Setting up noise gates can often be tedious, particularly when separating a signal from unwanted noise or crosstalk. For example, when recording a drum kit, the snare drum microphone may pick up spill from nearby hi-hats, causing unwanted triggering. Increasing the threshold might prevent false triggering but can also risk missing quieter hits.

The Drawmer solution is simple and effective: two variable filters, one high-pass and one low-pass, act on the side-chain circuitry. By switching to 'key listen', you can monitor and fine-tune the filter action to reject unwanted frequencies such as hi-hat spill, ensuring the gate opens only when the desired signal is present.

With its extremely fast attack time, the DS201 can open in a matter of microseconds, preserving the natural transients of any sound. The comprehensive envelope controls allow you to tailor the gate’s response to the material being processed. For vocals, a fast attack retains clarity, while a slower release ensures natural fade-outs and prevents abrupt cut-offs. This is particularly important, as the human ear is more sensitive to sudden changes in noise level than to a constant background noise.

Beyond noise control, the DS201 excels at reshaping sounds. It can be used to modify the attack or decay of a signal, ideal for drums, samples, and synthesised material. A gate can smooth the end of a sample, shorten sustain, or introduce a punchier transient, turning it into a creative envelope-shaping tool.

External key input allows the DS201 to be triggered from another source, such as using a snare drum to open an ambient microphone for natural gated reverb effects. Each channel can also be switched between gating and ducking modes, ideal for 'voice over' applications or the removal of clicks and pops.