DN514 — Quad Auto Gate

The DN514 is a four-channel auto-gate optimised for the high-channel-count live-sound environment, where drum and percussion mics, brass sections and harmony vocals all need gating but adjusting individual attack times across 16+ channels is impractical. The DN514 replaces the conventional rotary attack control with two semi-automatic attack modes, one dedicated to percussion sources.

Envelope and Sync

The hold time is scaled to the release time setting, ensuring reliable gate closure without chattering on decaying material. A Sync function interlocks the release times of all four gates so that harmony vocals, brass sections and string groups close together — eliminating the artefact of individual gates closing at different points on a held chord.

Frequency-Conscious Gating and Keying

Frequency-conscious gating lets engineers place microphones close together without each mic triggering the others' gates. A Key input per channel allows gate triggering from a source other than the signal passing through the channel — used for rhythmic gating effects or for triggering a tom gate from a kick signal.

Specifications

Gate threshold is variable from -40 dBu to +20 dBu. Maximum input and output levels are +21 dBu. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0.5 dB. Noise (EIN) is less than -103 dBu with gate closed, less than -94 dBu with gate open.

Application

Touring drum and percussion gates, brass and string section sync gating, broadcast voice-over ducking via the Key input.

Specification Highlights

• Four-channel auto-gate, 1U rackmount
• Two semi-automatic attack modes (one for percussion)
• Hold time scaled to release setting
• Sync interlock across all four gates
• Frequency-conscious gating + Key inputs per channel
• Threshold -40 to +20 dBu; max I/O +21 dBu
• EIN < -103 dBu (closed), < -94 dBu (open)