diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cdc6e03..7e7589b 100644
Binary files a/README.md and b/README.md differ
diff --git a/examples/assets/hihat.lua b/examples/assets/hihat.lua
index 9fb7bdb..52394b4 100644
--- a/examples/assets/hihat.lua
+++ b/examples/assets/hihat.lua
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ return rhythm {
       end
     end
   end,
+  gate = function (context)
+    return context.pulse_value > math.random()
+  end,
   emit = function(context)
     local rand = math.randomstate(0x8879)
     return function(context)
diff --git a/examples/assets/snare.lua b/examples/assets/snare.lua
index b4898b5..b4efc47 100644
--- a/examples/assets/snare.lua
+++ b/examples/assets/snare.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ math.randomseed(0x13ee127)
 return rhythm {
   unit = "1/16",
   pattern = pattern.from { 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0.075, 0 } * 7 + { 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0.5, 0 },
+  gate = function (context)
+    return context.pulse_value > math.random()
+  end,
   emit = function(context)
     return { key = "C5", volume = (context.pulse_value == 1) and 0.8 or 0.5 }
   end,
diff --git a/examples/play-script.rs b/examples/play-script.rs
index 5e44649..8a2b36f 100644
--- a/examples/play-script.rs
+++ b/examples/play-script.rs
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
                 Rc::new(RefCell::new(BeatTimeRhythm::new(
                     beat_time,
                     BeatTimeStep::Beats(1.0),
-                    None
                 )))
             })
         };
diff --git a/examples/play.rs b/examples/play.rs
index 66c0fe5..26ecc7e 100644
--- a/examples/play.rs
+++ b/examples/play.rs
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         .every_nth_sixteenth(2.0)
         .with_offset(BeatTimeStep::Sixteenth(1.0))
         .with_instrument(HIHAT)
+        .with_pattern([1.0, 0.5].to_pattern())
+        .with_gate(ProbabilityGate::new(None))
         .trigger(new_note_event("C_5").mutate({
             let mut vel_step = 0;
             let mut note_step = 0;
diff --git a/src/bindings.rs b/src/bindings.rs
index e83542c..0581b29 100644
--- a/src/bindings.rs
+++ b/src/bindings.rs
@@ -282,17 +282,11 @@ fn register_global_bindings(
                     Ok(unit) => matches!(unit.as_str(), "seconds" | "ms"),
                     Err(_) => false,
                 };
-                // NB: don't keep borrowing app_data_ref here: Rhythm constructors may use random functions
-                let rand_seed = {
-                    lua.app_data_ref::<LuaAppData>()
-                        .expect("Failed to access Lua app data")
-                        .rand_seed
-                };
                 if second_time_unit {
-                    SecondTimeRhythm::from_table(lua, &timeout_hook, &time_base, &table, rand_seed)?
+                    SecondTimeRhythm::from_table(lua, &timeout_hook, &time_base, &table)?
                         .into_lua(lua)
                 } else {
-                    BeatTimeRhythm::from_table(lua, &timeout_hook, &time_base, &table, rand_seed)?
+                    BeatTimeRhythm::from_table(lua, &timeout_hook, &time_base, &table)?
                         .into_lua(lua)
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/bindings/rhythm/beat_time.rs b/src/bindings/rhythm/beat_time.rs
index af9b23f..0ffe9a8 100644
--- a/src/bindings/rhythm/beat_time.rs
+++ b/src/bindings/rhythm/beat_time.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ impl BeatTimeRhythm {
         timeout_hook: &LuaTimeoutHook,
         time_base: &BeatTimeBase,
         table: &LuaTable,
-        rand_seed: Option<u64>,
     ) -> LuaResult<BeatTimeRhythm> {
         // resolution
         let mut resolution = 1.0;
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ impl BeatTimeRhythm {
             }
         }
         // create a new BeatTimeRhythm with the given time base and step
-        let mut rhythm = BeatTimeRhythm::new(*time_base, step, rand_seed);
+        let mut rhythm = BeatTimeRhythm::new(*time_base, step);
         // offset
         if table.contains_key("offset")? {
             let offset = table.get::<_, f32>("offset")?;
diff --git a/src/bindings/rhythm/second_time.rs b/src/bindings/rhythm/second_time.rs
index 50f609f..5624e76 100644
--- a/src/bindings/rhythm/second_time.rs
+++ b/src/bindings/rhythm/second_time.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ impl SecondTimeRhythm {
         timeout_hook: &LuaTimeoutHook,
         time_base: &BeatTimeBase,
         table: &LuaTable,
-        rand_seed: Option<u64>,
     ) -> LuaResult<SecondTimeRhythm> {
         // resolution
         let mut resolution = 1.0;
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ impl SecondTimeRhythm {
             }
         }
         // create a new SecondTimeRhythm with the given time base and step
-        let mut rhythm = SecondTimeRhythm::new(*time_base, resolution, rand_seed);
+        let mut rhythm = SecondTimeRhythm::new(*time_base, resolution);
         // offset
         if table.contains_key("offset")? {
             let offset = table.get::<_, f32>("offset")? as SecondTimeStep;
diff --git a/src/gate.rs b/src/gate.rs
index 4f38151..31c6642 100644
--- a/src/gate.rs
+++ b/src/gate.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use crate::{BeatTimeBase, InputParameterSet, PulseIterItem};
 pub mod probability;
 #[cfg(feature = "scripting")]
 pub mod scripted;
+pub mod threshold;
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/src/gate/threshold.rs b/src/gate/threshold.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29d7c3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gate/threshold.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+
+use crate::{BeatTimeBase, Gate, InputParameterSet, PulseIterItem};
+
+// -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// Gate implementation which passes all pulse values > a specified threshold value (by default 0).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct ThresholdGate {
+    threshold: f32,
+}
+
+impl ThresholdGate {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self::with_threshold(0.0)
+    }
+
+    pub fn with_threshold(threshold: f32) -> Self {
+        Self { threshold }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for ThresholdGate {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Gate for ThresholdGate {
+    fn set_time_base(&mut self, _time_base: &BeatTimeBase) {
+        // nothing to do
+    }
+
+    fn set_external_context(&mut self, _data: &[(Cow<str>, f64)]) {
+        // nothing to do
+    }
+
+    fn set_input_parameters(&mut self, _parameters: InputParameterSet) {
+        // nothing to do
+    }
+
+    fn run(&mut self, pulse: &PulseIterItem) -> bool {
+        pulse.value > self.threshold
+    }
+
+    fn duplicate(&self) -> Box<dyn Gate> {
+        Box::new(self.clone())
+    }
+
+    fn reset(&mut self) {
+        // nothing to do
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/prelude.rs b/src/prelude.rs
index 78b0c3a..6f73675 100644
--- a/src/prelude.rs
+++ b/src/prelude.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub use super::{
         new_parameter_change_event, new_polyphonic_note_event, new_polyphonic_note_sequence_event,
         unique_instrument_id, InstrumentId, NoteEvent, ParameterChangeEvent, ParameterId,
     },
-    gate::probability::ProbabilityGate,
+    gate::{probability::ProbabilityGate, threshold::ThresholdGate},
     pattern::{euclidean, fixed::ToFixedPattern},
     rhythm::{beat_time::BeatTimeRhythm, second_time::SecondTimeRhythm},
     time::{BeatTimeStep, SecondTimeStep},
diff --git a/src/rhythm/beat_time.rs b/src/rhythm/beat_time.rs
index d9a4486..29abe3e 100644
--- a/src/rhythm/beat_time.rs
+++ b/src/rhythm/beat_time.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ macro_rules! generate_step_funcs {
 /// Shortcuts for creating beat-time based patterns.
 impl BeatTimeBase {
     pub fn every_nth_step(&self, step: BeatTimeStep) -> BeatTimeRhythm {
-        BeatTimeRhythm::new(*self, step, None)
+        BeatTimeRhythm::new(*self, step)
     }
     generate_step_funcs!(sixteenth, BeatTimeStep::Sixteenth);
     generate_step_funcs!(eighth, BeatTimeStep::Eighth);
diff --git a/src/rhythm/generic.rs b/src/rhythm/generic.rs
index fb626eb..300a7f1 100644
--- a/src/rhythm/generic.rs
+++ b/src/rhythm/generic.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use std::borrow::BorrowMut;
 
 use crate::{
     event::{fixed::FixedEventIter, Event, EventIter, EventIterItem, InstrumentId},
-    gate::probability::ProbabilityGate,
+    gate::threshold::ThresholdGate,
     pattern::{fixed::FixedPattern, Pattern},
     time::{BeatTimeBase, SampleTimeDisplay},
     Gate, InputParameter, InputParameterSet, PulseIterItem, Rhythm, RhythmIter, RhythmIterItem,
@@ -63,14 +63,14 @@ pub struct GenericRhythm<Step: GenericRhythmTimeStep, Offset: GenericRhythmTimeS
 impl<Step: GenericRhythmTimeStep, Offset: GenericRhythmTimeStep> GenericRhythm<Step, Offset> {
     /// Create a new pattern based rhythm which emits `value` every `beat_time` `step`,
     /// and an optional seed for the random number generator.
-    pub fn new(time_base: BeatTimeBase, step: Step, seed: Option<u64>) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(time_base: BeatTimeBase, step: Step) -> Self {
         let offset = Offset::default_offset();
         let instrument = None;
         let input_parameters = InputParameterSet::new();
         let pattern = Box::<FixedPattern>::default();
         let pattern_repeat_count = None;
         let pattern_playback_finished = false;
-        let gate = Box::new(ProbabilityGate::new(seed));
+        let gate = Box::new(ThresholdGate::new());
         let event_iter = Box::<FixedEventIter>::default();
         let event_iter_sample_time = 0;
         let event_iter_next_sample_time = offset.to_samples(&time_base);
@@ -181,15 +181,13 @@ impl<Step: GenericRhythmTimeStep, Offset: GenericRhythmTimeStep> GenericRhythm<S
         new
     }
 
-    /// Return a new rhythm instance which uses the given [`Gate`] instead of the default
-    /// probability gate.  
+    /// Return a new rhythm instance which uses the given [`Gate`] instead of the default gate.  
     #[must_use]
     pub fn with_gate<T: Gate + Sized + 'static>(self, gate: T) -> Self {
         self.with_gate_dyn(Box::new(gate))
     }
 
-    /// Return a new rhythm instance which uses the given dyn [`Gate`] instead of the default
-    /// probability gate.  
+    /// Return a new rhythm instance which uses the given dyn [`Gate`] instead of the default gate.  
     #[must_use]
     pub fn with_gate_dyn(self, gate: Box<dyn Gate>) -> Self {
         let time_base = self.time_base;
diff --git a/src/rhythm/second_time.rs b/src/rhythm/second_time.rs
index a4a83d7..a1f8692 100644
--- a/src/rhythm/second_time.rs
+++ b/src/rhythm/second_time.rs
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ pub type SecondTimeRhythm = GenericRhythm<SecondTimeStep, SecondTimeStep>;
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-/// Shortcuts for creating sample-time based rhythms.
+/// Shortcuts for creating second-time based rhythms.
 impl BeatTimeBase {
     pub fn every_nth_seconds(&self, step: SecondTimeStep) -> SecondTimeRhythm {
-        SecondTimeRhythm::new(*self, step, None)
+        SecondTimeRhythm::new(*self, step)
     }
 }
diff --git a/types/nerdo/library/rhythm.lua b/types/nerdo/library/rhythm.lua
index e6009e1..d3e0351 100644
--- a/types/nerdo/library/rhythm.lua
+++ b/types/nerdo/library/rhythm.lua
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ error("Do not try to execute this file. It's just a type definition file.")
 ---@field trigger_offset integer?
 ---
 ---Current input parameter values, using parameter ids as keys
----and the actual parameter value as value. 
+---and the actual parameter value as value.
 ---@see InputParameter
 ---@field inputs table<string, number|integer|boolean|string>
 
@@ -120,13 +120,13 @@ error("Do not try to execute this file. It's just a type definition file.")
 ---```
 ---@field offset number?
 ---
----Define optional input parameters for the rhythm. Input parameters can dynamically 
----change a rhythms behavior everywhere where `context`s are passed, e.g. in pattern, 
+---Define optional input parameters for the rhythm. Input parameters can dynamically
+---change a rhythms behavior everywhere where `context`s are passed, e.g. in pattern,
 ---gate, emitter or cycle map generator functions.
 ---
 ---## examples:
 ---```lua
------ trigger a single note as specified by input parameter 'note' 
+----- trigger a single note as specified by input parameter 'note'
 ----- when input parameter 'enabled' is true, else triggers nothing.
 ---  inputs = {
 ---    parameter.boolean("enabled", true),
@@ -206,12 +206,19 @@ error("Do not try to execute this file. It's just a type definition file.")
 ---```
 ---@field repeats (integer|boolean)?
 ---
----Set optional pulse train filter between pattern and emitter. By default a probability
----gate is used, which passes 1s directly, skips 0s, and applies values in range (0 - 1) using
----the pulse value as probability, like:
+---Optional pulse train filter function or generator function which filters events between
+---the pattern and emitter. By default a threshold gate, which passes all pulse values
+---greater than zero. 
+---
+---Custom function should returns true when a pattern pulse value should be passed, 
+---and false when the emitter should be skipped.  
+---
+---### examples:
 ---```lua
+----- probability gate: skips all 0s, passes all 1s. pulse alues in range (0, 1) are
+----- maybe passed, using the pulse value as probablility.
 ---gate = function(context)
----  return context.pulse_value >= 1 or context.pulse_value > math.random()
+---  return context.pulse_value > math.random()
 ---end
 ---```
 ---@field gate Pulse[]|(fun(context: GateContext):boolean)|(fun(context: GateContext):fun(context: GateContext):boolean)?