Frequently asked questions

Almost always it's the cable or a setting. Use a USB-C cable that actually carries data — a lot of cheap cables are charge-only and will power the device while staying invisible to your computer. Then check the Sidekick's USB mode in its settings so it's exposed as a class-compliant audio/MIDI interface rather than just charging. On an iPhone, connect over USB-C (older phones need a powered camera-style adapter); once it's recognised it appears as a standard audio input in your DAW or recording app.

The Sidekick is an add-on that gives the EP line a proper audio interface, extra inputs/outputs, and mixer-style routing plus effects, so it shines if you want to record stems into a DAW, bring in external instruments, or perform with more I/O. If you've only just got a K.O. II and are still learning the basics, it isn't essential and you may not use its strengths yet. It's relatively inexpensive and widely stocked (and returnable), so a common approach is to grow into the K.O. II first and add the Sidekick once you hit its limits.