The TC Electronic Iron Curtain is an analog noise gate pedal: it listens to your signal and mutes it when you stop playing, so hum, hiss and pedal noise do not come through between phrases. Premier Guitar's launch coverage said it "quickly and effectively shuts down any undesirable elements in your signal chain while delivering a strong and undiluted tone"1. It was one of eight analog pedals TC Electronic launched together in November 2017, in the maker's Dynamic Gentlemen category23.
GuitarPlayer's noise gate buying guide called it "an ideal entry-level noise gate that's simple in operation," priced around $50 as of November 20254.
What it does and how it works
A noise gate sits in your signal chain and closes when your playing drops below a set level, cutting the noise floor of high-gain amps and crowded pedalboards. The Iron Curtain keeps this to two controls4:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Threshold | Sets the signal level at which the gate opens and closes |
| Decay | Sets how quickly the gate closes after you stop playing |
TC Electronic's product page describes it as a 2-knob interface with a mute switch6. With only Threshold and Decay to set, it is a set-and-forget pedal: raise the Threshold until noise disappears between notes, then adjust Decay so notes do not get chopped off.
Where it came from
The Iron Curtain arrived on 2 November 2017 as part of a launch of eight new analog pedals from TC Electronic5. MusicPlayers' announcement described the range as sturdy stompboxes with "strong steel enclosures and top mounted input/ouput jacks" providing analog warmth, with "true bypass circuitry so your tone stays totally unaffected when the effects are off"5. Delicious Audio placed the Iron Curtain in TC Electronic's Dynamic Gentlemen category alongside the rest of the line3.
What reviewers said
GuitarPlayer's 2025 noise gate guide, which named the Iron Curtain its best budget pick, called it "an ideal entry-level noise gate that's simple in operation," noting that at only around $50 "you wouldn't expect it to" do more4. When the pedal launched, gearnews.com reported that in TC Electronic's demo video "you can hear the functionality working quite well, it seems"2.
How it compares
Against other gates on the market, the Iron Curtain's pitch is simplicity and price. Gates like the TC Electronic Sentry or the Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor offer more control over how the gate reacts; the Iron Curtain offers two knobs, Decay and Threshold, and a mute switch46. For players who want the cheapest workable gate, GuitarPlayer also flagged the Behringer NR300 as its beginner pick4.
The Iron Curtain runs on a 9V battery as well as a 9V DC supply, so it suits small boards without a power brick. At 100mA it is not the lightest draw in its class, so check your supply's budget if you daisy chain several pedals4.
Videos
TC Electronic
Your Home Recording
ElcoAudio
Questions
Does the TC Electronic Iron Curtain take a battery?
Yes. Alongside a 9V DC power supply, the Iron Curtain runs on a 9V battery, which is handy for players who do not want to add another wall wart to their board. Current draw is listed at 100mA.
Is the Iron Curtain true bypass?
Yes. TC Electronic's launch announcement described the pedal as having true bypass circuitry, so your tone stays unaffected when the effect is switched off.
How much current does the Iron Curtain draw?
GuitarPlayer's noise gate buying guide lists the Iron Curtain's power requirements as 9V DC at 100mA. That is modest, but worth checking against a small isolated power supply if you run several pedals.
Is the TC Electronic Iron Curtain analog or digital?
It is analog. The Iron Curtain was one of eight analog pedals TC Electronic launched together in November 2017, all in steel enclosures with top mounted jacks.
Sources (6)
- TC Electronic Launches 8 New Analog Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2017-11-02
- TC Electronics Analog Armada: A fleet of budget guitar effect pedals, gearnews.com, 2017-11-03
- TC Electronic Unveils Eight New Analog Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2017-11-02
- Best noise gate pedals: control your tone, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2024-09-24
- TC Electronic Announces 8 Analog Pedals, MusicPlayers.com, 2017-11-02
- IRON CURTAIN NOISE GATE, TC Electronic
