sidechain compression question I'm experimenting with sidechaining for the first time.

setup:

malstrom pad&gt;m-class compressor&gt;mixer

nn-xt kick&gt;spider audio splitter&gt;mixer + compressor sidechain in

The pad is ducking like it should, but it seems like the more I compress it, the weaker sounding the kick get.  Is this b/c I'm splitting the signal, or is the ducking of my pad just distracting from the sound of the kick?