Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Dubspot may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our scores or what we recommend — read our policy.
Effect
Kickstart 2
Cableguys · $16
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.
Kickstart 2 is a effect by Cableguys, available in VST 2.4, VST 3, AU and AAX formats. It is priced at $16.
Notable features include curves / presets, triggering modes and curve editing. See the full specifications and frequently asked questions below.
Specifications
- 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)
Last verified 2026-06-16
FAQ
What is Kickstart 2?
It is a sidechain ducking plugin that automatically ducks a track's volume in response to a kick drum to create space for bass, triggered via MIDI or audio.
How much does Kickstart 2 cost?
It is $16 USD. Existing Kickstart 1 owners can upgrade for $5.
Which plugin formats and operating systems are supported?
VST 2.4, VST 3, AU and AAX, for Windows 7/8/10/11 (64-bit) and macOS 10.15 or later (Intel or Apple Silicon via Native/Rosetta).
How is Kickstart triggered?
It offers both MIDI Trigger mode and Audio Trigger mode; for audio triggering and Kick View, the kick is routed into Kickstart's external sidechain input.