Cableguys Kickstart 2 Review: Fast Sidechain, New Features & Price (2026)
Kick and bass clashing, the low end turning to mud — every beatmaker hits that wall eventually. Kickstart 2, made by Nicky Romero and Cableguys, clears it in seconds. Drop it on a track, pick a curve, and the volume dips with every kick, making room for your bass.
No compressor sidechain routing to build. It goes all-in on one thing: getting a pro-sounding sidechain pump with no setup. In this review we cover what changed from Kickstart 1, the price, the system requirements, and how it compares to its bigger sibling ShaperBox — all with official info as of July 28, 2026. If you want to build a base of free synths first, see our 8 recommended free plugins.
What is Kickstart 2? Instant sidechain by drawn volume curves
Kickstart 2's job is simple. Drop it on a track and it ducks that track's volume along a curve every time the kick hits. The dip carves out space so the kick punches through even when it's stacked with bass and synths. It's a concept that works for dance music, but also for tidying up the lows in trap and hip-hop.
Normally sidechaining means loading a compressor, routing the kick to a sidechain input, and so on — a lot of steps. Kickstart 2 skips all that and reproduces the same effect with a "pre-drawn volume curve." Per the official site, it ships with 16 curves that Nicky Romero actually uses on club tracks, and from there you just dial the amount in or out with the "Mix" knob. The figure below shows that ducking motion.
New feature review: what changed from Kickstart 1
Kickstart has long been a staple, but version 2 fixes several "itchy" spots. Here are the main additions the official site tags as "NEW," seen from a practical angle.
1. Fits any kick (movable slope)
Before, a short kick could make the dip too fast, and a long kick might not recover in time. In version 2 you can drag the curve to fit the length of any kick. Without learning any editing tools, just moving the slope locks the kick and bass together.
2. Follows any rhythm (audio trigger)
This is the big one. The old version assumed evenly spaced kicks, but version 2 adds Cableguys audio triggering that follows any kick pattern, as stated officially. Free of the 4/4 constraint, it now works cleanly for genres with irregular kicks like hip-hop, trap, DnB and pop.
3. Multiband sidechain (Band button)
A pro mixing trick, now one button away. Duck only the lows and let the mids and treble pass through untouched — the "invisible" sidechain. You avoid crushing the whole bass and only dodge the low-end collision, so you keep the weight while opening up space.
4. Kick view to line up waveforms
The new kick view shows the kick and bass waveforms on the same display. Being able to match the slope by eye makes locking the lows together far easier. The finer details are laid out in Cableguys' official manual.
Pricing and editions (as of July 28, 2026)
| How to get it | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular (new) | $16 / €14 | One-time buy. VST / AU / AAX. Sold directly from the Cableguys official site |
| Upgrade from Kickstart 1 | $5 / €5 | Discounted upgrade for existing owners |
| Free demo | $0 | Full features, no time limit. But one instance per song / can't save settings |
*Confirmed by our editorial team on July 28, 2026 on the Cableguys official site (kickstart-plugin.com). Kickstart 2 isn't carried by major stores like Plugin Boutique; direct sale from the official site is the norm. Prices and campaigns may change.
For a modern plugin this is cheap, and the feature set is full. If you just want to get sidechaining done fast, the value is a no-brainer. Owners of Kickstart 1 can upgrade for $5, so the barrier to switching is low too.
System requirements & free trial
Before buying, check the official system requirements to make sure it runs in your DAW and setup. Here's what the official site lists as of July 28, 2026.
- Windows: Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / 11, a VST 2, VST 3 or AAX host, 64-bit
- Mac: macOS 10.15 or later, Intel or Apple Silicon (Native / Rosetta), a VST 2, VST 3, AU or AAX host
- Works in major DAWs including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig and REAPER (per the official FAQ)
If buying blind feels risky, trying the free demo first is the safe move. Since all features work, you can judge how it sounds. Just remember the limits noted above — one instance per song and no saving settings — as the difference from the paid version. To see it in motion, the official showcase is the clearest way in.
Kickstart vs. ShaperBox: how to choose
Kickstart is made by Cableguys, who also make another staple: ShaperBox. Its VolumeShaper is exactly a "move volume with a curve" tool, so what they do overlaps and plenty of people wonder which to buy. Roughly speaking —
- Kickstart 2: all-in on speed and ease. Pick a preset curve and drop it in. If all you want is the sidechain pump, it's enough on its own
- ShaperBox (VolumeShaper, etc.): a full toolbox where you can draw curves in detail and shape more than just volume (filter, pan, distortion and more) with the same idea. For people who want to craft intricate movement
If you want to "graduate" from slow sidechaining as fast as possible, go Kickstart 2; if you want to build all kinds of modulation in one tool, go ShaperBox. It's not unusual for pros to own both and split duties — rough it in with Kickstart, refine with ShaperBox.
Who it's for / who should think twice
- People chasing the dance/EDM pump: this is the sweet spot. Drop it, pick a curve, and that classic pumping is instantly there
- People tidying lows in trap / hip-hop: thanks to audio trigger and multiband, kick-and-bass separation is easy even outside 4/4
- People already deep into ShaperBox: VolumeShaper does the same job, so it isn't a must. Decide based on whether the extra speed is worth $16 to you
After exporting a beat, checking loudness with our dynamics analysis (free) before release keeps the finish stable for streaming and sales. To dig deeper into the low end, our how to mix 808s and bass pairs well. And if you want to rethink the sound source itself, our Serum 2 review is a useful read.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. How is it different from normal sidechaining?
A. Without a compressor or routing, it ducks the volume in time with the kick using pre-drawn curves. Drop it in and ducking is instant. Kickstart 2 includes 16 curves that Nicky Romero actually uses.
Q2. Does it work with kicks that aren't 4/4?
A. Yes. Kickstart 2 adds audio triggering that follows any kick pattern beyond 4/4, as stated officially. It's fine with irregular kicks in trap or DnB.
Q3. How much does it cost?
A. As confirmed on the official site on July 28, 2026, the regular version is $16 / €14. Kickstart 1 owners can upgrade for $5 / €5.
Q4. Can I try it for free?
A. There's a fully functional free demo. It has no time limit, but the official site notes it's limited to one instance per song and can't save settings.
Summary
Kickstart 2's headline strength is the speed of getting the sidechain pump with just "drop and pick a curve." Version 2 fits any kick, follows patterns beyond 4/4, and adds a multiband mode that ducks only the lows — all for $16. For beatmakers who want fewer steps, it's a great-value move. When you need more intricate work, expand into Cableguys' ShaperBox — that order makes practical sense. First, use the free demo to see how well your kick and bass lock together.