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Description
Discover the power and precision of the Sonic Academy Kick 2, a highly acclaimed kick drum synthesizer plugin designed for music producers who demand both flexibility and superior sound quality. This advanced music software allows you to craft the perfect kick with ease, offering an intuitive interface that gives you complete control over every sonic detail. Whether you're producing house, techno, hip-hop, or any other genre, Kick 2 provides the tools you need to sculpt your sound without limits.
At the heart of Kick 2 is its innovative three-layered sound design. You can seamlessly blend clicks, subs, and tops to create a kick drum that fits perfectly in your mix. Each layer is fully customizable, featuring a range of controls for pitch, distortion, and more. The plugin also includes over 230 factory presets, giving you instant access to a wide variety of ready-to-use sounds. With Kick 2's drag-and-drop functionality, integrating your own samples has never been easier.
Key Features:
- Three fully adjustable layers for creating unique kick drums
- Over 230 built-in presets for instant inspiration
- Advanced pitch control for detailed sound shaping
- Customizable distortion and EQ for each layer
- Drag-and-drop sample import for user-generated content
- Built-in compressor and limiter to perfect your sound
- Compatible with both Windows and Mac systems
- Supports VST, AU, and AAX formats for versatile integration
Videos
Sonic Academy
Introducing 'Kick 2' by Sonic Academy
Introducing 'Kick 2' by Sonic Academy
Sonic Academy
How To Use Kick 2 By Sonic Academy - Features Overview
Sonic Academy
How To Make Kicks with Kick 2 Plugin
Reid Stefan
Kick 2 Tutorial By Sonic Academy - Comprehensive Guide
COMPLX Motion
How To Assimilate Kicks in Kick 2 with Phil Johnston
Sonic Academy
TUTO KICK 2 (français complet)
Les Tutos d'ANTO
How to Reverse Engineer a Kick Drum - Kick 2 Sonic Academy
BEZONANCE
2 Minutes with Sonic Academy Kick 2
Computer Music
Kick 2 - Sonic Academy (Wie man eine Bassdrum macht) Tutorial deutsch
Thomas Foster Musikproduktion
Reviews
PROS
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Extensive control over kick drum shaping and design
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Backwards compatibility with original Kick presets
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Simplifies complex kick creation processes for ease of use
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Multiple distortion options enhance sound customization
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Allows for EQ, compression, and distortion directly in the plugin
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Quick results in crafting quality kick sounds
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Eliminates need for external kick sample packs
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Supports multiple clicks for diverse sound creation
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Great for sound designers seeking variety and flexibility
CONS
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Considered overpriced by some users relative to its functionality
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Some perceive it as a glorified layering tool rather than a unique plugin
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Sonic Academy Kick 2.
Features and functionality
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Kick 2 allows granular control over pitch envelopes, which is especially useful for tuning kicks to the key of a song, enhancing sub-bass alignment.
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Kick 2 includes a built-in sampler that allows layering with purpose-made samples, providing flexibility and creativity in kick design.
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Kick 2 excels in automating kick length, enabling seamless transitions from short to long kicks, which is difficult to achieve with samples or other synths.
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The interface's logarithmic scale in the envelope designer aids in precise kick design, accommodating the unique timing needs of percussive sounds.
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The ability to layer click samples in Kick 2 is frequently utilized, with users focusing on tuning, envelope shaping, and selective distortion for desired effects.
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Comparisons
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Some users find Serum and other synths can replicate Kick 2's results, but Kick 2's interface streamlines kick creation with dedicated controls and visual feedback.
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Owners find Kick 2 more suited for varied kick synthesis compared to Serum, which has a distinct tone limiting its kick variety despite its versatility.
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Some suggest Kick Ninja as an alternative, noting its distortion envelope capabilities, which may appeal to those seeking different tonal characteristics.
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Use cases and applications
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Ideal for genres like EDM and bass music where precise kick-sub bass relationships are crucial, as Kick 2 simplifies tuning and phase alignment.
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Kick 2's workflow is praised for being particularly effective in genres like trance and harder dance, where precise envelope control is crucial.
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Value and pricing
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It's been noted that Kick 2 goes on sale occasionally, with prices dropping to around $40, making it more accessible for budget-conscious producers.
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User experience
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Users appreciate Kick 2 for its low learning curve and efficiency, saving time in production by reducing the need to sift through extensive sample libraries.
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Long-time users report that Kick 2 simplifies the process of achieving high-quality kicks quickly, reducing reliance on layered samples.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 16 Reviews and 70 Ratings
415
Killer plugin for kicks!
Instead of trying to find a matching Kick in my sample library, I use this Kick 2. I start with a preset closest to that what I need and quickly dial-in a tailor made Kick. This plugin gives me control over everything: shape the volume, tune different parts, apply distortion, tune and shape the clicks, add sub, apply compression and so on. I can make changes to the Kick at any time. No need to go searching for a new kick, when I can apply the changes directly by tweaking parameters. I highly recommend this plugin!
81
Not worth it in my opinion
I'm going to be completely honest here, I just really don't think this plugin is worth it. It is essentially a glorified layering plugin with some built in sounds and effects, the one thing I think it has going for it is the pitch control. Honestly, it's not a bad plugin I just don't think it's worth 65$ when you could easily produce very similar results with stock plugins and audio track editing in most DAWs (albeit with a lot more tweaking.) If this plugin was closer to 10$ or even if it was free I think it would be worthwhile, but for now you're better off spending your money on plugins with more uses.
184
Good drum synthesizer
Kick 2 offers a lot of flexibility when crafting kick drums and toms, and allows for EQ, compression, and distortion right in the VST.
1463
NOICE!!!
great plugin by sonic academy , you can design your own kicks and if you buy this you don't need to get another kick sample pack!
1608
Big improvement on the original
Kick 2 adds to the original - you have options for more kinds of distortion, you can use 3 clicks now, and the sonic shaping (EQs and such) are easier to use. The backwards compatibility with original Kick presets is nice as well.
428
Sonic Academy KICK 2 Drum Synthesiser Plugin
KICK 2 is finally here - The Multi Award Winning KICK gets an extensive upgrade for 2016. Easily sculpt, shape, create, manipulate, mangle your way to the perfect kick drum. No longer do you need to rely on sampled and resampled low quality kick drums in sample packs. With KICK 2 you can easily create a perfectly synthesised kick attuned to your needs.
286
The Kick
The easiest way to get a pumping Kick with the perfect pitch and the power amount you need. You will enjoy the game!
2049
Professional kick designer
A sound designer's dream plugin to create kicks. Many settings, great variety. Quick results.
Artist usage
Add artist
On the Product Site of Sonic Academy Kick2 they have a testimonial.
Quote: "W&W
Sonic Academy Kick provides an amazing way of shaping your own kick drum and makes it very easy to tune it into the right key, adjust the length and tighten the punch!"
You can see a bunch of other artists using it.
In this email from Mat Zo from February 2017 detailing the studio gear and plugins he uses, he lists "Kick2" which refers to the Sonic Academy Kick v2 kick drum synthesizer.
At 0:55, Kick 2 can be seen on the screen.
At 4:39, he explains his uses for Kick for his Voyager album
In this video, at 30:50 we can see Au5 using the Kick 2 plugin.
In the video "Top 10 Plugins: A. G. Cook's Favourite Plugins for Hyper-Pop Music Production" by Tape Notes Podcast, A. G. Cook reveals one of his favorite plugins: the Sonic Academy Kick 2.
In this video (12:50) Ben is showcasing his favorite Kick VST...Kick 2.
Can be seen at 1:53 under the tracks, "Kick Innerworks 2-Gain"
In the Sonic Academy tutorial "How To Make Synthwave with The Midnight," The Midnight demonstrates the use of Sonic Academy Kick 2 while creating the track "The Comeback Kid."
When asked, "What VST plugins do you use for production now?" Darude includes Kick 2 in his list, by which he means the Sonic Academy Kick v2 plugin. His full response:
(Some) in alphabetical order from my AU folder: Discovery Pro FM8 Kick 2 Korg Legacy instruments LFO Tool Massive Melodyne Nexus Sausage Fattener Serum Spire Sylenth SynthMaster Transient Master UltraChannel Valhalla Vintage Verb Logic's own ES2, ES1, EXS24, Drummer, Channel EQ, Compressor, Stereo Delay, Tape Delay, Waves C6, Center, Vitamin, RenComp, RVerb, L2, CLA Vocals, H-Delay, Kramer Tape, Paz Analyzer, S1, CableGuys VolumeShaper, to name A FEW... ;)
Album Usage
The Sonic Academy Kick 2 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Sonic Academy Kick 2, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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