Gate
A Gate (or Noise Gate) is a sound control tool that helps make audio recordings cleaner by removing unwanted background noise. Think of it like an automatic door that only opens when the sound is loud enough. Sound engineers use gates to improve the quality of music recordings, live performances, and broadcasts by keeping wanted sounds (like a singer's voice or drum hits) while cutting out unwanted noise (like microphone hum or drum microphones picking up other instruments). This is one of the basic tools that every sound engineer needs to understand and use effectively.
Examples in Resumes
Applied Gate processing to improve drum track clarity in multi-track recordings
Configured Noise Gate settings for live concert performances to reduce stage noise
Used Gate and Noise Gate techniques to clean up podcast audio recordings
Typical job title: "Audio Engineers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Audio Engineers
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you use gates in a complex live music setup with multiple microphones?
Expected Answer: The candidate should explain how they would set up gates for different instruments to prevent sound bleed, discussing threshold settings, attack and release times, and how they would adjust these based on the performance environment.
Q: What's your approach to training junior engineers on using gates effectively?
Expected Answer: Look for answers that show they can teach others about proper gate settings, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to troubleshoot when gates aren't working as expected.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What are the key parameters of a gate and how do you adjust them?
Expected Answer: They should be able to explain threshold, attack, release, and hold times in simple terms, and describe how changing these affects the sound.
Q: When would you choose NOT to use a gate in a recording situation?
Expected Answer: Should discuss scenarios where gates might do more harm than good, like on acoustic instruments with natural decay or in situations where background ambience is desired.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the basic purpose of a gate in audio engineering?
Expected Answer: Should explain that a gate helps reduce unwanted noise by only allowing sounds above a certain volume level to be heard.
Q: What's the difference between a gate and a compressor?
Expected Answer: Should explain that while both affect volume, gates cut out quiet sounds while compressors make loud sounds quieter and quiet sounds louder.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of gate operation
- Simple gate setup for single microphone
- Knowledge of basic parameters
- Following established gate settings
Mid (2-5 years)
- Complex gate setup for multiple sources
- Troubleshooting gate issues
- Creating gate presets
- Live sound gating techniques
Senior (5+ years)
- Advanced gating techniques
- Training others on gate usage
- Complex productions management
- System design including gates
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain basic gate parameters
- No experience with different types of audio equipment
- Lack of understanding about signal flow
- No practical experience in live or studio settings
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