Filter
Top Products
DN530
Operator Manual 21
Chapter 7: Using The Gate
The DN530 is a gate processor that utilises premium quality, high precision components
to achieve a high degree of accuracy and control. The DN530 has been designed
primarily for creative use as front of house (FOH) or monitor. However, it is just as
effective when used in the studio while broadcasting or recording. The DN530
processors offer, in a compact unit, control over the dynamic range for creative and
corrective purposes.
Basic gate operation
The attack characteristic of the gate is exponential, which ensures that even at
extremely fast attack settings the attack envelope seamlessly blends into the audio
waveform. This prevents the creation of any undesirable audio artefacts (clicks).
>> To use the DN530
1 Set the threshold, attack, hold and release times to suit the programme.
2 Set the attenuation depth using the RANGE control knob.
3 Use the sidechain filter to tune the gate to open at a selected frequency.
Sidechain
For most applications the DN530 is triggered by the level of the incoming signal.
Sometimes it can be useful to use a different signal to trigger the gate; this signal is
known as an “external sidechain”. Additionally, there is a solo function that routes the
filtered sidechain signal to the solo bus to help the operator find the most sensitive
frequency to trigger the gate.
Particularly in the case of drums, a very reliable trigger can be obtained by taping a
contact mic to the shell of the drum, using the clean signal it produces to trigger the
gate. An example of this set up — which can also be used for ducking (see “Ducking”
on page 31) — is shown in Figure 2 “Typical set up for external sidechain operation” on
page 22.
The frequency controls can be used to make the gate triggering frequency selective.
The filter frequency control, which is adjustable from 40Hz to 16kHz, provides a good
degree of triggering selectivity and facilitates easy set-up. The power of this feature
combined with the solo bus cannot be overstated. It can also produce excellent results
as a de-esser (see “De-essing” on page 31).