Sonic Academy KICK 3

The Kick Is the Track — Design It Properly

In electronic music the kick drum isn’t just a sound, it’s the foundation everything stands on. Sonic Academy KICK 3 is built for that reality: a dedicated kick synthesiser that lets you craft the exact kick your track needs instead of settling for the closest sample in a pack.

Build Kicks in Two Layers

KICK 3’s workflow mirrors how pros think about kicks. Layer one: the click — the transient snap that makes the kick audible on small speakers. Pick from the deep included library or import your own. Layer two: the synthesised sub — pure low-end power with a drawable pitch envelope you shape by hand. Blend, tune to your track’s key, done.

See the Sound, Shape the Sound

The pitch envelope display is KICK 3’s secret weapon: draw how the kick’s pitch falls from click to sub and watch the curve as you hear it. Small moves here make huge differences — a faster drop means more punch, a slower one means more boom. Add drive for grit, then glue it with the built-in compressor and limiter.

Every Genre, Covered

Four-on-the-floor house, rolling drum & bass, heavy trap 808s, distorted hardstyle — KICK 3’s preset library has starting points for all of it, and every single parameter stays editable. Find a preset that’s close, reshape the envelope, swap the click, tune the sub: three tweaks and it’s uniquely yours.

62% Off Today

The industry-standard kick designer at 62% off. VST3, AU and AAX on macOS and Windows, at home in any major DAW.

License key and downloads delivered by email after checkout.

Specifications

• Kick-drum synthesiser: click + sub architecture
• Click: extensive built-in library, user sample import
• SUB / AMP / PITCH envelopes with 5 nodes each, key tracking, decay control
• Built-in sub harmonics, clipper, 3-band EQ, phase inverter, limiter
• Large editable preset library
• VST3/AU/AAX (Mac); VST3/AAX (Windows); macOS 10.13+, Windows 8+

FAQ

What’s the difference between the click and the sub?

The click is the attack transient (audibility and character); the sub is the low-frequency body (weight and tone). KICK 3 lets you design each separately.

Can I tune the kick to my song’s key?

Yes — key tracking keeps the sub in tune with your track.

Is KICK 3 a big CPU user?

No — it’s efficient enough to run multiple instances across your drum tracks.