Hey there, audio enthusiasts and podcast editors! Remember the time I shared my quick take on Sonible's new Smart:Gate just after playing around with it for barely an hour? Well, fast forward 30 days, and I've delved deep into its intricacies to offer you a more comprehensive take.
Understanding Smart:Gate
At its default, the plugin sounds like a typical gate. And by that, I mean it can sometimes cut off the beginning of words, making sentences sound fragmented. No one wants their podcast to have missing syllables, right?
Tweaking the Settings
The sweet spot? Adjusting the hold to 200 milliseconds and setting the release somewhere between 400-450 milliseconds. It's all about getting rid of that abruptness, ensuring your audio flows seamlessly. Plus, starting the threshold at around 70% prevents strangling parts of words, while using the level bias and tolerance gives you an edge to fine-tune the gate's behavior.
The Breath Test
The Smart:Gate is clever when it comes to breath reduction. Loud breath after a laugh? Quieted down. Typical breaths in-between sentences? Almost inaudible. It's a game-changer for those wanting crisp, clear audio without the distractions.
Dealing with Mic Bleed
Another place it shines? Its ability to handle mic bleed. The plugin shows prowess in eliminating mic bleed, a task other gates struggle with.
The Perfect Balance
While tweaking settings is part of the game, remember, it's about achieving balance. You don't want your gate chopping off any essential bits, and you don't want unwanted noise. The goal? Smooth, uninterrupted audio.
My Starter Preset
For those curious, here's my starter preset settings (perfect for Hindenburg users):
Lastly, for podcast editing, this is hands down the best gate I've tried. After the 30 day trial, buying it was a no-brainer.
Until next time, keep tweaking and creating audio magic!