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 SPL Transient Designer Plus
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
SPL Transient Designer Plus by Plugin Alliance / SPL. Attack/sustain shaping without threshold hunting—still a go-to for drums, percussion, and transient control.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, SPL Transient Designer Plus comes out ahead (8.4). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Kickstart 2 | SPL Transient Designer Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $16 | $199 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Formats | VST 2.4, VST 3, AU, AAX | VST3, 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 | — | Transient designer / envelope shaper |
| Edition | — | Plus |
| Technology | — | SPL Differential Envelope Technology |
| Formats | — | VST3, AU, AAX |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.