Plug-in Weirdness / PT Fluke? . . . I need Help Badly.

[UnlikeKurt]

Hey all.

Here's the weirdness. I need help.
Rack tom track. Sounds big and full.
Plug ins on inserts - Eq3, Dyn3, Gate3

If I bypass the gate plug it sounds exactly the same, sans the gating
but, If i remove the plugin from the insert, the track gets a lot thinner
same thing if i make it inactive.

Is there any reasonable explanatin for this or do I have to leave this plug on the insert to retain this awesome tone? I just cant figure it out and I'm wasting valuable processing power here having bypassed plugins on tracks.

Anyone explains this one they'll win a prize. I swear to god they will.

Thanks
James

[M.Brane]

Looks like some kind of gain-staging issue to me, but without being there it's hard to say.

[UnlikeKurt]

Gain Staging? With a gate plugin? Nope, don't think so.

latency from the plugin

[M.Brane]

Gain Staging? With a gate plugin? Nope, don't think so.

latency from the plugin

Could be if you're using look-ahead gating, but again without being there......