How to Use a Noise Gate Pedal
A noise gate closes the signal path when the guitar signal drops below a set volume threshold — eliminating idle noise (amp hiss, pickup hum, cable noise) when you are not playing. During playing, the signal passes through unaffected.
Noise gates are most useful with: high-gain amplifiers (Peavey 6505+, Mesa/Boogie, ENGL — these produce significant idle noise), active pickups (EMG 81 — high output with noise), and long signal chains (multiple pedals accumulate noise floor).
Noise Gate Parameters
Threshold
The signal level at which the gate closes.
Too low threshold: The noise floor passes through — the gate doesn't close during quiet moments. Too high threshold: The gate closes during quiet notes or the end of sustaining notes, causing unnatural cutoffs. Setting tip: Play your guitar silently (pick hand resting on strings). Set threshold until the gate closes (noise stops). Lower it one step — this ensures the gate closes during muted passages but opens fully for real notes.
Decay / Release
How fast the gate closes after the signal drops below threshold.
Fast decay: Gates close quickly — good for tight, staccato metal rhythm playing. Slow decay: Gate closes gradually — better for sustained notes, solos, and musical styles where natural sustain is important.
Where to Put a Noise Gate
Option 1: End of Chain (Simplest)
Guitar → Tuner → Gain Pedals → Amp → (Effects Loop) → Delay → Reverb → Noise Gate → (back to amp return or RETURN)
This gates everything — guitar, pedals, and amp noise all gated together. Simpler setup.
Option 2: Boss NS-2 Four-Cable Method (Recommended for High-Gain)
The Boss NS-2 has a specific loop (SEND/RETURN) that allows the gain pedals to be placed inside the gate's detection circuit:
Guitar → NS-2 input → [NS-2 SEND → Gain Pedals → NS-2 RETURN] → Amp → (Effects Loop) → Delay → Reverb → Amp Return
The NS-2 detects the clean guitar signal (before gain) — the gate opens when you play the guitar, but it suppresses all the noise from gain pedals and amp. This avoids the "stuttering" that happens when a gate detects a noisy signal and fights to stay open.
Option 3: Front of Amp Only
For players using amp distortion only (no drive pedals), place the NS-2 in front of the amp:
Guitar → NS-2 → Overdrive → Amp Input
Best Noise Gate Pedals
Boss NS-2 — £80 | Best Overall Noise Gate
Threshold and Decay controls, dedicated SEND/RETURN loop for four-cable method integration, reliable Boss build quality. The NS-2 is the most widely used noise gate globally — straightforward, effective, durable.
Best for: Metal rhythm players, any high-gain setup with amp or pedal noise.
ISP Decimator G String II — £150 | Best Guitar-Tracking Noise Gate
The G String II has two noise sensing circuits — one in the guitar signal path, one in the amp signal path. It tracks the guitar's actual played signal for gate detection while suppressing noise in the amp's signal. More transparent and accurate than threshold-only designs.
Best for: Professional metal players who need the cleanest, most transparent noise suppression.
The Four-Cable Method Solves a Problem Simple Placement Can't
It's worth understanding why the Boss NS-2's four-cable method exists as a distinct option rather than treating end-of-chain placement as always sufficient. Simple end-of-chain gating detects the noisy, already-processed signal and can "fight" to stay open — the four-cable method instead detects the clean guitar signal before gain is applied, opening cleanly on your actual playing while still suppressing all downstream noise.
If you're experiencing gate "stuttering" or inconsistent triggering with simple end-of-chain placement, the four-cable method is the specific fix, not just an alternative — it solves a genuine technical limitation of the simpler approach.
Common Mistakes
Setting the threshold too high to eliminate all possible noise. As the Threshold section warns, this causes the gate to close during quiet notes or the natural end of sustaining notes, producing unnatural cutoffs — the guide's specific tip (find where noise stops, then lower one step) avoids overcorrecting.
Using simple end-of-chain placement with a noisy, high-gain pedal chain. As the Boss NS-2 Four-Cable Method section explains, this configuration can cause stuttering as the gate detects and fights an already-noisy signal — the four-cable method's clean-signal detection specifically avoids this problem.
Assuming a noise gate is necessary regardless of actual playing volume and context. As the FAQ states, noise is often inaudible at home practice volumes — a noise gate becomes genuinely necessary specifically in live or recording contexts with high-gain, not as a universal requirement for every setup.
Choosing fast decay settings for sustained lead playing. As the Decay/Release section explains, fast decay suits tight, staccato rhythm playing, while slow decay better serves sustained notes and solos — using the wrong setting for your playing style produces either premature cutoffs or insufficient noise suppression.
ToneStakr's Take
For players experiencing noise problems with a moderate pedal chain, the standard end-of-chain Boss NS-2 placement solves most practical noise issues without added complexity. Players running multiple gain pedals or a particularly noisy signal chain who notice gate stuttering or inconsistent triggering should move specifically to the four-cable method — it's the correct technical solution to that specific symptom, not just a more elaborate setup for its own sake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a noise gate?
Only if you have genuinely audible noise during quiet passages. At home practice volumes, amp noise is often inaudible and a gate provides no practical benefit. In live or recording contexts involving high-gain amplification, a noise gate typically becomes necessary to manage.
Where does a noise gate go in the signal chain?
At the end of the chain, after all gain pedals, for the simplest setup — or using the Boss NS-2's four-cable method with gain pedals placed inside the NS-2's own SEND/RETURN loop for more transparent detection with noisy high-gain chains.
Can a noise gate cut off sustain?
Yes, if the threshold is set too high — the gate will close prematurely during held or sustaining notes. Setting the threshold just above the actual noise floor, rather than higher for extra safety margin, avoids this problem.
Is the ISP Decimator G String II worth the price premium over the Boss NS-2 for a home studio setup?
For serious recording work specifically, yes — its dual noise-sensing circuit tracking both guitar and amp signal paths provides more transparent, accurate suppression than the NS-2's threshold-only design, a genuine quality difference that matters more in recording than live performance.
Should a noise gate be used even with a genuinely quiet, low-gain amp setup?
Generally not necessary — noise gates solve a specific problem (audible hiss, hum, or noise during pauses) that simply doesn't exist at low gain with a quiet amp, making the added signal-chain complexity unnecessary overhead for that context.
Does using active pickups reduce the need for a noise gate?
Somewhat, yes — active pickups like the EMG 81 have inherently lower noise floors than passive pickups at equivalent output levels, though at genuinely high gain settings, amp-generated noise typically still warrants a gate regardless of pickup type.