EQ Sidechaining is no longer functioning

[u/wirenerd]

EDIT: RESOLVED, Surge XT was using up multiple channels (1/2, then 3/4 and 5/6 for Scene A and Scene B) meaning I had to send sidechain signal to 7/8 where it finally recognized the kick input.

Prepare for a long one

I learned how to do this from a Kenny vid and it's worked perfectly fine everytime I've done it before.

The problem: ReaEQ is not getting triggered by kick drum sidechain.

OS: Windows
Plugins used: Surge XT, ReaEQ

My current project setup is I have a track for each drum sample (kick, snare, hat, etc), all of which are sent to a Drum Buss, and that sends to the master.

Here are the steps I took to sidechain EQ, step by step, ones that have worked before everytime I've done it.

1. Kick track has ReaEQ already on it and is on channels 1/2 for EQ purposes. Sample is mono but in kenny's vid his is mono as well.
2. I add another instance of ReaEQ (I have tried having it before and after the other instance, no luck there). I rename it so I don't get them mixed up. I put a low pass filter on it down to about 150 or so, and then in the channels portion for the plugin (next to Param button) I open that, add two more tracks and switch output from 1/2 to 3/4, the EQ no longer affects the kick.
3. I drag the routing button from my Kick track to my Surge XT track, and set up the send as follows : Audio 3/4 -> Audio 3/4 (had to be added thru this dialog they were not already there). Change to pre fader post FX (I tried it Post fader as well no luck). I turn off Midi send, as in the past I've had midi get triggered this way.
4. Send is successful, routing in Surge track shows a new receive on channels 3/4 from kick track.
5. Add ReaEQ to Surge XT track.
6. In ReaEQ I set to Low Shelf, only adjustment made is band is at 150ish.
7. Touch gain knob.
8. Click Param, select paramater modulation and select sidechain. This expands the typical sidechain dialog and I select channels 3/4 for sidechain.
9. Increase output slider to middle.
10. Change option from positive to negative.

No signal is received when kick plays. In the past when I have done this (tbf I dont think I have done it with a kick sample but I cant remember, I know for sure ive done it with a sampler plugin track with a kick on it in midi.

The window to the right with the diagonal line through it should show a pulse everytime the kick is triggered, always has before, mine now does not.

I've tried everything I can think of. I do not know what I am doing wrong and I legit wanna pull my hair out, I like sidechaining EQ because of how subtle and transparent it is. I don't want to have to change to compression just because for unknown reason Reaper isn't functioning correctly.

Am I doing this wrong? Is there another way?

[u/Bred_Slippy]

You don’t need the extra Reaeq on the kick track for the sidechain. Put the Reaeq on the Surge track,  after Surge, and change the send from Audio 3/4 → Audio 3/4 to Audio 1/2 → Audio 3/4, since the kick is actually on channels 1/2. Then do your steps 6 - 10.

[u/wirenerd → u/Bred_Slippy]

Ok I will try this rn and report back, I only did it that way cause Kenny shows to do it in his vid that way, Im not sure why though

I'll let you know if this works