A comprehensive review of Sonible's smart:gate - the content-aware gate

Sonible has once again proven its prowess in the world of audio engineering with the release of smart:gate, a content-aware gate plug-in that promises to revolutionize the way we approach gating. This review will explore the features, performance, and overall user experience of this innovative tool.

Quick Overview

smart:gate is an intelligent source detection plugin that focuses on the selected target source in the signal. Unlike conventional gates, smart:gate delivers solid results while making parameterization incredibly fast and easy. It offers content-aware gate processing, a wide range of instrument and sound profiles, visual guidance, and intelligent ducking.

Key features include

AI-powered gating methodology

The tedious task of gating is a thing of the past with smart:gate. The plugin simplifies gating by allowing users to select a target source from a drop-down menu. Whether you're gating vocals, electric guitar, piano, or many other options, smart:gate reliably delivers even when the target source varies in level or a competing instrument is louder than the signal you want to keep. smart:gate's content-aware processing unleashes its full power where conventional gate plug-ins struggle.

Visual cues and intelligent ducking

smart:gate is a gate that can truly distinguish between a mix and the signal component it contains. The activity of the target signal and the gating are visualized in detail. Combined with Instant Replay, it gives you all the insight you need to speed up your parameterization and tweaking-all with familiar controls and no guesswork.

Intuitive interface packed with great features

smart:gate offers a host of fine-tuning features, including a three-band rejection network to weight gating across the frequency spectrum. The level bias allows you to increase the level dependency of the processing - extremely useful when refining the response to transient target sources. The Gate plugin can be switched to ducking mode, giving you the same target-focused functionality. You can also use smart:gate without its content-aware AI features as a conventional gate.

Performance

smart:gate performs exceptionally well in a variety of scenarios. Whether you're working on a vocal track, a drum loop or any other instrument, the plugin's intelligent source detection and content-aware processing ensure reliable results. The plugin's ability to distinguish between a mix and the signal component within it is impressive, making it easier to achieve the desired sound.

User Experience

The user experience of smart:gate is first class. The plugin's interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible to both novice and experienced audio engineers. The visual guidance and intelligent ducking features provide valuable insight and speed up the parameterization and optimization process.

Pricing information

smart:gate is priced at €89.00, down from the original price of €129.00. Considering the features and performance of the plugin, this price point offers excellent value for money.

To sum up

In conclusion, Sonible's smart:gate is a game changer in the world of audio engineering. Its intelligent source detection, content-aware processing, and intuitive interface make it a must-have tool for anyone looking to simplify and improve their gating process. Whether you're a seasoned audio engineer or just starting out, smart:gate is a worthy addition to your plugin arsenal.