The MXR Noise Gate/Line Driver, model MX-106, is a noise gate and line driver in a single pedal, made by MXR in Rochester, New York and released in 1980. MXR developed it to solve the problems of background noise and hum that occur in performance, and it is used to boost your signal and cut noise to your amp. TONEHOME notes that it is usually the last pedal before the amp, which is the typical position for a gate in a signal chain1.
What the pedal does
The two functions work together for players with long pedalboards or noisy high-gain setups. In practice the pedal does three things1:
- Gates the signal, quieting it when you are not playing
- Boosts the signal and cuts noise on the run to the amplifier via its line driver section
- Provides a convenient high/low impedance interface for direct signal taps, bridging a guitar-level signal into a lower-impedance destination without the level loss that can come with long cable runs
Because it combines gate and boost, it suits the end of a chain: the gate quiets the pedals upstream, and the line driver keeps the level up into the amp1.
Where it sits in MXR's noise gate history
The MX-106 is an early entry in the noise gate category, predating the Boss NF-1 Noise Gate era of compact gates and the current MXR Smart Gate. The Smart Gate, model M135, is a separate, later product: Dunlop describes it as equipped with three selectable types of noise reduction, Hiss, Mid and Full, with a hardwire bypass and a precise threshold trigger, at a list price of $159.99 USD as of 2026-10-252134. The Noise Gate/Line Driver and the Smart Gate are not the same pedal.
| Noise Gate/Line Driver | Smart Gate (M135) | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | MX-1061 | M1352 |
| Released | 19801 | current production1 |
| Function | Noise gate plus line driver1 | Noise gate2 |
| Noise reduction types | Not applicable2 | Hiss, Mid, Full2 |
| Bypass | Not applicable2 | Hardwire bypass2 |
| List price | 230 DM, Germany, 19821 | $159.99 USD, 2026-10-2523 |
Kit Rae, writing on his gear and tone site, places MXR's gates among the established options: "there are good ones on the market like the MXR Smart Gate, Boss NS-2, or ISP Decimator"5.
The circuit has also been echoed by other makers. Mosky Audio's Noise Gate pedal is described by its maker as "Based on MXR Noise Gate"6.
The MXR Noise Gate/Line Driver is a 1980 pedal and is no longer in current production. Original units are found secondhand, and the original manual is available as a scan.
Manual and documentation
The original 1980 owner's manual for the Noise Gate/Line Driver is available as a PDF from TONEHOME's page for the pedal1. For comparison, TONEHOME also hosts the Boss NF-1 Noise Gate owner's manual4.
Videos
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TheScientificGuitarist
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Questions
What is the MXR Noise Gate/Line Driver model number?
The pedal carries the model number MX-106. It was made by MXR in Rochester, New York, and released in 1980 as a combined noise gate and line driver, usually placed as the last pedal before the amp.
What does the line driver section do?
The line driver section boosts the signal and cuts noise on the way to the amp. It also provides a high/low impedance interface for direct signal taps, which lets the pedal sit comfortably between a pedalboard and an amplifier without losing level or adding noise.
Is the MXR Noise Gate/Line Driver the same as the MXR Smart Gate?
No. The Noise Gate/Line Driver is the earlier MX-106 from 1980, while the Smart Gate is the later M135, a current noise gate pedal with three selectable noise reduction types (Hiss, Mid and Full), a precise threshold trigger and hardwire bypass. They are separate products from the same maker.
Where can I find the MXR Noise Gate/Line Driver manual?
TONEHOST's reference page hosts a scan of the original 1980 MXR Noise Gate/Line Driver manual as a PDF download, linked from the pedal's product page.
What did the MXR Noise Gate/Line Driver cost new?
In Germany in 1982, the pedal's list price was 230 DM (German marks). No US list price for the pedal's original release is given here.
Sources (6)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1982
- MXR® SMART GATE® NOISE GATE, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- MXR® ISO-BRICK™ PRO POWER SUPPLY, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- David Gilmour Tone Building, Kit Rae (Kit's Secret Guitar, Gear, and Music Page), 2019-12
- Noise Gate_Mini Guitar Pedals_Effect Pedals_Products_mosky pedal, moskyaudio.com
