2.5 The Noise Gate
The QuikGate™ noise gate circuit built into the Quad X-Amp is unlike
any other noise reduction device you could add to your guitar rack because
it is integrated into the preamp rather than just "tacked on". Even when
you have the overdrive channel selected QuikGate still sees the full
dynamic range of the undistorted input signal and takes its cues from the
dynamics of that signal. Under the same conditions any external noise gate would only have the
distorted signal to work with (a signal with almost no dynamic range) and would be doomed to
poor gating action, regardless of the quality of the product, simply because of the point at which
it was inserted in the signal chain. QuikGate, being built into the preamp, has this unique
advantage over any outboard noise gate regardless of price or "wonderfulness". Try it,
especially with overdrive, and you'll know instantly what we mean.
To use the QuikGate system start with your guitar plugged in and then simply raise the setting of
the NOISE GATE control until the LED just changes from PASS to HOLD. This lets you know
that the circuit has just muted the output of the preamp. As soon as you play a note the display
will change from HOLD back to PASS to allow the signal through the preamp. When you stop
playing the display changes back to HOLD and any noise will be muted by about 30dB. The
setting of the noise gate (threshold) control does not depend on which channel is selected and its
action will remain constant from channel to channel. This lets you set it once and then forget it.
This is one of the ways the Quad X-Amp helps you concentrate on you playing instead of your
gear.
Quad X-Amp Front Panel Control Descriptions Section 2
2-4
Noise Gate Application Hint
As with any noise gate, QuikGate will momentarily gate on in response to any
sound from your instrument. You can set the control a little higher to reduce this
"false gating" but setting the control too high will cause the decaying "tail" of long
sustained notes to be cut off prematurely. The best results are usually obtained by
setting the control just high enough to gate off and then adapting your playing
technique to minimize any false gating.
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