Drawmer1980s-90sNoise GateNoise Gate$$Mid-Range($250–800)
Drawmer DS201 Noise Gate
Engineers wanting the studio-standard noise gate specifically for clean, fast drum-bleed control.
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Strengths
- Widely considered the studio-standard noise gate of its era, with a sidechain filter section most competitors skipped entirely
- Genuinely fast, clean gating action made it a go-to for drum recording specifically, gating bleed between close mics
- Still actively used and referenced today despite being decades old, a sign of how well-regarded the design is
Trade-offs
- Purely a gate/expander with no compression functionality at all, so it's a one-job specialist tool
- Two channels only, meaning a full drum kit needs multiple units or channel-sharing compromises
Full Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Drawmer |
| Model | DS201 Noise Gate |
| Era | 1980s-90s |
| Typical Price Tier | Mid-Range ($250–800) |
| Device Type | Noise Gate |
| Circuit Type | VCA |
| Channels | 2 |
| EQ Bands / Ratio Range | N/A (threshold/range/attack/hold/release gate controls) |
| Rack Size | 1U |
| Sidechain Input | Yes |
A relative used-market guide, not a live quote — real prices vary by condition, region, and timing. Check the Reverb/eBay links on any item for current listings.
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Match Score Explorer
Weight what matters to your workflow. Every deck is re-scored live against your priorities, benchmarked against the Drawmer DS201 Noise Gate.
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This deckDrawmer DS201 Noise Gate
Match63
Flexibility55
Ease of Maintenance62
Ease of Use72
Tonal Neutrality62
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Maintenance & Supplies
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