The Gate object reduces the level of incoming signals that fall below a designated threshold level. This gate features an exponential attack and reverse exponential release, which helps to preserve the natural decay of the instrument or signal source, rather than imposing a synthetic envelope upon it.

In the factory panel, we can see the various parameters for the gate. Starting in the top left, the ENABLE button will turn on the gate processing. When this is off, the gate will not change the signal, acting as a bypass.

MANUAL OPEN will allow you to test the attack, hold, and release settings without having to manipulate the signal level.

The OPEN indicator will show when the signal is above the threshold and the gate is not reducing the signal level. This can be bound to Logic or a Control Port for Camera Steering for example.

The BELOW THRESHOLD meter will display the input signal level relative to the current threshold setting.

The THRESHOLD control adjusts the level threshold below which gain reduction will take place. When above this threshold, no gain reduction will take place.

The RANGE control is how much level reduction occurs when the incoming signal is below the threshold.

The bottom section contains the time-based controls for the gate.

ATTACK adjusts the time it takes for the gate to open after the signal level goes above the threshold.

RELEASE adjusts the time it takes for the gate to close after the signal falls below the threshold.

HOLD is additional time that the gate will remain open before the release begins to prevent constant closing and opening of the gate caused by quick changes. Remember that the gate can cause distortion at low frequencies when the release control is set to low values. Unless you particularly need the gate to attenuate very quickly, set the release control to a reasonably high value.

At the top of the factory panel​​, we have our usual object name, lock button, and selection mode switch.

The PROPERTIES window has the usual naming, workspace location, and DSP allocation options.

The OPTIONS section contains the usual channel count of the object block. Dynamics processing objects like compressors or gates are limited to a maximum of 128 channels. When using multi-channel gates, they function like independent gates with common controls. Every signal is gated based on its own signal level.

The Sidechain option is off by default. Turning it on will add an input source to our gate object labeled as side chain. The gate will then listen to the side chain input, and processing on our main input source will be controlled and dynamically affected by the sidechain input. When using side chain on multi-channel gates, the sidechain input will control the gates of all channels.