What type of audio processing removes unwanted noise from a recording?

The noise gate is an audio processing tool specifically designed to reduce or eliminate unwanted background noise in a recording. It works by allowing audio signals above a certain threshold to pass through while attenuating signals that fall below that threshold. This means that any noise or low-level unwanted sounds that are not loud enough will be effectively cut out from the audio signal, making the desired audio (like vocals or instruments) clearer and more prominent.

In contrast, compression is used to manage the dynamic range of audio signals, equalization adjusts the balance of different frequency components, and reverb adds a sense of space or ambiance to a sound, but none of these functions are primarily focused on noise elimination. The noise gate is particularly useful in live sound environments and studio recordings where minimizing background noise is crucial for achieving high-quality audio.