Tilr has released Gate-12, a free volume modulation plugin for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Gate-12 is the latest iteration of the developer’s Gate-1 plugin. It includes several upgrades that make it more versatile and optimized for live performances.
For me, the coolest new feature is Audio Trigger mode. It allows the gate to respond to audio transients rather than only syncing to the DAW’s tempo.
This essentially turns Gate-12 into a creative volume shaper that reacts dynamically to incoming signals, and that’s perfect for rhythmic gating, sidechain-style pumping effects, and envelope-based modulation.
I tested the plugin on Windows and had zero issues installing or running it. The download from GitHub is quick and painless, and CPU usage is impressively light.
The GUI is slick and intuitive, with all controls neatly placed at the top of the interface and a large waveform display and curve editor at the bottom. Drawing your own envelopes and patterns is easy and feels natural, even for complex curves.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the AU or VST3 versions to run on my MacBook Air M1 running Studio One. If you manage to get it working on macOS, I’d love to hear how you did it—let me know in the comments.
Gate-12 is very much in the same realm as Cableguys VolumeShaper. It lets you draw multi-point volume curves with different point types (hold, curve, s-curve, etc.) and includes gate-specific controls like threshold, attack, release, and smoothing. You can store up to 12 patterns and trigger them via MIDI notes, making it ideal for in-the-DAW automation and live performance.
There’s also a Paint Mode for quicker envelope creation and tools for dragging, scaling, and skewing your envelope points. You even get undo/redo functionality. I love having this option as it’s easier to AB test different curve shapes before picking the best one.
Gate-12 is available in VST3 and AU formats for Windows, macOS, and Linux. macOS support appears to be hit-or-miss for now, so proceed with caution if you’re on Apple Silicon. You can download the plugin for free from the developer’s GitHub page.
Download: Gate-12
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Last Updated on May 12, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
