Berry Console

On a close drum, use the gate's Range to reduce spill rather than automatically shutting it away. Hold and Release determine whether a hit ends naturally. Raise the detector HPF only when low-frequency spill is causing false openings.

On vocals or guitar, consider whether editing or gain automation is the better way to control isolated gaps. A gate threshold that loses breath, consonants or quiet notes is too aggressive for that performance.

Use the Low shelf for weight, Mid for body or congestion, Presence for forwardness and Air for the upper balance. Adjust their frequencies for the source: the centre of a guitar's congestion is not automatically the same as a singer's.

Make the broad change first, then revisit the vocal or instrument against competing parts. The EQ remains in the signal path; use the complete channel Bypass when you need the untreated comparison.

Set compressor timing from the phrase or groove and use the sidechain HPF when low notes dominate detection. Compressor Mix allows a more strongly controlled path beneath the original, useful for a close drum or a backing-vocal group.

Treat Output Saturation and the limiter as further choices, not mandatory finishing steps. Set Width and Balance while listening in stereo and mono. Dither is an output-quantisation choice for an appropriate final delivery stage, not an effect to enable across every track.