NoiseGator
NoiseGator is a lightweight open-source noise gate application that filters out background noise from your microphone or speakers in real-time to ensure clear audio during your voice calls.
Reason Studios
Reason is a powerful digital audio workstation and plugin that gives you a virtual rack of legendary synthesizers, drum machines, and effects to create professional music and sound designs.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | NoiseGator | Reason Studios |
|---|---|---|
| Website | noisegator.com | reasonstudios.com |
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | $19.99/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2014 | 1994 |
| Headquarters | null | Stockholm, Sweden |
Overview
NoiseGator
NoiseGator is a nimble, Java-based noise gate tool designed to clean up your audio feed by cutting out unwanted background hiss and hum. You can use it to suppress the sound of your keyboard clicking or your computer fans whirring while you are on a call or recording a podcast. It works by analyzing audio levels in real-time and muting the input when the volume drops below a threshold you define.
You can route your audio through virtual cables to integrate it with apps like Skype, Discord, or OBS. Because it is open-source and runs on Java, you can use it across Windows, Mac, and Linux systems without worrying about heavy resource consumption. It is a straightforward solution for anyone needing a professional audio bypass without investing in expensive hardware processors.
Reason Studios
Reason is a versatile music production platform that functions as both a standalone digital audio workstation and a powerful plugin for other software. You can build your own custom dream studio using a virtual rack filled with iconic synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, and professional-grade audio effects. The unique patch-cord interface lets you route audio and control signals manually, giving you total creative freedom over your sound design process.
Whether you are producing electronic music, scoring films, or recording live instruments, you can manage your entire project from initial sketch to final master. The software adapts to your workflow by letting you use its famous instruments inside other DAWs like Ableton Live or Logic Pro via the Reason Rack Plugin. It serves everyone from bedroom producers to professional sound designers who need a tactile, modular approach to digital music creation.
Overview
NoiseGator Features
- Real-time Noise Gating Filter out background noise instantly as you speak by setting a custom volume threshold for your microphone.
- Virtual Audio Routing Connect your filtered audio to any application like Discord or Skype using virtual audio cable drivers.
- Adjustable Attack and Release Fine-tune how quickly the gate opens and closes to ensure your voice isn't clipped during natural pauses.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility Run the software on Windows, Mac, or Linux thanks to its lightweight Java-based architecture.
- Input and Output Selection Choose exactly which device you want to gate, whether it is your primary microphone or your system speakers.
- Visual Level Monitoring Monitor your audio levels visually to accurately set your noise floor and avoid accidental muting.
Reason Studios Features
- Reason Rack Plugin. Bring your favorite Reason instruments and effects into any other DAW you use with full VST3, AU, and AAX support.
- Mimic Creative Sampler. Slice, trigger, and manipulate your audio samples quickly with eight different playback modes and built-in granular synthesis tools.
- Combinator 2. Build your own custom instruments by combining multiple devices into a single interface with personalized controls and layout designs.
- Modular Routing. Flip the rack around to route cables manually between devices for complex sound design and experimental signal processing.
- Player MIDI FX. Generate complex chords, scales, and rhythmic patterns instantly to spark new musical ideas even if you lack advanced theory knowledge.
- Vocal Stretch. Correct the timing and pitch of your vocal recordings with high-quality time-stretching that preserves natural audio characteristics.
Pricing Comparison
NoiseGator Pricing
- Full software access
- Real-time audio gating
- Unlimited usage
- Source code access
- Cross-platform support
Reason Studios Pricing
- Access to Reason 12 DAW
- Reason Rack Plugin included
- All 75+ official Rack Extensions
- Weekly new Sound Packs
- Full library of 30,000+ patches
- Companion app for sound browsing
- One-time purchase ownership
- Reason 12 standalone DAW
- Reason Rack Plugin
- Core library of 30+ devices
- High-resolution graphics
- Vocal pitch editing tools
Pros & Cons
NoiseGator
Pros
- Completely free and open-source software
- Extremely lightweight on system resources
- Works effectively for removing constant background hiss
- Simple interface is easy to navigate
- No installation required for the portable version
Cons
- Requires Java to be installed on your system
- Requires separate virtual audio cable software
- Interface looks dated compared to modern apps
Reason Studios
Pros
- Unique modular workflow encourages creative experimentation
- Massive library of high-quality internal instruments
- Extremely stable performance with low CPU usage
- Works seamlessly as a plugin inside other software
- Visual interface is highly engaging and fun
Cons
- Steep learning curve for the modular routing system
- Sequencer workflow feels dated compared to modern competitors
- Subscription model is required for all expansion devices