Citadel Dynazero - Adaptive Noise Gate

Citadel Dynazero – adaptive noise gate with galvanic isolation

The Citadel Dynazero is an advanced noise gate pedal designed to deliver transparent, dynamic noise reduction for both studio and live applications. Featuring an adaptive input detector that responds to the player’s dynamics, the gate automatically adjusts its response for consistent operation across different playing styles – from delicate fingerpicking to heavy riffs.

Overview and Features

Dynazero combines expander technology with galvanically isolated sections to eliminate ground hum and preserve signal integrity. The adaptive detector controls a smooth, natural gating curve that retains attack and sustain. It performs equally well in pedalboards or amplifier loops and is optimized for both two- and four-cable setups.

Construction and Components

The pedal features a compact metal chassis with durable controls for long-term reliability. Galvanic isolation between the detector and gain reduction sections completely separates the ground planes, effectively removing interference and hum in complex signal chains.

Controls and Operation

THRESHOLD adjusts the level at which the gate activates. Signals above the threshold pass unaffected, while lower levels are attenuated. HARD / SOFT changes the gate’s response: HARD provides fast and precise gating for high-gain tones, while SOFT ensures smoother transitions for a more natural sound.

The pedal operates with an always-active buffer and includes memory functionality. At startup, it automatically restores the previous on/off state.

Connections and Integration

Dynazero supports both 2- and 4-cable configurations. In the 2-cable setup, only the input and output are used for simple noise reduction within the signal chain. The 4-cable method uses all connections, allowing the threshold detector to be driven by the instrument signal while applying gain reduction after the amplifier’s preamp. Thanks to galvanic isolation, the setup remains hum-free even in complex amp systems.

Power Supply

Powered by a 9 V DC power supply (center negative, 150 mA). Power supply not included.

Specifications

• Type: Noise gate / expander pedal
• Input impedance: 1 MΩ
• Output impedance: 1 kΩ
• Power supply: 9 V DC (center negative)
• Current draw: 150 mA
• Bypass: Buffered with memory function
• Connections: In, Out, Send, Return
• Dimensions: 114 × 62 × 58 mm
• Weight: 250 g
• Housing: Metal
• Manufacturer: Citadel