and keyboard tabs quite clearly in the background, so I decided to try and use a noise gate. It worked great, but when I talk, and my voice is loud enough to go over the noise gate, it all together cancels out the noise gate, meaning that I can hear the background noise when I talk. Is this how noise gates work, and if so, does anyone have any recommendations for how I eliminate the clicks and taps? What I really need it something that reduces ALL sounds under a certain decibel level, even when there is something louder going over it. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is how a noise gate works. When the level is above the threshold, you get full signal.
You might want to try a cardioid (rejects sounds not directly in front) mic to reduce background sounds like typing or clicking on the keyboard.
 
That is how a noise gate works Arethor.

You need to physically isolate your microphone from all other sources of noise while recording your voice.
 
Thanks guys. But is there no way to reduce how much my mic picks up around me? And sorry, I forgot to mention that the mic is a CAD M179. It has a lot of cardioid patterns available, but none of them really help much, extremely subtle differences.
 
If you have a pattern that's super directional, use that and point the mic so the keyboard and mouse are directly behind it.

Also, using the fine adjustments that are available to you may help a lot.

If your mouth is 6" from the mic and the gain is at 6, you may find that moving the mic 1" from your mouth and gain at 2 will work a lot better.
These numbers are just examples to illustrate.

The noise gate will work if you make a point of not clicking/typing when you're talking.
This might not be feasible, but it would work flawlessly.
 
What you should be looking for is a modern SILENT keyboard and mouse for your computer. Your microphone is working just fine as it is designed to do.
 
If your noise gate is also a compressor with side chain inputs and you have access to a decent equalizer you could try a de-esser setup and try to notch out the frequencies of the clicks. Might help a little bit ...
 
Alright thanks again guys. This should be enough info to start making some improvements.
 
You could also try not typing and mouse clicking while recording.
Don't mean to be crass but if it's important to not hear it on the recording then don't do it while you record
Figure out a way to eliminate the need for a computer mouse/keyboard, for example: If you are using the computer for putting up a script or notes, print it out and put it on a stand instead. Either way on the screen or on paper set the page breaks in a natural spot so you can break move to the next page and continue and then edit out background noises involved in turning the page or using the keyboard/mouse and shorten the gaps you left once the recording is done
 
Bristol Posse said:
You could also try not typing and mouse clicking while recording.
Don't mean to be crass but if it's important to not hear it on the recording then don't do it while you record
Figure out a way to eliminate the need for a computer mouse/keyboard, for example: If you are using the computer for putting up a script or notes, print it out and put it on a stand instead. Either way on the screen or on paper set the page breaks in a natural spot so you can break move to the next page and continue and then edit out background noises involved in turning the page or using the keyboard/mouse and shorten the gaps you left once the recording is done
Click to expand...

That would work, but what I am doing is live. In other words, I am recording my screen with a capture program while I also record my mic, which means there is no possible way for me to not click or type. I think my only solution here is to get a gaming headset, as those mics are not nearly as sensitive. This means that it wouldn't capture my mouse or keyboard (it sounds impossible, but every headset I have had works like that). It would reduce the commentary voice quality a little, but with a good set I think it would be worth it.
 
Isn't there noiseless keyboards and mouses on the market?
I thought that I had seen a keyboard that is actually projected onto any surface.
 
Steenamaroo said:
If you have a pattern that's super directional, use that and point the mic so the keyboard and mouse are directly behind it.

Also, using the fine adjustments that are available to you may help a lot.

If your mouth is 6" from the mic and the gain is at 6, you may find that moving the mic 1" from your mouth and gain at 2 will work a lot better.
These numbers are just examples to illustrate.

The noise gate will work if you make a point of not clicking/typing when you're talking.
This might not be feasible, but it would work flawlessly.
Click to expand...

Generally good advice, except that mics with tight pickup patterns also have a rear (180°) response lobe. The null is usually about 52° off axis. Aim the mic with that in mind.

Inverse square law says that halving the distance between the mouth and the mic will yield 6dB of gain. That gain doesn't apply to extraneous noises, so you get 6dB more separation between the voice and the clicks.
 
Arethor said:
That would work, but what I am doing is live. In other words, I am recording my screen with a capture program while I also record my mic, which means there is no possible way for me to not click or type. I think my only solution here is to get a gaming headset, as those mics are not nearly as sensitive. This means that it wouldn't capture my mouse or keyboard (it sounds impossible, but every headset I have had works like that). It would reduce the commentary voice quality a little, but with a good set I think it would be worth it.
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised.
Ever game online?
All you hear can hear is keyboard/mouse noises.

Can usb trackpads be bought?
 
Isn't there noiseless keyboards and mouses on the market?
I thought that I had seen a keyboard that is actually projected onto any surface.
Click to expand...

Yes, but the practicality of a projected keyboard makes it really hard to play games with. I have seen silent mice, but for the price of a silent mouse/keyboard I could get a decent headset.

You'd be surprised.
Ever game online?
All you hear can hear is keyboard/mouse noises.

Can usb trackpads be bought?
Click to expand...

Yup, that is exactly what I mean. My commentary is within games. Sometimes used for quest guides, sometimes in dual commentary shows where another player and I experience nice fun misadventures. In my case, the clicks are subtle, but nonetheless they are picked up way louder than in real life, making the playback pretty annoying. Like I said above, I have a Razer Naga, so I really do not want to get a trackpad or anything, if I end up having a choice, that is.
 
I'm not getting the need to do this "live" - what is the end product? A video or some sort? IF it's being recorded that is.

Can you record the screen capture and voice over afterwards, perhaps?

Anyway, if not, apart from eliminating the noise at the source, perhaps there's a specific type of headset mic that would be designed to reject off-axis noise better than your standard recording mic..
 
Armistice said:
I'm not getting the need to do this "live" - what is the end product? A video or some sort? IF it's being recorded that is.

Can you record the screen capture and voice over afterwards, perhaps?

Anyway, if not, apart from eliminating the noise at the source, perhaps there's a specific type of headset mic that would be designed to reject off-axis noise better than your standard recording mic..
Click to expand...

To put it simply, trying to record the voice over the footage would be about the same as trying to do the same with a home video. The reason, in my case, to record live is to catch things as I myself see them. If I added the voice later, it would sound unnatural, not to mention it wouldn't be legitimate commentary. As far as the headset, that is exactly what I am aiming for. I know they have that technology, now I just need to find a good headset with a great mic.
 
Gamers commentary ..... is that what we have here?
 
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