8.2Great
Nicky Romero Kickstart 2 by Cableguys is a sidechain ducking plugin that ducks a track's volume on each kick to clear space for bass.
Plugin comparison
Kickstart 2 vs LFO Tool
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.4Great
Xfer Records LFO Tool is a volume, filter, and pan modulation plugin with drawable LFO curves for sidechain pumping, gating, and rhythmic motion.
Editorial analysis
The key difference
Kickstart 2 and Xfer LFO Tool both deliver the sidechain-style pump electronic producers want without wrestling a compressor. They compete in every “best sidechain plugin” list for good reason.
Decisive signal
Kickstart 2 is a one-job ducking tool: pick or draw a volume curve, trigger from MIDI or audio, done — at a very low price. LFO Tool is a broader modulation utility: drawable curves for volume, filter, pan, multiple graphs, and MIDI CC out to control other devices. Kickstart is speed; LFO Tool is flexibility.
Choose Kickstart 2 if
Choose Kickstart 2 if you want the simplest, cheapest path to consistent sidechain-style pumping on bass and pads.
Open plugin file →Choose LFO Tool if
Choose LFO Tool if you need custom LFO shapes for volume, filter, and pan, or MIDI CC control of other instruments.
Open plugin file →Buying verdict
Which should you buy?
Kickstart 2 wins if you only need foolproof kick ducking on a budget. LFO Tool wins if you want custom rhythmic shapes, filter pumps, and MIDI CC control from one plugin. Many templates include both.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Kickstart 2 | LFO Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $16 | $49.95 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Formats | VST 2.4, VST 3, AU, AAX | VST, AU, AAX |
| Curves / presets | 16 hand-crafted curves | — |
| Triggering modes | MIDI trigger and audio trigger (Cableguys audio triggering) | — |
| Curve editing | Draggable curve to fit any kick duration | — |
| Mix control | Mix knob to adjust sidechain ducking strength | — |
| Visual feedback | Kick View shows kick and bass waveform display; follows non-4/4 patterns | — |
| Windows | Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 (64-bit) | — |
| macOS | macOS 10.15 or later, Intel or Apple Silicon (Native/Rosetta) | — |
| Type | — | LFO-driven volume / filter / pan modulator |
| Price | — | $49.95 USD |
| Graphs | — | Up to 4 simultaneous (e.g. volume, cutoff, resonance, pan); 12 graphs per preset |
| Rate | — | BPM (with optional swing) or free Hz; sample-accurate sync |
| MIDI | — | Optional MIDI CC output to control other devices |
| Formats | — | VST, Audio Units, AAX (macOS and Windows) |
| System | — | macOS 10.11+; Windows 7 SP1+ |
Quick reference
Kickstart 2 vs LFO Tool: FAQ
Is LFO Tool better than Kickstart 2?
LFO Tool is more flexible; Kickstart is simpler and cheaper for pure ducking. “Better” depends on whether you need only pump or full LFO shaping.
Can both replace a sidechain compressor?
For rhythmic pumping, yes. For transparent, level-dependent glue, a real compressor still wins. These tools shape volume by design, not by program dynamics.
Which is better for beginners?
Kickstart 2 — fewer decisions, instant results. LFO Tool is still approachable but offers more parameters to explore.
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.