FXAlg #3: Gated MiniVerb
Algorithm Reference-6
FXAlg #3: Gated MiniVerb
A reverb and gate in series
Allocation Units:
2
This algorithm is a small reverb followed by a gate. The main control for the reverb is the Room Type parameter.
Room Type changes the structure of the algorithm to simulate many carefully crafted room types and sizes. Spaces
characterized as booths, small rooms, chambers, halls and large spaces can be selected. See the previous section
(FXAlg #1-2) for details on the reverb.
The gate turns the output of the reverb on and off based on the amplitude of the input signal. One or both input
channels is used to control whether the switch is on (gate is open) or off (gate is closed). This on/off control is called
Òside chainÓ processing. You select which of the two input channels or both is used for side chain processing. When
you select both channels, the sum of the left and right input amplitudes is used.
The gate is opened when the side chain amplitude rises above a level that you specify with the Threshold parameter.
The gate will stay open for as long as the side chain signal is above the threshold. When the signal drops below the
threshold, the gate will remain open for the time set by the Gate Time parameter. At the end of the Gate Time, the
gate closes. When the signal rises above threshold, it opens again. What is happening is that the gate timer is being
constantly retriggered while the signal is above threshold.
Gate Behavior
If Gate Duck is turned on, then the behavior of the gate is reversed. The gate is open while the side chain signal is
below threshold, and it closes when the signal rises above threshold.
If the gate opened and closed instantaneously, you would hear a large digital click, like a big knife switch was being
thrown. Obviously thatÕs not a good idea, so Gate Atk (attack) and Gate Rel (release) parameters are used to set the
times for the gate to open and close. More precisely, depending on whether Gate Duck is off or on, Gate Atk sets
how fast the gate opens or closes when the side chain signal rises above the threshold. The Gate Rel sets how fast
the gate closes or opens after the gate timer has elapsed.
The Signal Dly parameter delays the signal being gated, but does not delay the side chain signal. By delaying the
main signal relative to the side chain signal, you can open the gate just before the main signal rises above threshold.
ItÕs a little like being able to pick up the telephone before it rings!
0
1
attack
time
gate
time
release
time
signal rises
above threshold
signal falls
below threshold