Yamaha AW2816 Owner's Manual page 383

Gate and Ducking
dB
+20
+10
0
Threshold = -10dB
-10
-20
-30
Range = -30dB
-40
-50
-60
Range = -70dB
-70
-70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 +10 +20
Input Level
dB
+20
+10
0
-10
Threshold = -20dB
-20
-30
-40
-50
Range = -30dB
-60
-70
-70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 +10
Input Level
A gate, or noise gate is an audio switch used to mute signals below a set thresh-
old level. It can be used to suppress background noise and hiss from valve
(tube) amps, effects pedals, and microphones.
Ducking is used to automatically reduce the levels of one signal when the level
of a source signal exceeds a specified threshold. It is used for voice-over appli-
cations where, for example, level of background music is automatically
reduced, allowing an announcer to be heard clearly.
Gate (GAT) and Ducking (DUK) parameters:
dB
Parameter
Threshold (dB)
Range (dB)
Attack (ms)
Hold (ms)
Decay (ms)
*1. These values are obtained when the sampling frequency is 48kHz.
*2. These values are obtained when the sampling frequency is 44.1 kHz.
*3. These values are obtained when the sampling frequency is 32 kHz
dB
+20
Threshold sets the level at which the gate closes, cutting off the signal. Signals
above the threshold level pass through unaffected. Signals at or below the
threshold cause the gate to close.
For ducking, trigger signal levels at and above the threshold level activate duck-
ing, and the signal level is reduced to a level set by the Range parameter.
The trigger signal is determined using the KEY IN parameter.
Range controls the level to which the gate closes. It can be used to reduce the
signal level rather than cut it completely. At a setting of –70 dB, the gate closes
completely when the input signal falls below the threshold. At a setting of –
30 dB, the gate only closes so far allowing an attenuated signal through. At a
setting of 0 dB, the gate has no effect. When signals are gated abruptly, the sud-
den cutoff can sound odd.
For ducking, a setting of –70 dB causes the signal to be virtually cutoff. At a set-
ting of –30 dB the signal is ducked by 30 dB. At a setting of 0 dB, the duck has
no effect.
Attack determines how fast the gate opens when the signal exceeds the thresh-
old level. Slow attack times can be used to remove the initial transient edge of
percussive sounds. Too slow an attack time makes some signals sound back-
wards.
For ducking, this controls how soon the signal is ducked once the duck has
been triggered. With a fast attack time, the signal is ducked almost immediately.
With a slow attack time, ducking fades the signal. Too fast an attack time may
sound abrupt.
Hold sets how long the gate stays open or the ducking remains active once the
trigger signal has fallen below the threshold level.
Decay controls how fast the gate closes once the hold time has expired. A
longer decay time produces a more natural gating effect, allowing the natural
decay of an instrument to pass through.
For ducking, this determines how soon the ducker returns to its normal gain
after the hold time has expired.
Appendix
Value
–54 to 0
–70 to 0
0 to 120
*1
0.02 ms to 1.96s , 0.02 ms to 2.13 sec
*3
2.94 sec
5ms to 42.3s *1., 6 ms to 46.0 sec*2., 8 ms to 63.4 sec *3.
(55 points)
(71 points)
(121 points)
*2
, 0.03 ms to
(216 points)
(160 points)
381