Noise gate and compresson

some help making sure im right with this... a compresson sustainer is to eliminate hum and unwanted noise to get a nice clean tone and a noise gate it basically the same thing except used for distortion right??? so i like to use a lot of distortion so a noise gate would be more efficient for me to get the rather than a compressor....thanks the cake

Generally, a compressor is used to quot;fitquot; a signal onto tape, but it can be used for other things also. Like mile long sustain. It doesn't really have anything to do with noise.

The noise gate is used to kill the signal when it drops below a set point, to eliminate noise during quiet parts. I can't think of any application where you'ld use it for distortion.

Then again, someone, somewhere, probably uses those things for exactly what you mention. They'll be along shortly.

Artie

Sorry, a compressor won't cut down on noise at all, as a matter of fact, it can enhance any hum and noise you already have. Compression is best used at minimal settings. It makes all your notes or chords come out at the same volume, and can limit peaks or brings softer passages up to the same level as everything else.
A noise gate is only effective when there is no signal coming from your guitar- it closes the 'gate' when you aren't playing, as soon as you start strumming the strings- the gate swings back to open, so if you have hum and noise when you play, it will still be there.