The NR800 is a real-time noise-reduction processor, useful for music production, post production and live sound. The NR800 operates with no internal latency and does not contaminate the original source material with artifacts, such as those found by noise reduction plug-ins that utilize transform-based processing. The NR800 operates on mostly broadband frequencies, but can also be focused in a narrow portion of the frequency spectrum using noise reduction focus points. A set of input filters can be configured with slopes up to 36dB/Oct, and can be set at frequencies independent of noise-reduction focus points.

Several noise-reduction modes can be selected from the NR Mode control to provide a range of smooth to aggressive noise reduction amounts. A Range control can be used to scale the overall noise reduction from 100% to 0% (off). An "x2" mode will also double the noise reduction amounts in all bands, when less finely tuned adjustment is needed, or when noise problems are severe. The Response time controls how fast the noise reduction recovers from a "noise event." 

An NR Bias selector allows different noise reduction amounts to be activated when "snapping" the noise-reduction gain and thresholds to the input signal. Each of the eight bands in the NR800 has a noise-reduction amount fader and noise detection threshold marker, and the usual McDSP linking control capabilities from a master (M) and linked (L) control button paradigm. Each band may also be individually bypassed or soloed to audition incoming noise amounts.