A sidechain (also seen as side chain or side-chain) input is a special âkey inputâ found on audio compressor units and noise gate units. Itâs an additional input, separate to the main input found on the device.
The signal thatâs connected to the key input changes the behavior of the main output of the compressor or the gate. The device will have an option that allows you to select whether the unit should âlistenâ to this key input, and the way the sound is affected depends on the unit and how the settings are adjusted.
Sidechain Gate also performs brilliantly as a conventional insert effect. The EQ and Shape controls allow you to intelligently gate problem recordings. Say you want to clean up a noisy recording of a snare drum, which has some bleed-through from a crash cymbal. Simply use the Hi Cut control to filter out the higher frequencies, and then. The Bob Perry Gate is a noise gate with side chaining and the choice between 3 distinct algorithms. 3 distinct algorithms. Optional Real Sidechaining. Easy-to-use Graphical User Interface. Gain Reduction Metering. Numeric Data Input. VST3 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Attack, Hold and Release: 1ms to 500ms. Linear, Logarithmic and S-Curve Algorithms.
It contains a complete gate/expander solution with a dedicated and comprehensive sidechain filtering path as well. Smoothest audio frequency filtering. Comprehensive gate and expander audio treatments. Detailed phase corrections. Easy routing and stereo imaging changes. Plug-in specification: Win32 / VST compatible. Side Chain Gate/Expander by slim slow slider is a Virtual Effect Audio Plugin for Windows. It functions as a VST Plugin. A sidechain (also seen as side chain or side-chain) input is a special âkey inputâ found on audio compressor units and noise gate units. Itâs an additional input, separate to the main input found on the device. The signal thatâs connected to the key input changes the behavior of the main output of the compressor or the gate.
The result is that the main signal being processed by the compressor or the gate takes on the characteristics of the side chained signal imposed on it.
There are lots of technical and creative ways that a sidechain can be used in the studio. I definitely think that the technique has had a massive impact on the sound of todayâs electronic dance music, as weâll look at below.
Sidechain Compression
A side-chain compressor can be used in many different ways. One of the most common is called âduckingâ â where the main signal that passes through a compressor drops in volume level, whenever a signal enters the key input.
Youâll most often hear this on the radio, when the DJ talks over the music thatâs playing. The volume of the music drops whenever the DJ talks, allowing the voice to be heard more clearly as it doesnât have to compete with the volume of the music. The music track is the main signal passing through the compressor unit and the DJâs microphone is connected to the key input.
Another use for it can be heard everywhere in electronic dance music, in whatâs known as âpumpingâ. For example, if you have a kick drum playing as well as a synth bass sound, you can change the way that the two sounds interact with each other, which can result in a far more interesting feel and catchy rhythm for your production.
Hereâs how you can do it:
Sidechain Gate
A common use for this type of gate is to have the main audio signal take on the rhythmical elements of the key input. For example:
Final Thoughts
Using the sidechain technique can take a little getting used to, but I definitely feel that using it can give you really interesting and creative sounds in your productions. If you get to know your compressors and gates well, you can easily apply this technique to help expand your range of production tools in the studio.
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With a wide range of noise gate/expander plugins in the market, each possessing its own unique features, many people face a hard time in selecting the most suitable gate/expander for their particular needs.
What Does Noise Gate Do?
A noise gate is a type of effect you can add to your channel strip. The gate will affect the sound by completely eliminating the sound below or above a certain threshold, depends on your parameter settings.
Here are the main parameters you would use to effect the noise gate and operate it to your liking.
The Threshold is the control for which level the gate will affect your signal.
Attack, is the time taken for the gate to open.
The Release refers to how long the gate will take to fade out.
Hold is how long the gate will be open for and hold its state.
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Range will set how much the signal is reduced when the gate is closed.
Difference Between A Gate And An Expander?
Gate & Expander are very similar but they have a subtle difference.
Gate â Cuts out unwanted signal completely
Expander â Compresses unwanted signal to make it less prominent
Noise gate short history:
1969 â Gating technique developed, and adopted by The Beatles.
1980 â Gating technique implemented in real-time electronics in a few audiophile, high fidelity record players.
1990 â Used vigorously in music production and sound engineering.
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Where Do You Place A Noise Gate?
You might be debating where to use your noise gate?
Well, typically the rule of thumb is you wouldnât want to use a noise gate during recording as you wonât be able to obtain any of the audio data lost at later a date.
So to avoid this we recommend applying this effect after you have recorded your audio. It is also a good idea to have in mind what you want to affect with the gate. For example, you may have a drum break which has a really tight kick and snare but youâre not a fan of the hi-hats. Now you know what you want to achieve so you can tweak the gate to your desired needs.
There are many applications for a noise gate, some offering sidechain features, and others allowing you to invert the signal. This effect can be used in a million different ways.
Why Should I Use The Noise Gate/ Expander Plugin?
If you are involved in music production these tools can be your savior for precisely removing unwanted elements of the sounds. You may also find yourself using it in many creative ways, such as a sidechain trigger.
10 Best Noise Gate/Expander VST, AU, AAX Plugins 202010. Unfiltered Audio G8 Review
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
G8 Dynamic Gate is a multipurpose gate that all producers and audio engineers should adopt.
You can also combine it with a MIDI trigger or audio channel to trigger it with G8.
With the new edition of âdarkâ skin for G8, it blends in perfectly with your DAW and offers enough options to keep your gating needs at bay.
Free Vst Sidechain Gate Access Control
Key Features:
Compatibility:
Unfiltered Audio G8 works on Windows 7 or higher for PC and OSX 10.9 or higher for Mac. It only supports 64 bits version and comes in VST/VST3/AU/AAX versions. See G8 Dynamic Gate on Plugin-Alliance.
9. Sonalksis SV 719 Gate Review
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Sonalksis SV 719 Gate isnât so well known but itâs a powerful gate/expander plugin that definitely should be on this list.
There are three modes in this plugin, which are: âDuckâ, âGateâ, and âExpandâ each offering a different algorithmic process. Additionally, the SV 719 includes a filter capable of low, mid, and high band filtering.
With a built-in output gain, the levels are easily movable. Moreover, the intuitive A/B switch will allow the user to quickly switch between to gating/expanding or ducking ideas.
Giving this all in a compact and beautiful GUI Sonalksis has really created an all-rounded gate/expander plugin that makes a difference to your channels.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
This plugin requires Windows 7 or higher for PC and OSX 10.9 or higher for Mac. This plugin only comes in VST/AU versions which makes it not compatible with Pro Tools. It has support for both 32 and 64-bit devices. Get Sonalksis SV 719 Gate on their official website.
8. kiloHearts Gate Review
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kiloHearts Gate is a simple to use but extremely effective gate when used in practice.
This Gate offers a quick way to cut out a low hum or noise within the signal. Sidechain, look ahead, and the ever-helpful flip feature gives Kilohertz Gate effective simplicity.
Simple selection of controls such as an attack, hold, release, and threshold. But Kilohertz Gate doesnât offer anything more than what it says on the tin, you can use it in series with the other kilohertz plugin collections but as a stand-alone gate, this is a top contender.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
kiloHearts Gate works on Windows 7 or higher for PC and OS X 10.6 or higher for Mac. It comes in VST/VST3/AU/AAX versions and supports both 32 and 64 bit systems. Check details on Pluginboutique.
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7. Wire Grind Advanced Noise Gate Review
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Wire Grind Advanced Noise Gate claims to be one of the worldâs most advanced noise gate device, they might be right as we shall take a look.
Having all the features commonly found within normal gates, Advanced Noise Gate has some additional features such as advanced gating controls, equalization controls, anti-click technology, and precisely tuned envelopes there is a lot under the hood.
With a multiband output, you can independently send different frequency signals to the output. They also come with sidechaining features plus two attack envelopes with ducking, and both peak and RMS detection.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
At the moment, the Wire Grind Advanced Noise Gate only works with Windows and supports all versions of Windows but works best on Windows 8 and higher. It comes in VST/VST3 versions only. Get more info about this plugin on their website.
6. Slate Digital Gates Plug-in Bundle Review
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Slate Digitals âGates Bundleâ gives you two of their most favorable gating plugins âClassicâ and âDrumâ.
âGate: Classicâ comes with additional parameters such as ratio, range, attack, and release. Classic also has two modes for switching your gate to a âvocalâ mode.
âGate: Drumâ is a variation of the two which is more catered towards drum channels and processing. Taking a look at the drum gate, we can see a âTransientâ detection that allows the user to tweak the transients to their liking.
Both gates come with filters that can be applied to the signal. Slate Digital keep things very simple here, with no added extra windows and a straight forward design and execution these two are a deadly combination of gating plugins.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
Slate Digital Gates Plug-in Bundle requires Windows 7 or higher for PC and OSX 10.12 or higher for Mac. It comes in VST/VST3/AU/AAX formats and only supports 64-bit devices. See the details about this bundle here.
5. Infected Mushroom Gatekeeper By Polyverse Review
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Polyverse Gatekeeper is a volume modulation plugin that has eight independent envelopes that can achieve very quick transitions combined with a smoothing algorithm.
This allows for a clean, fast, dynamic, and punchy gating in your channel processing with no compromises to sound. Built-in âBoostâ and âClipâ features offer extra punch.
Using the tempo sync that is built into Gatekeeper will allow you to sync it with your DAWâs BPM. Moreover, Gatekeeper has a very eye-catching GUI that is complex and very effective but still remaining easy to use.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
Polyverse Gatekeeper requires Windows 7 or higher to run on PC and OSX 10.9 or higher for Mac. It comes in VST/AU/AAX formats and has support for both 32 and 64-bit devices. Check Pluginboutique for price & details.
4. Waves C1 Compressor/Gate Review
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C1 Compressor by Waves combines two modules which are Compressor/Expander & Gate/Expander.
The signal is sent to the Filter/EQ modules for further editing. With the C1, you can decide where you plan to have your gate open and close, unlike other plugins where you are limited to a one-level open/close value.
The levels for the compressor and gate are independent of each other but they can be linked to reflect the same parameters.
All modules can be used independently or in conjunction with one another.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
Waves C1 only works on Windows 10 for PC and macOS 10.12.6 or higher for Mac. It only supports 64-bit devices and comes in VST/AAX/AU formats. Visit Wavesâs website to get one.
3. Boz Digital Labs Gatey Watey Review
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Gatey Watey is a frequency dependant gate. This fun and creative gate react based on incoming frequencies, combined with the standard gate parameters.
The frequency receivers can be flipped into a low, mid, and high mode. This gives the gate the power to take out sounds based on their frequencies.
The simple but impressive GUI gives the user a powerful gate that is easy to use without compromising looks.
This no learning curve gate plugin and itâs an awesome addition to any producer/audio engineers arsenal.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
Boz Digital Labs Gatey Watey runs on Windows and higher for PC and OS X 10.7 or higher for Mac. It comes in VST/VST3/AU/AAX/RTAS formats which makes it available for pretty much every DAW. Feel free to check the Pluginboutique for price & other details.
2. Oxford Drum Gate Review
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Oxford Drum gate is one of the most highly advanced, intelligent, and innovative dynamic processors in the market, and that shows in its ability to distinguish and separate wanted and unwanted signals.
The plugin is made up of 3 tabs. Each tab consisting of options relating to a separate characteristic of drum processing.
The first tab is the main tab and is in charge of the âdetectionâ part of the operation.
The second tab is the decay tab which gives the user ability to manipulate the signal more precisely.
The last tab allows the user to do the traditional input gating and dynamically control the remaining transients after fine-tuning the gate settings.
Key features:
Compatibility:
Oxford Drum Gate works well on Windows 7 or higher for PC and OS X 10.7 or higher for Mac. It comes in VST/VST3/AU/AAX format and supports both 32 and 64-bit devices. Get your copy of Oxford Drum Gate here.
1. FabFilter Pro G Review
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
FabFilters Pro-G comes packed with features such as six different algorithms, mono, stereo, or mid/side processing, adjustable parameters, low CPU usage, and many more we will take a look at.
Pro-G has a beautiful GUI that keeps things simple but also extremely effective in practice. Combining this with the visual window of your signal process and the noise gates effect to that signal, you can confidently pinpoint your gateâs settings.
Another great feature of this gate/expander is that you can get very quick results. For example, you may be working on a channel that needs a noise gate or an expander but you are not sure which one will work best? With the many presets within Pro-G, you can quickly find a preset that fits your sound best and then tweak it to your liking.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
Fabfilter Pro-G works well with both Windows and Mac devices. It supports both 32 and 64 bits for Windows but only 64 bits for Mac. It comes in VST/VST3/AAX/AU formats. Check Pro-G on Pluginboutique.
Bonus â 6 Best Free Noise Gate VST Plugins1. AlexHilton A1TriggerGate (FREE)
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A1 Trigger Gate is a free plugin that is simply amazing. It allows you to simply trigger the audio with a gated sound. You can then manipulate this with some built-in settings.
A built-in window shows you the gateâs envelope settings, plus another window that shows the waveform. The mix features making it easier than ever to blend the two signals together.
Echo/Delay modules become useful when wanting to create awesome sounding tails or short snaps to the signal.
Low pass filter makes it easy to chop out any unwanted lower frequencies getting into the mix. A preset window allows you to save your favorite custom patches.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
This plugin works fine with all versions of both Windows and Mac OS. It comes in VST/AU/AAX formats and supports both 32 and 64-bit devices. Get it for FREE here.
2. Dead Duck DD Gate (FREE)
More Info & Download
Dead Duck DD Gate is another great free plugin to add to your collection.
Using the standard setup for a noise gate, Dead Duck hasnât over complicated this plugin but instead kept it so simple that your nan could get awesome gating effects in seconds!
An in-depth and gorgeous metering level gives precision to the levels your inputting and outputting.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
Dead Duck DD Gate works only on Windows and only comes in the VST version which means that it may not work in all DAWs. It supports both 32 and 64-bit devices. Get your FREE copy here.
3. LittleStudios LSGate (FREE)
More Info & Download
LS-Gate is a gate designed to add rhythmic patterns to your signals. It can also be used as a Tremolo effect on your tracks.
It has 32-steps to edit to the desired level of rhythmic effect. You can even go as far as editing the open gate length per step.
The ability to join steps together can unlock the potential to merge in any way necessary. A/B mode allows for two variations of the parameter, also there are attack and decay settings for each step.
This is another great free plugin to try.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
Just like the DD Gate, LSGate by LittleStudios only work on Windows OS and comes in VST format only which limits its usage to a few DAWs. It supports 32/64 bit devices. Download your copy here.
Nembrini Audio Analog Rack Noise Gate is one step closer to the most minimal gate ever.
Not that itâs a bad thing because this powerhouse of a gate doesnât strut around thinking itâs the top dog, it knows its place and offers a truly amazing noise gate effect.
âThresholdâ and âRangeâ are the only two dials you have at your disposal and they are the only two you will need with this plugin. It does what it says on the tin and does it very well.
Given the ability to easily A/B listen to two setups and save your settings this makes Nembrini Audio Noise Gate an awesome free gate.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
Nembrini Audio Analog Rack Noise Gate works on Windows 7 or higher for PC and Mac OS 10.9 or higher for Mac. It comes in VST/VST3/AU/AAX formats and only supports 64-bit devices. Download this plugin here.
5. T-Force Trance Gate 2 (FREE)
More Info & Download
Trance Gate 2 is a rhythmic gate effect with sidechain features. It can take any sound and turn it into a rhythmic sequence.
This effect was made famous by the trance music genre and has been revived in this plugin. Two LFOâs make it easy to create modulation without using an external plugin.
ADSR parameters for the amp, filter cutoff, resonance envelope give independence to each module. All controls are automatable, plus a mod matrix.
Key Features:
Compatibility:
This is a VST plugin only and it only works on Windows OS. It has support for both 32 and 64-bit devices. Get Trance Gate 2 here.
6. digitalfishphones FLOORFISH (FREE)
More Info & Download
This simple gate/expander plugin ticks a lot of boxes.
Being easy to get started you can opt for a subtle and soft expansion set up or turn the other way for a gating effect you cant compare to others.
What makes this gate/expander different is the fact you can scan for the source and make amendments to the curve accordingly.
It must also be mentioned that the interface of this gate is very eye-pleasing with its analog circuitry feel.
Why not grab this plugin and try it for your gating needs? itâs FREE!
Free Vst Sidechain Gate Opener
Key Features:
Compatibility:
FLOORFISH by digitalfishphones works on Windows 7 or higher for PC. It worked for MacOS but the company decided that it was too old and they removed it. Unfortunately, Floorfish only comes in VST and 32-bit formats which limit its versatility among DAWs for such a good plugin. Get the FLOORFISH here!
Free Vst Sidechain Gate HingesConclusion
Noise gating has always been a significant part of music production and audio engineering. Its use on vocals has also become vital in recent years as it can be implemented in live recordings and so on. The market for noise gate plugins is pretty interesting. You can never find any two plugins that offer the exact same set of features and functions as the next plugin. This makes choosing a noise gate plugin quite overwhelming for some users. Thankfully, this article discusses some of the best and most well-known plugins as well as their features in order to make it easier for users to make up their mind.
Free Sidechain Gate Vst
As this article has shown, there is a huge collection of noise gates/expanders to use within projects and audio creation. Finding the right one is down to your needs or what you find useful for everyday use. It has to be said though that itâs always worth trying a few out and seeing what they have to offer.
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