The industry-standard high-end noise gate. The DS201 is a sophisticated dual-channel processor that has defined professional gating for decades. Incorporating several Drawmer innovations, including variable high-pass and low-pass filters for frequency-conscious gating, it remains the go-to choice for studios and live engineers worldwide.
Setting up a noise gate can often be tedious, particularly when separating a signal from unwanted noise or crosstalk. For example, when recording a drum kit, the snare mic may pick up spill from nearby hi-hats, causing false triggering. Raising the threshold might stop the problem but risks missing quieter hits.
Drawmer's solution is simple and elegant: two variable filters, one high-pass and one low-pass, act on the side-chain. By switching to Key Listen, you can monitor and fine-tune the filter response to reject unwanted frequencies such as hi-hat spill, ensuring the gate opens only when the desired signal is present.
These are the best gates I've ever worked with, and I now understand why they're found in many studios.
With an extremely fast attack time, the DS201 can open in microseconds, preserving the natural transients of any sound. Comprehensive envelope controls let you shape the gate's response precisely to the material. On vocals, a fast attack maintains clarity, while a slower release produces smooth fade-outs and prevents abrupt cut-offs. This natural behaviour is vital, as the ear is far more sensitive to sudden level changes than to a constant noise floor.
Beyond noise control, the DS201 is also a powerful sound design tool. It can shape the attack and decay of drums, samples, and synthesised sounds, adding punch, tightening sustain, or smoothing sample tails.
External key input allows the DS201 to be triggered by another source — for example, using a snare to open an ambient mic for classic gated reverb effects. Each channel can also switch between gate and duck modes, perfect for voice-over applications or removing clicks and pops.
