Using Gates on Loops

This week lets start out with a really easy & useful tip on how to gate loops that I want to sample for a track.

Firstly, what is a gate?

A gate is a tool for removing sounds below a particular threshold - ie - it only lets sounds above a certain threshold "through the gate".

I use gating on loops primarily to -

1. Remove existing reverb from a loop
2. Remove unwanted background noise from a loop
3. Make a 'busy' loop a bit more sparse (ie - removing some of the quieter elements of the groove)

Here are a couple of examples -

https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&batch_id=Y1RyYUROUnFPSHpIRGc9PQ

In example 1) I have made a busy loop a little more funky & skippy
In example 2) I have eliminated the white noise in the background

I mainly use the stock standard Cubase gate but some other really good ones include -

Sonnox Dynamics
Waves SSL Channel Strip

(feel free to add your favourite Gating plugs in the comments)

Some final points/tips -

- try gating before you try a Noise Reduction plug if you want to reduce background noise - this could eliminate the artifacts which come with any NR processing

- if you are sampling a loop you like, use gating to remove the reverb and then you can add your own in to give the loop a completely new feel

- use gating if you want to chop up a loop instead of using timestretch - it makes the hitpoints much easier to detect on the waveform

- play around with the attack, hold & release of the gating plug to get the sound you like

hope that helps :)