15 of the Best Compact Format Noise Gates

Controls - Damp (MDP Refine), Threshold, Decay, Mode : Gate / Reduction / Mute.

A cool MDP (Multi-Dimensional Processing) gate which many love - seems to be particularly good at removing Single-Coil Pickup Hum - and lots love it for that. I do have some challenges with some of Boss's MDP-powered pedals as they don't always engage as predictably and as naturally as I like. And even though this one hits slightly harder and faster than the NS-2, it doesn't engage quite so naturally - and I occasionally hear some odd (but subtle) artefacts in the reduction. It's still a fantastic and versatile gate - and is quite a different animal to the long-established NS-2.

Controls - Threshold, Decay, Mode : Reduction / Mute.

This one is still my incumbent / current favourite as such - it's not quite so precise as some or fast engaging - but has a very pleasant organic and natural engagement that I really like. It's pretty good as filtering out the noise, and doesn't seem to impact to much on the EQ of the signal-chain - while I do have the ParaEQ II DLX immediately after for further Treble recovery. This gate is not perfect - but has mostly worked very well for me. I'm not a particularly proponent of palm-muted chugging for which there are some significantly more compatible gates for that effect! I still really really like my Alchemy Modded NS-2, and it has served me really well over the years!

Controls - Release, Threshold, Reduction.

A decent 3-knob gate - which does everything you need for a 4-cable enabled gate - I don't have too much experience of that one - but I'm sure it's decent enough!

Controls - Hold, Gate, Release.

This is one of the metal-head's favourite gate - it hits quick and hard - lots seem to love it. A fair number of my friend favour this gate.

Controls - Threshold, MODE : Noise Reduction / Noie Gate.

This is one of the less-well known gates - which has a simple 2-Mode switch - for Noise Reduction or Noise Gate - simply one-knob Threshold function. This is a very simple gate - but doesn't seem to apply 4-cable method - which eliminates it from contention for me!

Controls - Threshold, Intensity : High / Low.

One of the most recent of the gates - an affordable edition from Ibanez. Certainly the new kid on the block - and yes it does have the 4 ports for 4-cable method. Seems like a solid option!

Controls - Threshold

I'm not sure ISP is riding quite so high as it used to. It was very popular at the time that I trialled it - and people kept telling me that I needed to upgrade to an ISP - from my Modded NS-2.   I had this pedal on the board for a number of weeks - but somewhat still preferred the NS-2. The ISP Decimator X G String has a number of high profile fans - but I never managed to gel with it - and indeed much preferred my then still incumbent Modded NS-2. 

Controls - Hold, Release, Threshold.

This is the lowest cost one in the selection - ranging from $59-$99 from different vendors - I selected the median price for my reference. This one is along similar lines to most of the 3-knob varieties here - and indeed some players swear by this budget option.

Controls - Threshold, Cut : High/Soft or Low/Fast, Boost (up to +32dB) : Synced with Gate / Off / Always On, Channel Switcher Polarity : +/-, External Control (Remote) : Trigger / Bypass.

This is one of the most feature-rich gates available which include a recover boost - which can assist you in achieving unity volume and beyond. This has been a target for me since it first emerged - it's a really clever gate - and KMA's pedals are always high-fidelity! I'm just waiting for the right opportunity here!

Controls - Threshold.

This is another gate that's become a target for me since it materialised - I've loved every Lichtlaerm Audio pedal I've acquired to date - and can't imagine that I wouldn't love this one too - while as I mentioned in the introduction - it matters to me as to how natural the gate sounds - as I use it for a multiple of different noisy pedals - not just high-gain applications. Some like there gates to hit hard and quick, while I'm more concerned how natural and unobtrusive the gate is - using it more for noise-reduction than hard and tight gating - which is an effect in and of itself.

Controls -  Hi Triage Range Switch, MODE : Full / Mid / Hiss, Trigger Level.

All the Big 3 have mainstream candidates here - Boss, EHX and this MXR one. It's a neat format with one main knob, a push-button control, and a 3-Mode slider. A SmarGate indeed - but no 4-ports / 4-cable method - unlike the Boss and EHX candidates. Not suitable for my needs alas!

Controls - Rotary Encoder / Threshold, Presets / MIDI Channel 1-16, Preset Mode : Preset / A/B, Shift Mode : Gate / Reduction.

This is the most intriguing one of the bunch - which comes with a VDU Screen and MIDI encoded Presets - surely the most unique one of the 15 featured here, and therefore a decent candidate for me - and yes - including 4-cable method. Made by an Amp Manufacturer with very decent credentials. This is a very different noise gate in format - of course it will need to be trialled like all the others - to see how naturally it engages!

Controls : Hold, Release, Threshold.

One Amp Manufacturer follows another - and this one made a splash when first released, but has since somewhat faded a little. In most ways should be up and around the Zuul+ candidate, while that one remains more perennially popular to-date for whatever reason.

Controls : Threshold

This one is supposedly one of the fastest engaging gates out there - and is favoured by luminaries including Brian Adams, Slipknot, and Gaslight Anthem. Another one that's definitely on my list - just waiting for the right opportunity!

Controls : Mode : Gate / Toneprint / Hiss, Threshold, Damp, Decay.

And last but certainly not least is this TC Electronic classic - with Noise Print Pesets - meaning it's incredibly shapeabl. This has been a long term target for me for a while now - but I still remain to be suifficentlyu tempted to move away from the Modded NS-2.

Not all noise gates are created equal - and each has its own flavour / profile as such - so, as mentioned above - there really is no substitute to trial and error here - and how you want to and intend to use it really matters in the selection process!

The objects of interest for me here include the KMA Pylon, Lichtlaerm Key & Gate, RedSeven NGR-1, Stone Deaf FX Noise Reaper, and TC Electronic Sentry. I don't feel any pressing need to move on from my Modded NS-2 at this precise moment - but as always am willing to try different pedals on the board - if the right opportunity arises.

The prices here range from $59 to $236 - where the price is most definitely not necessarily an indicator of overall quality. The least cost version here is the Joyo one and the priciest is the ISP one - the latter of which I've already eliminated.

I'd quite like to check out the innovative RedSeven NGR-1 next - and as always will be waiting for the right opportunity to arise to acquire that one! The other 4 mentioned are open targets - and if I can get one of those at a discount - then that will have some influence on the process!

Of course instead of the TC Electronic Sentry @ $119 I could instead go for the !4-in-1 Plethora X1 for $159 - which includes the Sentry along with all the other classic TC Electronic Effects - in fact I think there's more than 14 onboard now - my original highfaluting visual for that pedal is as below ! :