Can't use noise gate in Garageband 10

Question

Level 1

5 points

Can't use noise gate in Garageband 10

HI! After browsing the web and this community, I have found that Garageband 10 does include a noise gate. 🙂 However, I can't understand the directions for turning it on. I can see the place where I would put a check mark, with the slider next to it, but both are greyed out. I can't make a check mark in the box. From conversations elsewhere on the board, it seems I might not have the plug-in for the noise gate correctly installed. Can anyone help me install it so that I can use it? I'm trying to convert a very old audiotape with a lot of echo and background noise, and the noise gate would certainly help! Maybe not as much as the equalizer, which I've also used, but I do think I need both. I'm working on the library macbook, a 13-inch gGZ running Mavericks.

Here's what I'm looking at when I try to check the box for the noise gate:

I think you can see the place where I should check the box is greyed out. In any case, it's completely unresponsive when I try to click in it. Can anyone explain how I get this to work? Thanks in advance!

Posted on Feb 5, 2016 11:56 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

195,031 points

Feb 5, 2016 12:19 PM in response to maryj59

You first have to add the plug-in to make it work.

In the Smart Controls for the Track open the Info panel, then click an empty brick in the plug-ins for the track, and select: Dynamics: Noise Gate.

Added:

If you start with a guitar track the Noise Gate filter will be active already by default:

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Answer 2

maryj59 Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 6, 2016 11:26 AM in response to léonie

Thanks so much, Leonie! But this is exactly where I ran into problems with the earlier instructions I found here. You say, "click an empty brick in the plug-ins for the track, and select Dynamics: Noise Gate. I just don't see anything at all like that. There don't seem to be any popup windows when I click on these plug-ins. Here's what I see: (sorry it's so small!)

And when I click on one of these, I don't get a menu. I just get controls for the plug-in. What empty box am I supposed to click in?

Thanks again!

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Answer 3

maryj59 Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 6, 2016 11:28 AM in response to maryj59

Oh, sorry, I think I got it! Will give you a helpful and solved vote! 🙂 When I clicked on the Limiter box over on the right bottom, there was a down arrow, and then I saw the menu you were talking about. Could they possibly have made this harder to find?!

Thanks very much for your help.

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Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

195,031 points

Feb 6, 2016 12:03 PM in response to maryj59

If all bricks are taken in the Plug-ins pane, ctrl-click or right-click the hair line at the bottom of the pane. This will produce a new, empty slot where you can add another plug-in. (or ctrl-click any deciding lines between the plug-ins). It is not well documented, how to do this. We have to experiment and explore, like an adventure game. 😁

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