ABSTRACT
Following compressors, gates are perhaps the second most common dynamic range processors in mixing. A gate only cares whether the signal is above or below the threshold; a gate is said to be closed when the signal is below the threshold and open when the signal is above it. Range, or depth, defines the amount of gain applied on signals below the threshold. A range of –10 dB means that signals below the threshold are attenuated by 10 dB. Attack controls how quickly the gate opens; release controls how quickly the gate closes. It is worth noting that both the attack and release controls have the opposite effect on dynamic envelopes to compressors. Short attack and release settings are not always appropriate, though. Longer times are often used when the gated instrument has long natural attack and release; for example, a synthesized pad that rises and falls in a gradual fashion.
