Noise Gate / Pre-amp

[Ken Hall <hallk@post.queensu.ca>]

Hello listers!

I'm coming out of lurk mode to ask for your help.  I have a V3 which I love,
but it seems the only way to use MIDI volume to control it is to run a cable
from the effects out to the effects in which disables the internal noise
gate.  Apparently, there is some kinda wierd interaction between MIDI volume
and the internal noise gate which causes an irritating "popping" noise to
occur. The basic sound of the V3 is fabulous, but the level of background
noise when the unit is not being played is, frankly, unacceptable. I'm
really quite surprised at how bad this noise level is, and I'm also
surprised to have recieved no response from Dave Amels at Voce when I asked
for help. They seem to be slipping a bit with their famous support.....
Anyway, I need some kind of single channel simple noise gate, and I also
thought I might see if there exists a tube preamp which has a noise gate
built in.  This would kill two birds with one stone.  I could also build a
simple noise gate if anyone could offer a circuit.  Any suggestions would be
greatly appreciated, but please don't get me wrong, with all it's
shortcomings, the V3 is still the best sounding clone out there.  Maybe Voce
will offer a software upgrade to solve this bug? Here's hoping.  Cheers, Ken
Ken Hall 
V3/JV880/147/VK1000/MicroB/BC/122