The Darkglass NSG is a noise gate pedal for guitar and bass1. A gate does one job: when you stop playing, it mutes the signal so the hum and hiss picked up through high-gain pedals, long cable runs or a loud amp stage disappear instead of ringing out. The NSG runs on 9V DC and draws 60mA1.
Controls and how it works
The NSG keeps its face simple. GuitarPlayer's guide describes "a simple threshold control acting as your sole control option," backed by a Mode switch2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Threshold | Sets the level below which the gate closes and mutes the signal; the only knob on the pedal2 |
| Mode | Switches between hard and soft gain reduction, changing how abruptly the gate clamps down2 |
The Mode switch is the practical difference between the two ways a gate can behave, letting you choose between hard and soft gain reduction. Which setting works best depends on the rig behind it, and the switch lets you set that once and leave it2.
Power
The NSG runs on 9V DC and draws 60mA, according to GuitarPlayer's buying guide2. That draw is worth noting when planning a board: it is more than a bare-bones gate needs, so a daisy chain shared with other pedals may not be the cleanest home for it. An isolated supply output rated above 60mA at 9V covers it.
Where it sits among other gates
Against the wider field, the NSG sits among pedals that take different approaches to gating, from loop-based suppression to string-tracking designs: the Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor, the Electro-Harmonix Silencer and the ISP Technologies Decimator II each work differently, and the Noise Gate Pedals page compares the types. Darkglass also lists the Darkglass Noise Gate in its range1.
Videos
Darkglass Electronics
Erik Arkö
Simon Meunier
Questions
What does the Darkglass NSG do?
It is a noise gate pedal for guitar and bass. It mutes the signal when you stop playing, cutting hum and hiss that builds up through high-gain pedals or long cable runs. GuitarPlayer named it the best noise gate for bass players in a 2025 buying guide, and it keeps its controls simple: one Threshold knob sets how hard the gate clamps down, and a Mode switch chooses between soft and hard gain reduction.
How is the Darkglass NSG powered?
The NSG runs on 9V DC and draws 60mA, according to GuitarPlayer's buying guide. That is more than many simple gates draw, so it is worth checking your power supply's per-output budget before adding it to a daisy chain. A standard isolated pedalboard supply with 9V outputs rated at 100mA or more per output covers it.
Sources (2)
- NAMM 2023: Darkglass seeks to shake up the noise gate market with mysterious and “cutting-edge” new NSG pedal, guitarworld.com, 2023-03-21
- Best noise gate pedals: control your tone, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2024-09-24
