3.5

102MainStage Effects
In Ducker mode, the source signal is reduced in level. Ducking is a common technique
used in radio and television broadcasting.When the DJ or announcer speaks while music
is playing, the music level is automatically reduced. When the announcement has finished,
the music is automatically raised to its original volume level.
Noise Gate parameters
• Gate/Ducker buttons: Set the operating mode. See Use MainStage Noise Gate.
• Threshold knob and field: Set the threshold level. Signals that fall below the threshold
are reduced in level.
• Reduction/Ducking knob and field: Set the amount of signal reduction.
• Hysteresis slider and field: Set the difference (in decibels) between the threshold values
that open and close the gate. This prevents the gate from rapidly opening and closing
when the input signal level is close to the threshold level.
• Open/Close indicators: Show current gate state.
• Attack knob and field: Set the time it takes to fully open the gate after the signal
exceeds the threshold.
• Hold knob and field: Set the time the gate remains open after the signal falls below the
threshold.
• Release knob and field: Set the time it takes to reach maximum attenuation after the
signal falls below the threshold.
• Lookahead slider and field: Control how far ahead Noise Gate analyzes the incoming
signal, allowing the effect to respond more quickly to peak levels.
• Characteristics pop-up menu: Choose a Bandpass or Band Reject filter type.
• Monitor button: Turn on to hear the side chain signal, including the effect of the
HighCut and Low Cut filters (if enabled).
• Filter button: Turn on to adjust the High Cutoff and Low Cutoff parameters.
• HighCutoff slider and field: Set the upper cutoff frequency for the side chain signal.
• Low Cutoff slider and field: Set the lower cutoff frequency for the side chain signal.
Note: When no external side chain is selected, the input signal is used as the side chain
control signal.