Gatekeeper
by Polyverse · Gate · Envelope-based volume modulator
Not rated yet
A volume modulator for rhythmic and trance-style gating. You draw volume envelopes (eight of them), which it plays back sample-accurately, with smoothing to avoid clicks.
It's used for chopped pads, sidechain-style pumping, stutters and transitions, and it can trigger from MIDI or send MIDI CC and CV to modulate other gear.
Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design, Drums, Vocals. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Hip-Hop & Trap, Pop.
Keywords: rhythmic, synths, MIDI-controllable, stutter, pumping, pads, corrective, repair, creative, downward expansion, drums, mixing, modular, sidechain input, single-band, sound design, tempo-synced, visual feedback, vocals.
What it does
Gatekeeper, made by Polyverse with Infected Mushroom, is a volume modulator rather than a level-triggered gate: you draw the volume shape and it plays it back in time with the track.
- Eight envelopes: eight independent volume envelopes with up to 1,024 nodes each, drawn with 31 brush types or preset shapes.
- Sample-accurate: fast, precise volume changes with a variable smoothing algorithm to remove clicks and pops.
- Triggering: tempo-synced looping and fully customisable MIDI triggering.
- Extras: boost and clip, panning tools, MIDI CC output and CV output for modular synths.
- Presets: hundreds, sorted into categories.
Source: Polyverse product page
When to use it
Gatekeeper does a different job from the other rated gates. Where Pro-G, smart:gate and Dyna-mite open and close based on the input level to remove noise and spill, Gatekeeper imposes a rhythm you draw, so it's a creative tool for movement rather than a clean-up tool.
- Best for: trance gates on pads and synths, pumping and ducking effects, stutters, builds and transitions, and gating reverb and delay tails.
- Genres: electronic and EDM, hip-hop and modern pop.
- Look elsewhere if: you need to remove spill or noise from recordings; use a level-based gate like Pro-G or a drum gate.
What producers say
Reviews have been consistently positive since its 2018 launch.
- Bedroom Producers Blog (2018) scored it 93%, praising its sample accuracy and eight-envelope design and calling it great value; the reviewer wished each envelope could have its own input.
- Magnetic Magazine (2024) recommended it for its presets and dry/wet control, using it on reverbs, synth stutters and transitions, but wanted more visual feedback for smoothing.
- Roundups: Music Industry How To lists it as a budget-friendly option, and eMastered for rhythmic gating.
- Bedroom Producers Blog review
- Magnetic Magazine review
- Music Industry How To: best noise gate plugins 2026
Where to buy
- Best Service: $49
- Polyverse: $49
- Plugin Boutique: $49
- PluginFox: $49
- AudioDeluxe: $49
Tutorials and reviews
- Introducing: Gatekeeper
- Gatekeeper: Full Basic Tutorial
- MMTV: Polyverse Gatekeeper| Eric Burgess
- Gatekeeper: Workflow Demo
- Plugin Demo - Gatekeeper by Polyverse
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