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parts of music that start with some background noise, it might be handy to have a longer
attack time to avoid the sudden transition between absolute silence and background noise.
The value of the attack time of the dBG-8 was chosen after hours of experimenting so that
the final value chosen would suit almost all real-live applications.
Hold Time:
As explained, this is the time it will take the gate to start closing when the level drops under
the threshold. This parameter is also fixed and cannot be altered from the front panel. There
is a trim control inside the equipment which lets you trim this hold time. In normal use you
should not attempt to alter the factory setting. Again: the value of the hold time was chosen
after hours of experimenting in the factory and should suit most applications. (Please do not
open the equipment if you are not a qualified technician.)
Again this has to do with the envelop shape of sounds and music. Some sounds have a
rather long tail and decay rather slowly, for example floor toms. It can take quiet some time
before a hit on a floor tom has died out completely. The decay of the sound will probably at a
certain point descend under the threshold level although the sound has not died out yet. To
avoid that the gate is cutting off the tail of your sounds the hold time sets the time it will take
the gate to start closing after the level has dropped under the threshold. If the fixed hold time
of the dBG-8 does not suffice for your specific applications, you might also consider setting
the release time to a higher value. Please see below.
Release Time:
As explained, this is the time it will take the gate to close completely (attenuate the sound
by 60dB) when the level drops under the threshold and after staying open for the duration of
the hold time (see above). Again: if the release is set to fast, it might cut off the tail of your
sound. While listening to the signal, adjust the release time so the sound dies out naturally
before the gate is closed. Too short a release time might also lead to artifacts or an 'unnatu-
ral' feeling. Humans do not like it when ambience or reverberations suddenly disappear so
adjust the release time to keep a very natural feel and to avoid that the audience is 'hearing'
the gate function.
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