KICK 2 is a dedicated kick-drum instrument built around synthesizer oscillators, well suited to EDM and other dance music. Its presets are organized by genre and artist, and its editing controls let you shape the click attack, main sub sound, and pitch and volume envelopes to suit a track’s tempo and style.
KICK 2: A Dedicated Kick Instrument
KICK 2 uses synthesizer oscillators
to create electronic kick sounds.
In dance music, including EDM,
the kick is especially important and can greatly affect a track’s impression and quality.
KICK 2 includes a variety of kick presets organized by genre and artist,
making it easy to bring these sounds into your own music.
Its intuitive controls also make editing straightforward.
Here we’ll cover the basics of using KICK 2 and making simple edits.
Manufacturer’s website: https://www.sonicacademy.com/products/kick-2
KICK 2 Tutorial Video
Selected Questions and Answers from the YouTube Video
I bought it, but I can only use the demo version. Why? I contacted Sonic support but haven’t received a reply.
We can’t diagnose the issue without more details, but there has been a forum report about trouble downloading a license key: https://forums.sonicacademy.com/t/just-purchased-kick-2-cant-download-the-license-key/32971 You could try asking there as well.
Loading Presets
With the default setting, the same sound plays regardless of which MIDI note you enter.
To load a preset, click the name at the top.
Presets organized by genre and artist appear as shown.
Once you’ve chosen a preset, click the left and right arrows
to move to the preceding or following preset.
Use SAVE AS to save a customized sound.
Saved presets can be accessed under USER.
Adjusting Each Part
You can refine the sound by adjusting each part.
- Click 1–3: Attack sounds
Red: Select the attack sound.
Green: Set volume and pan.
Blue, from left to right: pitch, length, sample start position and filter.
- SUB CONTROL: Main kick sound
Red: Select the waveform used for the kick.
Green: Set volume and pan.
Blue: Set pitch and harmonics. Increasing harmonics gives a more complex sound.
Adjusting the Pitch and Volume Envelopes
You can change the pitch and volume curves much like automation.
Drag points to change their values, and double-click to add new points.
You can create unusual sounds, but the following controls are a good place to start.
- PITCH: Adjust the kick’s pitch
Fine-tune the kick’s pitch in the area outlined in red.
The frequency displayed at each point provides a reference.
You can also set the pitch to change over time, such as starting high and gradually falling.
- AMP: Adjust the kick’s length through its volume envelope
Drag points left or right to adjust how the volume changes after the sound starts.
The sound’s length is especially important to the groove, so adjust it to suit the tempo and track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Which DAWs can use KICK 2?
KICK 2 is a plug-in instrument designed for use with major DAWs. Check Sonic Academy’s official site for detailed compatibility requirements.
Q2. How do I save a customized preset?
Click SAVE AS to save it. You can then access and load it from USER.
Q3. Can KICK 2 change pitch over time?
Yes. Drag points on the pitch envelope to create a change over time, such as a high initial pitch that gradually falls.
Q4. How do I adjust the length of the kick?
Drag points left or right on the AMP envelope to adjust the volume change and control the kick’s length. Set it to suit the song’s groove and tempo.
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