How To Use Noise Gates: Where They Go In Your FX Chain

[@genemyers17]

5:38 4 chord set up.

[@adamstein9333]

Thank You! I had to screen shot this I’ve always gotten wrong!

[@LeeStridsberg]

Best demo and diagram I’ve found on KZbin for this topic, thank you for creating this!

[@jonathandurnin6906]

Just wanted to say big thank you,! After months of trying to figure out how to do this, your video has helped me

[@Guitarnivore]

Awesome. Glad it helped!

[@JeffB-hf9rb]

100% correct. I got a Joyo Overdrive, a TS clone. when I put the noisegate after the tuner or after the guitar and before the OD it is much much better. Especially for metal.

[@sbiegs3885]

You saved my life!!! I appreciate all the time it takes for you to make each vid!!

[@newmexicosaint]

Thank you for this! Just built my first (small) board thanks to this layout! Works like a champ!

[@Guitarnivore]

Glad to hear it. Really quiets things down, eh?

[@newmexicosaint]

@@Guitarnivore Yes it DOES! In a bedroom setting like mine it makes the unbearable quite nice! Thanks again!

[@shannonjones3714]

Great demo! Plain and simple! Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@Nightpants]

always a pleasure, man. Once again, you show up with the goods on some practical stuff.

[@PlayingInVestapol]

Thanks. this was the best video to explain my trouble with pedal noise.

[@Guitarnivore]

Glad it helped!

[@tolerbearALTII]

I've found using one at the front in between the guitar very delicately and one after your gain stage be it an amp or whatever in front of ambient pedals works best for me. But I didn't know about the four cable method.

[@RSTI191]

There are a few videos as this on You Tube. Yours worked. Thnx...

[@Adambobro]

Try this method: Connect guitar to input of ns2. Output to input of metal zone. Output of metal zone to return of your fx loop. Pedal itself is an insane preamp... sounds 1000x better used this way than in front of amp.... Honestly, its the best way to get full potential from that pedal. I learned that tip from Ola Englunds video on the metal zone.

[@Guitarnivore]

I've heard that, but then it nullifies the rest of your fx loop. You can make the MT-2 sound fine in the front of the amp, especially with an EQ in the mix.

[@markmendozavano]

I wish I had the NS2 for that particular 4 cable method. For metal, the gain really amplifies the clean signal and putting it after the drives gives it a lot to deal with. So I always put it before the drives. If I ever get a second noise suppressor I'd put that one after the drives but with a slightly lighter threshold.

[@Guitarnivore]

The Behringer NR300 is an NS2 clone that works just as well and only costs about $30. Give that a shot with the four cable method.

[@Guitarnivore]

@@eflatmac1 That's great! I had the NR300 awhile back and didn't know about the 4 cable method at the time. Glad it worked out for you!

[@heyjarrod]

Get a Decimator!!! That thing keeps my board, dead silent! 🤘🏻😝🎸🔥

[@brianwhitenz]

that was very helpful - thank you!

[@tankdarla637]

I have the Boss one and it works good enough out front but I have been too lazy to try the four cable method and its more cables to deal with, but I will try it, just not sure if it goes before or after my pedals in the loop. I thought for the four cable method to use the input and output out front before my od/boost and dirt pedal and from the dirt pedal to the amp input, then use the send and return either before or afer all my pedals in the effects loop?

[@Guitarnivore]

I say try it both before and after the loop and see what works best for your setup.

[@Salantsoundstudios]

nice vid! i was wondering where that delay was gonna go!

[@theolajide]

thanks for the noise droppings, you just earned a subscriber

[@Guitarnivore]

Thanks! Always glad to help.

[@slowraceultra]

Very helpful vid. Thank you.

[@hoogachoga]

Super helpful. Thanks man.

[@joem527]

The decimator is really plug n play but that definitely comes with a price, the boss NS-2 can really work well but you’re gonna have to use a 4 cable method which if you factor in the price of a couple more cables (assuming you already have an input cable and an output cable) you’ll pay a little over half the price than just the decimator on its own

[@sfear6]

I will try the noise gate first in my pedal board

[@michaelcraig9449]

Do you have to use 4 chord or wet dry wet or stereo method? Or can you just do a real simple set up? Will it get rid of say, hum, string noise or the little clunky noise like when changing chords etc..I dont play high gain, I just go for huge loud crunch tone, as much as possible with a simple set up with maybe 5-10 pedals.

[@Guitarnivore]

You don't have to, but if you have the means, it seems to be the best way to quiet everything down. If not, and you're just trying to quiet some 60 cycle hum, try putting it at the beginning of your fx chain and adjust the threshold. I like to use my NS-2 on mute mode, so it keeps everything quiet when it's no engaged and I can completely mute everything my engaging it. If you find what works best for you and your rig, go with that.

[@zAvAvAz]

5:27 i am use metal zone in FX loop only how can i use this four cable method then?

[@elmershiflett8154]

I like the video, very informative, and I also have the boss ns2 and the metal zone, and I have it hooked up the same way you instructed, but say I have a multi effects pedal, how do I hook that up in the chain? On the diagram it says hook up here, with an arrow, but... I may be stupid but how do I hook it up in the chain with effects loop an all that

[@Guitarnivore]

Sorry I took so long to respond. That's a good question. I would run it in the loop, but depending what you already have in the loop, you may want to place any time FX after it, otherwise it might sound a bit funky. But I would run it between the NS2 and the Send. BUT, if the multi FX unit has it's own noise suppressor, maybe run the NS2 between the guitar and front of the amp. That way you kill any noise coming from your guitar AND in the loop. Does that makes sense?

[@elmershiflett8154]

@@Guitarnivore Yep, I got you, that's what I did, sounds good too, and quiet as a church mouse when I engage the ns2, I appreciate you helping me

[@cliffords2315]

The $28 Berihnger (TC Electronis) NS300 is made out of solid steel now, not plastic, big improvement

[@Guitarnivore]

Really? I might have to grab one.

[@vvvv4100]

Considering put the noise gate at the beginning, where would you put a droping tune pedal, like the digitech drop? After or before the noise gate?

[@Guitarnivore]

So if you're not using an fx loop, I would put it right after the gate. If you;re using an FX loop, I would try it both in the loop and before the amp to see which one sounds better.

[@bw5260]

Where would a tuner go in this chain? Before the noise gate or after?

[@Guitarnivore]

I place mine before it.

[@bw5260]

@@Guitarnivore Thank you!

[@colincain7521]

Thanks..That was helpful

[@chadillac2501]

So, your signal essentially is being suppressed twice? First the guitar and then again after the distortion pedal and amp? Where would you run your wah in that chain?

[@Guitarnivore]

In the four cable mode, yes, it's filtering your signal twice. I would place any volume/wah between the noise suppressor and the guitar.

[@Rockerrobin]

Wondering where to place my gate got a tc sentry using an high gain Savage Drive od/ high gain distortion a looper pedal and rechecho using 4 cable method into a multi effects pedal. Just got it all working together the gate is at the end of the od/distortion and start of the effects loop.

[@Guitarnivore]

That's a good question, considering you are already using the 4 cable method elsewhere within you chain. Does your mulit-fx pedal have a built in noise gate of it's own?

[@Rockerrobin]

@@Guitarnivore it does have a built-in gate valeton gp200 not sure how great it is vs the sentry which is arguably the best gate on the market.

[@Guitarnivore]

@@Rockerrobin Gotcha. Yeah, I'd have to see what your current chain looks like to try to wrap my head around.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

What about noise clicking pedals?

[@grizzlymanverneteil4443]

Fiend skull. Auto like achieved.

[@tonya4157]

I know this is 2 years old but hopefully you'll read this. How about this scenario? My amp has an effects loop and pedal chain is set up in a normal configuration. Tuner, wah, fuzz, boost, od in the front. Chorus, phaser, reverb, delay in the loop. Using 4 cables, wouldn't I run from guitar to gate input then gate output to tuner? Then the rest of the chain going to front of amp stays the same. Then run send from amp fx loop to return on gate and send on gate to return on amp?

[@Guitarnivore]

You can try it that way, but you'll find the above scenario is the most common with the NS-2. Sometimes it's called the X method because it gates the guitar clean signal and preamp noise by being able to identify them both. I know it sounds weird, but it works. Try it both ways and see which sounds best for both your tone and noise suppression.

[@tonya4157]

​@Guitarnivore I think I get it now. This way, it's basically the same method as isolating a pedal with the loop on the gate, but now you're including the preamp section of the amp and whatever is in front of it in that loop. If you don't mind another question, what about delays, phaser and such? Should I place them before or after the gate? I don't have a gate yet, still deciding between Boss and TC's Sentry. Thanks for replying man, I appreciate your help.

[@Guitarnivore]

@@tonya4157 Those go between the the output of the pedal and the return of the fx loop. I've heard good things about the Sentry.

[@tonya4157]

​@Guitarnivore thanks man!

[@stevenpait4131]

What is the return of the effects loop?

[@Guitarnivore]

Sometimes it's called a power in, but it's basically the receiving end of the loop's signal. Your guitars signal gets sent out of the power out/Send of the FX loop, goes through your pedals and then returns to the amp to be processed and sent to the speaker. Does that answer your question?

[@mcathawk1490]

Thank you sir

[@rootestini]

Hi my name is Roberto, I have stepped into the magical world of noise reduction. I would like to buy a noise gate for my pedalboard. My Santana-like sound needs a noise gate but also needs to have good feedback with my MesaBoogie. I'm worried that the noise gate will cut the sound too much and the feedback will go to waste. What do you suggest?

[@Guitarnivore]

That's a tough one, Roberto. See if you find this article of any use. en.customboards.fi/pages/get-rid-of-that-noise-the-different-uses-for-a-noise-suppressor

[@bradybritto]

Nice ! 👍

[@filipmarkovic7962]

Would a noise gate work if my high gain amp is noisy (only amp no pedals)

[@Guitarnivore]

That may be a grounding issue with your electrical system in the house, or it may be 60 cycle hum from your pickups if you're using single coils. It could also be a bad guitar cable. Lastly, it might just be a noise amp. Sometimes it's a case of finding the culprit.

[@filipmarkovic7962]

@@Guitarnivore i switched my cable multiple times and i dont think its pickups since i have tried a different amp on my electricity in the house so i think its my amp

[@filipmarkovic7962]

@@Guitarnivore and the amp is battery powered

[@Guitarnivore]

@@filipmarkovic7962 What kind of amp is it?

[@filipmarkovic7962]

@@Guitarnivore its a boss katana mini

[@onolicious5777]

Where would you put a compressor?

[@Guitarnivore]

Most folks like to put them before or after the drive pedal.

[@onolicious5777]

@@Guitarnivore Thanks

[@sbe4u]

Good demo, but the pedals aren't noisy, it's always your guitar. If you have an actually noisy pedal it's defective. A gain or boost or distortion pedal just boosts the signal it's getting and the noise it makes is it just doing its job.

[@harls7317]

Nice way of putting it!

[@dnadeau819]

I dunno. I kinda find the plumes and the Maxon od9 to be kinda noisy. For comparison, my Mudkiller OD is dead quiet.

[@adamstein9333]

I have to definitely disagree depending on which pedals Your speaking of and the order they are placed, buffers etc. Are You telling Me that amps are not noisy as well and that it’s just My guitar? Just wondering

[@sbe4u]

@@adamstein9333 Yes it's just your guitar. Pedals and amps are not supposed to add additional noise, if they do they are faulty. The noise gate was literally invented to filter out guitar pickup noise, it can work for bad pedals but that is not the intended use. If you want a noise gate for your guitar and your bad pedals, then get the EHX Silencer. It has an effects loop that will allow you to apply the noise gate to your pedals.

[@adamstein9333]

@@sbe4u Yes I have a AMT R2 and a Tubescreamer Clone that are Very noisy together especially but compliment each other very Well at the same time. When paired with other preamps I have no noise at all, and I’m using a Chapman ML3 Pro Modern and A Washburn Paralaxe and Your making Me extremely paranoid lol! I’ve notice a lot of amps these days (the modelling ones) have crazy feedback, and stacking pedals can have very noisy results no matter how noise cancelled Your pick ups are. 25 years ago I bought a Gibson SG Standard off the rack at guitar center (main problem lol) that had a screaming noise as loud as the guitar signal and was for sure faulty, which was replaced with a Toni Iommi that actually was worse than that, so I took the old bridge probucker from My Sg special and that solved it. I totally understand that argument, but should I return My pedals because they are defective? Isn’t that what noise suppression pedals are for? Or just for people with defective gear?

[@NeilAloha]

I have the decemator $450 and worth every penny

[@jimboblooch8468]

thx

[@DirtyMikeTM]

This does not help my issue

[@Guitarnivore]

What kind of issue are you having?

[@DirtyMikeTM]

@@Guitarnivore signal chain flow for my board