Kickstart 2 by Nicky Romero & Cableguys

Can one of the most used plugins be improved?

It is no exaggeration. Nicky Romero's collaboration with Cableguys, which spawned the ubiquitous Kickstart side-chain plugin, is probably one of the most used plugins in the world. Just look at Equipboard's list of top compressor plugins, which has Kickstart most used by artists, and most ratings by users.

Side-chains are such an essential ingredient not only in EDM, but also in pop music, hip hop, and other genres. Yes, you can create a side chain with most compressor plugins, by routing a trigger signal (such as a kick drum) into a compressor on another track, which will then be ducked as the trigger signal increases above the threshold. The difference specialised side-chain plugs make is in the convenience. You can just add such plugins onto your track, select a volume shape, and you are good to go.

Plenty of Fish

But the original Kickstart was released in 2013, nearly 10 years ago. Since then, much has happened in music technology, including the release of several competitors:

• XFer Records LFO Tool (price: $49.95)
• Cableguys Volumeshaper 6* (price: $34)‍
• Cableguys Shaperbox 2* (price: $99)‍
• devious machines duck* (price: $26)
• Polyverse Gatekeeper* (price: $49, currently on sale for $39 until 25th April 2022)

The Second Coming

The second incarnation of Kickstart, called Kickstart 2, adds several new features:

• Presets: 16 side-chain curve presets.
• Mix: mix knob to adjust the side-chain level.
• Drag & Change: quickly drag curves to match different kick shapes.
• Audio Triggering: can follow any kick pattern, not just 4/4.
• Multi-Band Side-Chain: limit the side-chain to only part of the frequency spectrum.
• Visual Wavefrom Display: see waveforms of both kick and bass in one view to better adjust curves.

System Requirements

Windows
Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11. VST 2, VST 3 or AAX host sequencer. 64-bit.

‍Mac
Mac OS X 10.9 or later. Intel or M1 (Native/Rosetta) processor. VST 2, VST 3, AU or AAX host sequencer.