No, a noise gate is NOT a compressor. With a noise get, you set a threshold of volume. If what’s coming into the gate is of lower volume than the threshold, then it just CLOSES THE GATE and won’t let any sound through.
This is especially useful with high gain tones. I have mine tuned just so – when I turn the volume off on my guitar, that’s when it kicks in and silences EVERYTHING. Of course, with the AxeFX, I can put this AFTER the amp, so there’s no amp noise at all if I’m not playing.
If this noise is happening WHILE you’re playing, though, a noise gate won’t help, and I’m leaning more towards weather until you get the sounds posted for us.
@Kfir – ya, that was me, and it is a real possibility. Definitely wanted to hear what he was talking about before suggesting adjustment.