Noise Gate Update Request

I had to choose a profiler model so I went with the Stage, as that is what I own, but this request really applies to all Kemper profilers (and maybe the players, too, I just haven't played one to know for sure).

I would love to see an update to the noise gate incorporating a couple of changes that would make for a major improvement in functionality.

First, I would like to see a pedal style noise gate (downward expander) added to either 1) the input section as part of the input noise gate function, or 2) as part of the amp block. The gate should cut off immediately before the time based effects (e.g., delay, reverb) so between effects slots 6 and 7. (I can always add a gate to slot 6, but then I lose a slot that would be better used for a modulation effect).

Second, the gate should either close quicker than the current gate or have an adjustable decay control to allow users to select how quickly the gate closes.

Third, and possibly most important, the gate should trigger based off of the guitar input prior to any processing (other than input gain adjustment, so essentially a sidechain or key input to the gate). This allows the player to set the gate once for the highest gain they use and to then have the gate work for all gain levels, from the cleanest cleans through to the highest gains and allows for maximum responsiveness to the player's dynamics and maximum sustain for held notes while simultaneously cutting the unwanted noise. This is a VERY noticeable improvement in gate behavior over standard gates and a high end platform such as the Kemper deserves the best.

I've had this functionality going back to the 1990s on a Carvin Quad-X preamp (see attached pic from the Quad-X user manual) and the better hardware gates such as the ISP Decimator G String and the Fortin Zuul and Zuul + work this way and they really are head and shoulders above a typical gate in terms of responsiveness.

Anyone?

I know the existing noise reduction and noise gate are fine for clean through medium gain rigs, but anyone using high gain rigs would benefit greatly from this request.

Quote from ckemper

Hi!

Our Expander Noisegates 2:1 and 4:1 are your friends.

Place it before the amp.

You can leave the standard noisegate in the input section on. This is a filter noise gate that does not interfere, but work well in combination with an expander noisegate.

Thanks for your response, ckemper.

This is what I am currently doing. And while it does effectively eliminate any noise, it doesn’t react as quickly as I would prefer nor does it feel as responsive as I would prefer. This may simply be a slower release setting than I would set, so can we at least have full control over threshold, attack, hold, release, etc.? These settings could be optional to allow for easy noise gate set up like in the current noise gate.

Quote from ckemper

It is a good habit in the analog world to have the sensing of the noise gate before the tube amp, and the gating itself after the amp, e.g. in the fx-loop of the amp, to cut all noise from the guitar and the preamp.

In a digital guitar amplifier the placement after the amp is not necessary, since the amp section does not produce any additional noise.

Is it also true that any effects that may be added to the signal won’t produce any additional noise?

Quote from Kim_Olesen

All very well ckemper They are indeed very very good. But they take up slots, which ofcourse can’t be helped. But more slots would be appreciated.

Also, as Kim_Olesenmentioned, this does take up an FX slot, so adding the noise gate to the input section or allowing for more available effects slots (processor permitting) would be appreciated.

Quote from christianbad

@tedtan

you have control over the treshold

i don´t understand understand why you want to control the attack, as fast as possible is usually what you want (and it´s 50 microseconds at the moment).

What kind of noise are you struggling with? can you upload something, please?

The noise gate I have has a single control. It’s not labeled, but it is a threshold, adjusting when the gate kicks in, not when it releases.

Am I overlooking additional controls?

Quote from Wheresthedug

I think the OP and others that want a different Noise Gate are using it as an effect rather than to simply kill noise. Lots of Djent and Metal players use a noise gate to “tighten” the palm muted “chugs”. Many seem to complain that the hold and release are too slow. It’s not a sound I use or care for but I understand why it might be important to certain genre.

Yeah, I don’t play djent, but that is a perfect example of needing the tight cut off that I am looking for. I’m not wanting it just to cut off extraneous noise, but to tighten up palm muted notes going into a rest so that the end of the note cuts off cleanly and abruptly.

Here are a couple of YouTube examples for christianbad and others so they can hear what I’m after:

Meshuggah Soul Burn

Periphery Icarus Lives

I’m bumping this since it was implemented on the fixed effects noise gate for the Mk 2. ckemper can we get the decay/release control added to the standard noise gate for those of us on the original profilers who can’t use the fixed effects (unless, of course, you can work a miracle and find a way to make fixed effects available on the original units )?