subversion
Moderator
Carl Martin Noise Terminator
List: $190
A noise reduction device, by any other name, remains to be one which eliminates unwanted hissing & buzzing from your signal chain. If you have no learned appreciation for such a device, it probably means that you have minimal engagements in recording procedures or that your gain settings remain on the restrained margin. Carl Martin’s Noise Terminator (NT) is a noise gate unit aimed at the fuss-disapproved users as its features suggest.
Intro (FAQ)
1. What is a noise gate?
This is an electronic circuitry with signal threshold manipulations to allow selected signals to pass through. If the sent signal is below the prescribed threshold, the ‘gate’ will not open to let it through.
2. Why do I need a noise gate?
If you employ high gain/ distortion settings, or other devices with independent pre-amps (especially guilty are guitar dweebs with multiple drive pedals in their pedals line-up; the reviewer is one), chances are, there would be a pronounced background hiss/ buzz/ hum which could be louder than your overall output. This is especially unpleasant & persistent even when you have stopped playing. The annoyance is particularly intrusive & unfavourable during a recording session.
3. Where do I place my pedal-type noise gate?
It is recommended you make it a final/ near final resident in your effects chain. This is in consideration of other effect units which are noise producers; you’d want the noise gate to be placed after these devices so that the noise is not heard/ amplified during your non-playing moments.
4. What forms of noise gates are there?
There are independent pedal types (the review model is an example), rack mounts as employed by the pro (eg: ISP Decimator Pro Rack G), integrated circuitry in amps (eg: Peavey JSX)/ drive pedals (eg: LINE6 Uber Metal) & Multi-FX/ modelling units (eg: KORG Tone Works Ampworks).
Build/ features
Despite having an extensive dimension, the overall mass of the aluminum housing is very acceptable. In fact, it’s lighter than the average Digitech pedal. The finicky pedal enthusiasts might deem the twin knob here to be too small to their liking but the manufacturer had especially chosen these to complement a side-by-side placement so that the handling of one would not entail into a contact with the other.
The twin knobs here are immediate threshold manipulators; SOFT & HARD being low gain & high gain settings respectively.
Nevertheless, the knobs themselves aren’t the smoothest on offer & battery access requires complete baseplate removal.
Rating: 85%
In use
Upon inserting your instrument/ patch cable into the input slot, the SOFT mode LED (yellow) would light up. Perhaps it’s a Danish peculiarity at work here but try as you might, this mode would not turn off; clicking the footswitch would only activate/ deactivate the HARD mode (red LED).
The NT in its SOFT mode does well for slightly overdriven, low output pickups. In its upper calibration, the pedal would threaten to swallow weak treble signals so the raising of your drive levels is necessary to prevent a premature cut off. This gives you a crude idea of how effective this pedal is and that’s before the engagement of the HARD mode…
The HARD mode is recommended for players utilizing multiple drive/ pre-amp pedals in their signal chain. This offering is effective for hard-distortion type (‘metal’ for some of us) pedals in isolation; again, the pedal has a tendency to invalidate weak, treble-end signals in its upper calibration. If you are the type who enthusiastically boost your intense distortion (clean/ drive boost) for insane amounts of drive, this mode is recommended.
There are bound to be players here who would employ a parallel connection (FX loop over at the amplifier) to eliminate the headache of a suitable chain placement (this reviewer is one) & the NT is effective in this alternative setting. Exercise caution when engaging the HARD mode though because excessive calibration is capable of muting your entire output, yes, that’s how competent this pedal is.
Equipment used:
*Amplifiers- Peavey XXL/ Ibanez ValBee
*Guitars- ESP Eclipse II/ Ibanez RG321/ Gibson LP Std/ Fender Highway1 Strat
*Pickups- EMG 85-81/ Seymour Duncan Distortion-Custom/ Gibson Burstbuckers/ Fender Highway1 default units
*Pedals: Digitech Death Metal/ EHX NANO Metal Muff/ Ibanez Tubescreamer/ BOSS BD-2, DS-1 & OD-3
Rating: 85%
Conclusion
Carl Martin’s NT is a seriously effective device for noise detesters. The pedal board junkie would probably love it but wish its dimensions are scaled down to the average BOSS-type measurements. If you have no current predicaments with signal-induced noise & would constantly employ your volume pedal instead, any noise elimination gadget is really unnecessary. While the dual mode NT here offers a useful low/ high gain threshold, the fact that the pedal itself could not be entirely bypassed is a little disturbing. Please keep in mind that the NT, like other noise gate circuitries, would not solve earth-related/ noisy cables buzzing.
Overall rating: 85%
Likes:
*Effective
*Not a battery drainer
*Acceptable weight
*Idiot-proof
Dislikes:
*Cannot be entirely bypassed
*Rather bulky
*Battery access (baseplate removal)
*Remote footswitch feature
Worthy competitors:
*BOSS NS-2
*ISP Decimator
*Behringer Intelligate IG9
Last edited:
... By the way, how to compare it with the MXR Smart Gate bro !? I would love to find one but still confuse between Smart Gate and ISP Decimator 
