# Noise Gate & Downward Expander — audio unit plugin effect

> Audio plugin for natural-sounding noise gating and downward expansion. (iPhone/iPad app by Blue Mangoo Consulting Company Limited.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noise-gate-and-downward-expander/id1488081633 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Blue Mangoo Consulting Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475107602)
- Category: Music
- Price: $5.99
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 8 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 28 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2019-11-19
- Data updated: 2026-08-30
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noise-gate-and-downward-expander/id1488081633/reviews.md

## What is Noise Gate & Downward Expander?

WHAT DOES THIS PLUGIN DO THAT OTHER NOISE GATES DON'T?

Most of the iOS recording apps already come with a built-in noise gate effect. So why do you buy another noise gate? There are 2 main reasons: clearer sound and more natural gate-closing sound.

1 - DOWNWARD EXPANSION SOUNDS MORE NATURAL THAN OPEN & SHUT GATING

The simplest noise gate plugins simply set the volume to zero when the input level drops below a threshold. The abrupt change in volume from that process sounds unnatural and makes it obvious that you are using a noise gate plugin on the signal. Instead of using a gate that fluctuates between two states (open, closed), this plugin uses downward expansion to gently and smoothly reduce the gain as the input drops below the threshold setting. 

An example to illustrate this:

With the downward expansion ratio set at 2:1 and the threshold at -10 dB, when the signal drops below the -10 dB threshold level, the plugin doubles its distance from the threshold. So a signal that comes in 2 dB below the threshold goes out 4 dB below; 10 dB below the threshold comes out 20 dB below, and so on. The big advantage to this method is that when the signal is just slightly below the threshold, say 1/2 dB for example, it won't be reduced all the way down to zero volume, so you don't hear an abrupt change as the signal drops below the threshold. Instead it just seems that the quiet sounds are even quieter, and they decay faster than they normally would. This allows you do eliminate a lot of background noise without the listener knowing that you are using a noise gate.

2 - SMOOTHER FILTERING IN THE ENVELOPE FOLLOWER MEANS LESS DISTORTION

The key challenge that all noise gate designs struggle to overcome is how to make sure the gate doesn't flutter open and closed several times at the end of a sound. This is a serious challenge because the input signal is a wave, meaning that it is constantly moving up and down and it crosses above and below the threshold with every up and down motion. How to keep the gate from opening and closing in time with the oscillation of the sound waves? There are many ways to do it, but the basic idea is to slow the gate down somehow, so it can't open and shut too quickly. Of course, slowing the gate down or delaying its closing is not desirable because we need it to close as quickly as possible when the input signal ends and open immediately when it starts up again. Each noise gate plugin handles this problem in a different way, and therefore each one has its own unique sound. To hear how a noise gate performs in this respect, set its release very fast, pluck a low guitar string (or hit a bass note on the piano) and let ring out, listening as the note decays down to the threshold level and the gate starts to activate. If your noise gate allows a fast enough release time, you'll hear a buzzing noise as the gate rapidly flip-flops open and closed for a few moments before settling in the closed position. The audibility of the buzzing sound as the gate closes determines the quality of the plugin. Any gate can avoid buzzing if its release time is set very long, but only the best of them can close down quickly and smoothly without buzzing. 

This noise gate plugin has a unique smoothing filter to ensure that the gate makes as little noise as possible when opening and closing, while still being able to open and close very quickly.

3 - SIDECHAIN HIGH-CUT AND LOW-CUT FILTERS ALLOW YOU TO GATE OUT PART OF THE SIGNAL WHILE KEEPING OTHER PARTS

The side chain input is the signal that the plugin follows to measure the input volume. If you have bass drum bleeding into your hi-hat mic, you can gate out the bass by cutting bass frequencies out of the side chain. The result is that the gate only opens when the hi frequencies from the hi-hat are sounding, not when the bass drum is bleeding through.

## Key features

- Downward expansion for natural sound
- Smooth gain reduction
- Prevents abrupt volume changes
- Reduces background noise
- Minimizes gate fluttering
- Clearer audio quality

## Recent user reviews (6 of 6)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noise-gate-and-downward-expander/id1488081633/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Very handy for high gain math metal djent riffing

*2026-08-20*

I am using this on AUM with a variety of am-sims and racks including Amplitube and it does deliver a natural gating effect. The expander does the trick and not just an open shut style gate which can sound choppy on low end tails as the sound fades but the gate is still fluttering.  It is a good control mechanism for high speed riffing on high volumes and prior gain staging. I will buy other noise gates too just to experiment but this one already delivers. 

Good job!

### 5/5 — Love it, but one question….

*2026-07-25*

How does the min and max sc frequencies work? I’m flying blind here but getting good results. Would love to understand that part better. Have most of your stuff. Excellent quality.

### 4/5 — A Good Noise Gate

*2025-03-24*

It works well when I use it with Audiobus 3 as a normal floating plugin. However it does not work in editors like Lumafusion as an inline plugin - it gets recognized but does not show an embedded GUI nor a parameter map to the host’s native GUI.

### 5/5 — Excellent app!

*2024-11-30*

Does what it says on the tin! I have a few gates and this uses the lowest cpu while providing the most natural gate response I’ve seen. I use with A-U-M. Can highly recommend this application for use by guitarists who have to deal with gain/hiss. Buy with confidence!
TL;DR: Highest Recommendation. Will/would purchase apps from this developer again.

### 4/5 — Doesn’t work in LumaFusion

*2024-11-06*

Could not make it work in LumaFusion, just no control panel displayed

### 5/5 — Best Noise gate I’ve used

*2024-08-28*

This gate is great on gainy guitar parts, is very very quiet and responds how a guitarist would want it to.

## Frequently asked questions about Noise Gate & Downward Expander

### What makes Noise Gate & Downward Expander different from other noise gates?

Noise Gate & Downward Expander uses downward expansion for a more natural closing sound, unlike abrupt open/shut gating. This method smoothly reduces gain, preventing noticeable volume changes and unwanted fluttering.

### How does the downward expansion work in Noise Gate & Downward Expander?

When the input signal drops below the threshold, the plugin doubles its distance from the threshold. For example, a signal 2 dB below the threshold will be reduced by 4 dB. This ensures quiet sounds become even quieter without abrupt silences.

### Does Noise Gate & Downward Expander help eliminate background noise effectively?

Yes, the plugin is designed to eliminate background noise effectively by smoothly reducing gain. The natural decay of quiet sounds helps mask the noise without the listener realizing a noise gate is in use.

### What is the price of Noise Gate & Downward Expander?

Noise Gate & Downward Expander is available for a one-time purchase of $5.99.

### On which Apple devices can I use Noise Gate & Downward Expander?

Noise Gate & Downward Expander is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.

### How often is Noise Gate & Downward Expander updated?

The app was last updated on July 6, 2022, with version 1.0.4. Further updates may be released periodically to improve functionality and compatibility.

### What is the age rating for Noise Gate & Downward Expander?

Noise Gate & Downward Expander has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### Does Noise Gate & Downward Expander have ads?

No, Noise Gate & Downward Expander does not contain advertisements, providing an uninterrupted user experience.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.0.4 — 2022-07-06

Fixed bugs, improved performance.

### 1.0.3 — 2020-10-09

Saving Custom User Presets on iOS14.0

### 1.0.2 — 2020-09-24

Support for user presets.

### 1.0.1 — 2019-11-22

Improved stability.

### 1.0 — 2019-11-19

No release notes.

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All apps by Blue Mangoo Consulting Company Limited: https://appshunter.io/developer/1475107602

## Related topics

[noise gate auv3 plugin](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/noise-gate-auv3-plugin) · [noise gate](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/noise-gate)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-30.*