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The fastest plugin for pro sidechaining

by Nicky Romero & Cableguys
by Nicky Romero & Cableguys
Kickstart 2 Screenshot

This plugin is life-changing. I’ve told Nicky it would be awesome to make the bass & duck communicate, and he’s done it! Just by moving the slope, I have a perfect sidechain for my kick.

David Guetta

Mixing in 2022 is more important than ever, especially for dance floor tracks. The kick is the most important element in most dance tracks and it really needs a proper place in your mix. This new version gives more hands on tools to shape the place of your kick in the mix, to make sure it has the perfect impact on the dance floor! Essential!

Armin van Buuren

A sidechain tool I've been looking for my whole life. Thank you Nicky for letting me help during the development of the plugin. It's a must have tool!

Hardwell

An already powerful tool just got even better. Kickstart 2 comes with insane flexibility and awaited new features. The perfect side-chain pump plug-in just arrived… and she’s gorgeous.

Albin Nedler (Worked with Martin Garrix, Sam Smith, Selena Gomez & many more)

This plugin is life-changing. I’ve told Nicky it would be awesome to make the bass & duck communicate, and he’s done it! Just by moving the slope, I have a perfect sidechain for my kick.

David Guetta

Mixing in 2022 is more important than ever, especially for dance floor tracks. This new version gives more hands on tools to shape the place of your kick in the mix, to make sure it has the perfect impact on the dance floor! Essential!

Armin van Buuren

A sidechain tool I've been looking for my whole life. Thank you Nicky for letting me help during the development of the plugin. It's a must have tool!

Hardwell

An already powerful tool just got even better. Kickstart 2 comes with insane flexibility and awaited new features. The perfect side-chain pump plug-in just arrived… and she’s gorgeous.

Albin Nedler

What is Kickstart 2?

Kickstart 2 instantly solves the problem of clashing, muddled kick and bass.

Forget fiddling about with compressors – Nicky Romero and Cableguys put everything you need for professional sidechaining into one fast, easy plugin. Just drop Kickstart on any track to instantly duck the volume with each kick drum, creating space for your bass.

Now your kick and bass will punch right through the speakers with professional impact, definition and groove. Use it for EDM, trap, house, hip-hop, techno, DnB – anything.

What is Kickstart 2?

Kickstart 2 instantly solves the problem of clashing, muddled kick and bass.

Forget fiddling about with compressors – Nicky Romero and Cableguys put everything you need for professional sidechaining into one fast, easy plugin. Just drop Kickstart on any track to instantly duck the volume with each kick drum, creating space for your bass.

Now your kick and bass will punch right through the speakers with professional impact, definition and groove. Use it for EDM, trap, house, hip-hop, techno, DnB – anything.

Features

Any DAW, any genre

Use Kickstart in any DAW, for any style of music. EDM, trap, house, hip-hop, techno, DnB, and beyond

Any DAW, any genre

Instant setup

Add Kickstart – instantly get sidechain ducking, with no setup

Instant setup

16 hand-crafted curves

The exact curves Nicky Romero uses to get tracks sounding massive in the club

16 hand-crafted curves

Big Mix knob

Easily adjust the strength of the sidechain effect to fit any mix

Big Mix knob

Fits any kick NEW!

Forget complex editing tools – just drag the curve to fit any kick, long or short

Fits any kick

Follows any rhythm NEW!

Kick not 4/4? No problem – Kickstart follows any kick pattern with new Cableguys audio triggering

Follows any rhythm

Multiband sidechain NEW!

Easily duck only the lows of your bassline – the pros’ secret trick for tight bass with full frequencies

Multiband sidechain

Visual kick view NEW!

See kick and bass waveforms on the same display – get your lows locked tight like never before

Visual kick view

Developed by Cableguys – the acclaimed makers of ShaperBox, HalfTime and VolumeShaper

Info

If you have any questions about Kickstart, check the FAQ or get in touch via e-mail.

Download the full Kickstart 2 manual.

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 Apple Silicon (Native/Rosetta) processor
VST 2, VST 3, AU or AAX host sequencer

FAQ

I already own Kickstart 1. Can I get Kickstart 2 for a reduced price?
Yes, you can upgrade to Kickstart 2 for just €5 / $5.

I have purchased Kickstart. Where do I find the full version download?
The full version is available for download in your Cableguys user account.

Who made Kickstart?
Kickstart was created by plugin developers Cableguys and DJ/producer Nicky Romero.

I just purchased Kickstart. When will I receive my license?
Normally, we'll send you an email with links for your license and full version download within seconds. In rare cases, it can take some hours until a purchase is processed. Also, please check your spam folder.

I cannot find my license key any more. How can I obtain it again?
You can always access your license key from your Cableguys user account.

Does Kickstart work with FL Studio?
Yes, Kickstart works perfectly with it! Note that FL needs to find the plugin - so check that in FL’s preferences the “VST Plugins extra search folder” is the same one as the one you installed Kickstart to. Then restart FL Studio. Click on “Channels” -> “Add One” -> “More” and a list will appear. Kickstart should be in that list and you can activate it by clicking on the little box in front of it. On any issues, please make sure to use the latest version of FL Studio.

What about other DAWs?
You can use Kickstart in any VST or AU sequencer such as Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools 12, Cubase, Bitwig Studio, FL Studio, REAPER, Studio One, and many other DAWs that support VST, AU or AAX.

I have another question.
Please check the in-depth FAQ on the Cableguys website or drop us an email.

Artists using Kickstart

TIMBALAND
HARDWELL
DAVID GUETTA
ALESSO
THE CHAINSMOKERS
BEN BÖHMER
SHOWTEK
ARMIN VAN BUUREN
ZEDD
CASHMONEYAP
Nicky Romero on stage