Should I use a Noise Gate?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mjmike
  • Start date Start date
M

mjmike

New member
Ok so here's my issue i have a huge room with a lot of space and big windows so i don't have good acoustics i get a lot of echo if you understand what i mean, and you can hear the cars out the window going along out the street i don't have much space to move anywhere else. Now this may be more than one question, but should i use a noise gate for my vocals to only clear up the backgrounds noises, because ive been reading through out these thread and recommended Mic> Pre> Input Compressor> DAW i hope im clear enough, but my Daw Wont allow my to use 2 Inputs at once so its either the noise gate or the compressor what should i do? is there any there tricks im not looking at either?
 
I'd recommend against a gate: instead, go in and chop out any unwanted sound between sections. Unfortunately, this won't help with extra noise during the parts where you're singing. Fortunately, pretty much every house in the world is equipped with decent noise-reducing materials (blankets, pillows, etc.). Build a DIY vocal booth in a closet (you certainly wouldn't be the first!).

*edit: What DAW are you using that doesn't allow two inputs at once? Sound Recorder?
 
There will always be some background noise. It's a question of whether it's obtrusive or not.
Noise gating is usually a last resort when everything else has been tried. And compression and noise gating to some degree work against each other.

Better to try:

-close micing, taking care to avoid pops and correct for bass boost

-pointing the mic away from the source of the noise,

-if it's low frequency rumble, filter it out. It's often out of the vocal frequency range anyway.

Remember if you're adding other instruments/tracks, they can often mask the background noise on other tracks. In the mix, noise on individual tracks is often only a problem if that track is soloed or exposed.
 
steve.h said:
I'd recommend against a gate: instead, go in and chop out any unwanted sound between sections. Unfortunately, this won't help with extra noise during the parts where you're singing. Fortunately, pretty much every house in the world is equipped with decent noise-reducing materials (blankets, pillows, etc.). Build a DIY vocal booth in a closet (you certainly wouldn't be the first!).

*edit: What DAW are you using that doesn't allow two inputs at once? Sound Recorder?
Click to expand...

Ok i understand what you, mean by the way do you have any website or any idea how to build one? Because i Dont have use of closet :(.

My Equipment im using are:

Akg 200 Perception Condenser Mic
Korg D3200 Studio

Also another question is Tube Better Than Condenser?
 
Tim Gillett said:
There will always be some background noise. It's a question of whether it's obtrusive or not.
Noise gating is usually a last resort when everything else has been tried. And compression and noise gating to some degree work against each other.

Better to try:

-close micing, taking care to avoid pops and correct for bass boost

-pointing the mic away from the source of the noise,

-if it's low frequency rumble, filter it out. It's often out of the vocal frequency range anyway.

Remember if you're adding other instruments/tracks, they can often mask the background noise on other tracks. In the mix, noise on individual tracks is often only a problem if that track is soloed or exposed.
Click to expand...

Ok so the AKG 200 has a bass cut filer i use that and i have a pop filter and ive used them all i do eq the extra low frequencies out of the vocals, this is a pre compresion and gate and all that, is that a good way to start out?
 
Again, gating is a last resort.

Remember gating is not intelligent. It doesnt know what to let through and what to stop. It just reduces everything below a certain threshold. That might include parts of your vocal which you might have wanted to keep.

Are you micing really close? If close micing isnt good enough, it must be a pretty noisy environment. Is it solo vocal? Any other instruments, vocals?

Also, what amount of compression are you using? What settings? Do you know how to use a compresser?
 
Tim Gillett said:
Again, gating is a last resort.

Remember gating is not intelligent. It doesnt know what to let through and what to stop. It just reduces everything below a certain threshold. That might include parts of your vocal which you might have wanted to keep.

Are you micing really close? If close micing isnt good enough, it must be a pretty noisy environment. Is it solo vocal? Any other instruments, vocals?

Also, what amount of compression are you using? What settings? Do you know how to use a compresser?
Click to expand...


Yeah Im Micing Pretty close, its all intregated in the whole beat its self, there are some solos if you got a email i can email you a little demo of what im trying to do, as for my compressing settings ratio is 2:1 Thresh is bout-12 gain 1.5 To about 6.0 attack is .6 ms to release is 210ms then tube sat about 10 and its set to slow
 
mjmike said:
Yeah Im Micing Pretty close, its all intregated in the whole beat its self, there are some solos if you got a email i can email you a little demo of what im trying to do, as for my compressing settings ratio is 2:1 Thresh is bout-12 gain 1.5 To about 6.0 attack is .6 ms to release is 210ms then tube sat about 10 and its set to slow
Click to expand...

You could also do an mp3 and upload it to a place like lightningmp3 or sound click...which might be a bit easier
 
Tim Gillett said:
Remember gating is not intelligent. It doesnt know what to let through and what to stop. It just reduces everything below a certain threshold.
Click to expand...

This an important point that a lot of people un-familiar with noise gates might not understand.

Just to be clear (and this is probably common knowledge to most), a noise gate only removes any sound under a certain threshold. So when the gate is open, it's letting EVERYTHING through, including the noise.

If your environment is so noisy that it makes you even consider using a noise gate, that means the noise will probably be heard while you're singing, noise gate or not. If, on the other hand, the noise is low enough to be (almost) completely masked by your vocal, then you don't even need a noise gate. You just need to snip all the parts in between vocal lines.

Personally, since you're talking about "echo" in the room, I think you just need to treat your room, which is one of, if not THE most important aspect of getting a good recording.

Either way, don't use a gate. :D
 
Gated Drums !!!!! Cut em off quick !! And dont forget the verb !!! Best thing since peanut butter and jelly.
 
Just like rami said. Like a real gate if its closed nothing goes in or out once its open even obama can get in.
Gated drums rule!
 
Just for the heck of it try a gate ,that's if you have one handy or can borrow one, don't go out and purchase one for an experiment.
Then you'll see that no matter how you attack it etc. it's not meant for what your looking to do with it and get great results.
you got a big room make an ISO booth you'll be much happier.
 
moresound said:
Just for the heck of it try a gate ,that's if you have one handy or can borrow one, don't go out and purchase one for an experiment.
Then you'll see that no matter how you attack it etc. it's not meant for what your looking to do with it and get great results.
you got a big room make an ISO booth you'll be much happier.
Click to expand...

Yeah i seems like what i have to do, Ive been reading through the articles and no one's real clear with it they'll say square rooms aren't good so what the heck is the shape i need?
 
moresound said:
As for the room-how much can you afford to spend?
Click to expand...

im trying not to embarrass myself as i already am hehe but very little, maybe im just not as good as i thought seems to me they want you to spend thousands of dollars before they sign you ha! i dont know i think imma just have to stick wih hat i got and hope they like it cause i dont have 50 bux a track to spend
 
mjmike;329912 Also another question is Tube Better Than Condenser?[/QUOTE said:
For vocals ? that depends. I like my rode K2 (tube) for vocals a lot!!
Click to expand...
 
moresound said:
For vocals ? that depends. I like my rode K2 (tube) for vocals a lot!!
Click to expand...

well yeah i just wanted to know overall ive been in a real recording studio before and noticed that had them, wondered if thats a route i need to make my vocals have that professional clear raw sound ya know?
 
mjmike said:
im trying not to embarrass myself as i already am hehe but very little, maybe im just not as good as i thought seems to me they want you to spend thousands of dollars before they sign you ha! i dont know i think imma just have to stick wih hat i got and hope they like it cause i dont have 50 bux a track to spend
Click to expand...

NO NO NO we all have to start somewhere, just take it easy (now I sound like I'm trying to talk someone from jumping off a roof)
You can help the sound of your room for very little money. Hang some blankets here and there move some old couch and easy chairs in put an old rug or two down just get the space under control. Try a piece of foam about a foot x afoot behind the mic back about 18 inches. there's a lot you can do.
 
mjmike said:
well yeah i just wanted to know overall ive been in a real recording studio before and noticed that had them, wondered if thats a route i need to make my vocals have that professional clear raw sound ya know?
Click to expand...

Well I also like the Shure SM7b a great vocal mic and it's not a tube or condenser.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top