Best Practices for Using Gating in Live Streaming: Enhancing Audio Clarity

In the realm of live streaming, where the clarity and quality of audio can make or break the viewer experience, gating emerges as a powerful tool for sound engineers. A noise gate is an essential dynamic processing tool that helps eliminate unwanted background noise, bleed from other instruments, and maintain a cleaner mix by allowing audio signals above a set threshold to pass through while muting signals below this threshold. This article delves into the best practices for using gating in live streaming, including specific recommendations for different input types to ensure a polished and professional audio output.

Understanding Gating and Its Importance

Gating can dramatically improve the clarity of your live stream’s audio by reducing the noise floor when input sources are not actively contributing to the mix. It’s particularly beneficial in multi-microphone setups where mic bleed can muddy the overall sound or in environments with significant ambient noise. Proper use of gating ensures that only the intended sound is captured and broadcasted, enhancing the overall audio quality for your live stream audience.

General Gating Best Practices

1. Set the Threshold Carefully

The threshold is the level at which the gate will open to allow sound through. Setting the threshold correctly is crucial; too low, and the gate may not close on unwanted noise, too high, and you risk cutting off the beginning of sounds, making the audio seem unnatural.

2. Adjust the Attack and Release Times

The attack time controls how quickly the gate opens after the signal exceeds the threshold, while the release time determines how quickly it closes once the signal drops below the threshold. Fast attack times are essential for percussive sounds to ensure transients are not lost, but too fast can cause clicking. A longer release time can make the gating less noticeable and more musical.

3. Use Hold Time Wisely

The hold time is the minimum time the gate stays open after opening. This setting can help maintain the natural decay of sounds, especially for instruments with longer sustain. Adjusting the hold time can prevent the gate from closing too quickly on sustained notes.

Gating for Specific Input Types

Vocals:

• Threshold: Set just below the level of the vocalist’s quietest singing to ensure the gate doesn’t cut off soft passages.
• Attack/Release: Use a moderate attack (around 2-10 ms) to preserve the consonants and a longer release (100-300 ms) to avoid cutting off the tail of words abruptly.
• Hold: A short hold time (around 20-50 ms) is typically sufficient for vocals to prevent the gate from closing between words or phrases.

Drums:

• Kick and Snare: These require fast attack times (as quick as 0.1 ms) to capture the initial transient and a moderate release time (50-100 ms) to allow the body of the drum sound before gating.
• Toms: A slightly longer hold time (up to 200 ms) helps capture the full tone of the toms, with a release time that allows the natural decay of the drum to come through before the gate closes.

Guitars (Electric and Acoustic):

• Threshold: Set to ensure the gate opens with the guitar’s playing level but not with the hum or noise when not being played.
• Attack/Release: A moderate attack time (10-20 ms) helps avoid cutting off the start of notes, with a release time that follows the natural decay of the guitar sound.
• Hold: Adjust based on the playing style; rhythmic playing may require a shorter hold, while solo passages with longer notes will benefit from a longer hold.

Bass Guitar:

• Threshold: Similar to guitars, adjust to activate with playing dynamics but not ambient noise.
• Attack/Release: Use a moderate attack (10-30 ms) to preserve the initial punch and a release time that allows the natural sustain and decay of the bass.
• Hold: A longer hold can accommodate the sustain of bass notes, ensuring a smooth gating effect.

Keyboards and Synthesized Sounds:

• Threshold/Attack/Release: These may not require gating if they’re direct inputs with minimal background noise. If gating is necessary, settings should be adjusted to the specific sound being used, with a focus on maintaining the integrity of the attack and decay characteristics.

Conclusion

The art of gating in live streaming audio lies in its nuanced application, tailored to enhance each input type’s unique characteristics. By adhering to these best practices, sound engineers can significantly improve the clarity and quality of their live stream’s audio, ensuring a more engaging and immersive experience for viewers. Remember, the key to effective gating is balance; it should remove unwanted noise without sacrificing the natural sound and dynamics of the performance. With careful setup and adjustment, gating becomes an invaluable tool in achieving a polished, professional-sounding live stream.