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How to Use a Noise Gate in an Audio Editor for Clear Sound
If you're looking for ways to improve your sound quality, you need to learn how to use a noise gate in an audio editor to ensure a clear, clean recording.
Noise gates are devices that reduce or eliminate background noise. Using a noise gate in audio editing software helps remove unwanted noise from a recording. They work by sensing a noise threshold level and either attenuating or removing any noise that falls below it. This can be extremely helpful when trying to record something in a very noisy environment or when picking up sound created by audio cables or mics.
This article will go over the best audio editing solutions for using a noise gate, how to use them, and answer some frequently asked questions about noise reduction.
- What is a Noise Gate?
- Best Noise Gate Software
- How to Use a Noise Gate Online
- How to Use a Noise Gate Software
- Download the Best Noise Gate Software for Free
- Noise Gate FAQ
What is a Noise Gate?
In very simple terms, it is a device or program that is used to remove unwanted sounds from a recording. It does this by sensing the noise level and removing anything with a lower threshold.
There are two main types of noise gates: hardware and software.
Hardware noise gates are physical devices that you can purchase and plug into your recording setup.
Software noise gates are plugins that you can add to or are included in audio editing software.
Reasons to use a noise gate can include
- Automatically detect and remove background noise
- Attenuate or eliminate distractions from a recording
- Enhance dialog recordings
- Clean up live performances
- Reduce or eliminate unwanted sounds from videos
Best Noise Gate Software
The best noise gate software is AudioDirector. It is available in both online and offline versions. Let's take a look at both of them and see why they’re considered the best.
MyEdit Audio - Best Web-Based Audio Tool
MyEdit Audio is a collection of powerful tools to edit and fine-tune your audio tracks. This includes a comprehensive noise gate which we will cover in detail later.
But first, here are a few things that make MyEdit Audio stand out from the crowd. The most important of which is that it is incredibly easy to use.
To use this tool, you don't need to be an expert or even knowledgeable in audio production. It has a straightforward interface that anyone can understand and reap the benefits of without issue.
Another great thing is it is available for free. Yes, you read that right, it's a totally free tool. Plus, you don't have to download anything to your computer to use it.
You can use MyEdit Audio's AI to remove wind and background noise, change your voice, extract vocals from a song, find a music track's BPM, and trim audio tracks. These are just some of the features that make AudioDirector Online not only the best noise gate online but the best audio tool online. Give it a try today to see how you can improve your audio's quality for absolutely free.
AudioDirector - Best Audio Software
Now let's talk about the software version of AudioDirector. It has all the same tools as the online version and a whole lot more. It includes everything you need to record, restore, edit, mix, and master your audio, all from your home or office.
You can simply record yourself or your favorite instrument, such as an electric guitar, in AudioDirector. Then apply a noise gate with a click. After setting the threshold, the audio signal will either pass through the gate or be eliminated.
Key features of AudioDirector include:
- Punch and Roll Multi-Channel Device Recording
- AI-Powered Speech Enhancement
- Hiss, Hum, Click, and Pop Removal
- Smart Fit for Background Tracks to Videos
- Effect Combos
AudioDirector is beginner-friendly, free to download, and works seamlessly with the award-winning video editor PowerDirector. The combo is an excellent solution for creating video podcasts, live performance and music videos, and video post-production, including sound design.
Download AudioDirector for free to get a one-stop shop for mixing, editing, and mastering your audio tracks.
How to Use a Noise Gate Online
Now that you've learned what a noise gate is and how it works, let's see how to use one online. As already mentioned, the best free tool is MyEdit Audio, which we will use for this tutorial.
Therefore, if you haven't seen it, head on and check it out.
After that, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Upload Your Audio File
You first need to upload the audio file you want to apply the noise gate on to MyEdit Audio. You can do this by clicking on the Choose a File button in the middle of the screen.
In addition, you should also keep the supported formats in mind. Currently, MyEdit Audio can support the following formats:
- .WAV
- .MP3
- .FLAC
- .M4A
So, if you have a file in any other format, you must first convert it into one of the given formats.
Step 2: Apply the Noise Gate
Once you have imported the file, this is the primary step. After loading the file, the noise gate will be applied, and you will need to use the slider to set the threshold level. This is the level at which the gate will open and start processing the signal. You can also see a visual representation of the track and hear a real-time preview of how your file will sound after applying the noise gate.
You can select Original to hear how you track sounds without the noise gate at any time. If you are satisfied with what you hear, you can select your format and settings. Then, click the Download button to save the edited audio track to your device. However, if you think some changes are needed, you can simply use the slider for further noise reduction adjustments.
How to Use a Noise Gate Software
Next, we will learn how to use the noise gate software, i.e., the desktop version of the AudioDirector. As already mentioned, the procedure is pretty much the same as the online version. The only difference is that you can process multiple files simultaneously, and there are no file size or format restrictions.
If you haven't already, download AudioDirector for free to get started.
Step 1: Import Your Audio File
With AudioDirector open, you can simply drag and drop the files you want to apply the noise gate into the software interface. This will upload the file you want to work on into the software.
Alternatively, you can record your own audio track or use the Import Media button to browse for the audio you want to improve. After selecting the file or files, click Ok to import.
Step 2: Apply the Noise Gate
Now that the file is imported, it's time to apply the noise gate. With your audio track selected in the Edit tab, navigate to Apply Effect under Adjustment and open Noise Gate.
Open the Presets menu and select one. We recommend trying a preset on your track before creating a custom one. You can change any preset settings by clicking the Advanced Settings button.
Advanced settings allow you to adjust Threshold, Attack time, Release time, and Hold time. If you want to create your own preset, you can with the Add preset to favorites star button.
You can hear a real-time preview of how your file will sound before applying the noise gate. If you are satisfied with what you hear, you can click the Apply button to save the changes.
And that's it! You have successfully learned how to use noise gate software.
Download the Best Noise Gate Software for Free
There are lots of audio processing software and online tools that provide noise gate capabilities. However, not all are great solutions. Many of them are not free, and some of them cost a fortune. Others are challenging to learn, requiring hours of investment to do the most fundamental tasks.
Like most people, you are probably looking for a reliable solution that won't break the bank or require you to watch hours of tutorials. This makes AudioDirector your best option.
Besides being light on the system resources and lack of lag even when processing high-quality audio files, it's incredibly easy to use. It also has a tremendously beginner-friendly user interface.
So, if you are looking for something free and reliable, we recommend you give AudioDirector a try.
Noise Gate FAQ
1. What Features Should I Look For in a Noise Gate Software?
When looking for a noise gate software, you need to make sure that it has the following features:
- User-friendly interface
- Batch processing support
- Light on system resources
- Real-time preview
- Ability to process high-quality audio files
Apart from that, the software should be able to support different types of audio formats so that you can work with your files without any issue whatsoever. If you’re looking for a product that checks all of these boxes, we highly recommend AudioDirector.
2. What Is the Benefit of Using a Noise Gate?
Noise gates are used to reduce or remove the background noise from an audio file. This is especially useful when you aren't recording in a studio, and a lot of background noises can ruin your recordings' quality.
Another benefit of using a noise gate is that it gives you the freedom to add different types of effects, which AudioDirector has a lot of, to your recordings without worrying about the background noise.
So, if you want the cleanest sound recordings, we recommend using a noise gate.
3. How Does a Noise Gate Work?
A noise gate works by analyzing the audio signal and removing the unwanted noise. This is done by setting a threshold level using a slider.
Once the threshold is set, the gate will open, and the signal will pass through it. However, if the noise level exceeds the threshold, the gate closes, and no signal will pass through it.
There are smart gate systems and presets that automatically adjust the threshold level based on the type of audio signal. This makes a noise gate easy to use since you don't have to worry about manually setting the threshold level.
4. What Other Noise Reduction Techniques Should I Know?
If you are looking for other noise reduction techniques, then we would recommend you to check out the following:
- Speech Enhancement
- Wind Removal
- Hiss, Hum, Click, and Pop Removal
These are some of the most commonly used noise reduction techniques that can help you eliminate unwanted noise from your recordings. So, make sure to check them out in AudioDirector.
5. How is a Noise Gate and Noise Reduction Different?
A noise gate removes the background noise from an audio signal. However, noise reduction is a technique used to reduce the overall noise in an audio file.
Noise reduction is a more complex process, and it requires you to have a good understanding of the different parameters. On the other hand, noise gates are really easy to use, and you can get good results without any prior experience.
Both of them use audio processing algorithms with slightly different approaches. This also makes them suitable for different types of applications.
So, if you want to reduce the overall noise in your recordings, we recommend using a noise reduction technique. However, a noise gate would be a better option if you just want to remove the background noise.
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- Editing Tips & Tricks
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