In this FL Studio-only tutorial, you’ll learn how to create the tok or punch of a hardstyle kick. This element is crucial for achieving that tight, aggressive character in modern hardstyle production. No third-party plugins are needed, which keeps things clean and budget-friendly.
Start with a hardstyle kick tail
Before building a hardstyle tok, you need a proper hardstyle kick tail. If you haven’t made one yet, check out my other hardstyle kick tutorials that cover tail creation.
Or save time and download Raw Kick Power Project: a professional kick tail FLP. Explore and shape all effects or use any part instantly in your mix.
Once you have your tail, extract these three essential parts from it:
- Tok: the main body of the punch (about 100 ms)
- Tick: a sharp high-frequency attack layer (about 10 to 20 ms)
- 909 kick: the low-end foundation from the undistorted tail (about 200 ms)
These will be used to shape your hardstyle punch.
How to make a hardstyle tok
Import the three samples into a new FL Studio project and arrange them in this order on the Playlist: tick → tok → 909. This reflects the natural time flow of a punch.
Add volume automation clips
Place a volume automation clip under each sample. This lets you control how long each element plays and where it fades in or out.
- The tick gives the punch a clean and bright attack.
- The tok adds mid-frequency power and punch.
- The 909 delivers low-end weight and power (“oomph”).
Separating the samples slightly on the Playlist helps each layer breathe and improves clarity.
Assign each kick layer to its own mixer track
Route each of the three elements (tick, tok, 909) to a different mixer track. This gives you full control over EQ and effects for each layer.
Equalizing the hardstyle tick
Use an equalizer to remove low frequencies and boost highs. This makes the tick more present and helps it cut through the mix.
Equalizing the hardstyle tok
The tok often works well as-is. Still, you can try cutting some low frequencies if it overlaps too much with the 909.
Equalizing the hardstyle 909 kick
For the 909, try reducing some high-end content. You want it to deliver the sub and low mids without masking the tok.
Control punch volume and glue kick layers
Balance the volume in the mixer by making each layer as loud as it needs to be. Then route all three to a single group bus (mixer track). This lets you process the punch as a whole.
Recommended effects for the bus:
- EQ for tonal balance
- Distortion or waveshaper for grit and glue
- Limiter to catch any peaks and even out the dynamics
This step brings all the layers together into one tight, cohesive punch.
Tweaking the hardstyle tok
Use FL Studio’s Sampler controls to refine the shape and character of each sample. Mainly experiment with these options:
- MUL to stretch or shrink
- Monophonic time-stretch mode (E3 mono) to preserve pitch and tone
- Reverse polarity to flip phase and test alignment
- Pogo to change the character of the pitch-drop
Small adjustments in sample position, volume, and phase can have a huge impact on the overall feel of your hardstyle punch. So, go by ear, experiment, and find what you’re looking for: heavy/light tok? Snappy? Boomy? Just play until it works. Watch the video for an FL Studio-only demonstration, but feel free to use any third-party plugins.
Combine with the full hardstyle kick
Remember, the punch is just one part of the full hardstyle kick. Once it sounds good, bring in the tail and sub bass. Download fully optimized sub basses here. Place everything in the Playlist and shape them together using the same techniques.
A punch that sounds good alone might not work with your tail. Always finalize the punch in the full kick context.
Export your hardstyle tok or punch as a sample
Once you’re satisfied with your punch (or entire hardstyle kick), you can export it with Edison.
- Press the record button in Edison
- Play the kick in your playlist
- Press stop in Edison when the sample is recorded
- Trim any silence from the beginning or end
- Normalize the recording
- Export as a .WAV sample
You now have a clean, custom hardstyle kick sample ready to use in any project.
Choosing any samples for your hardstyle tok
Although this tutorial uses parts cut from a kick tail, feel free to use any samples that suit your project’s style and sound. Just make sure:
- The tick is tight and snappy
- The tok has mid-punch and presence
- The 909 delivers short and boomy low-end
If you need high-quality samples, click here to download my Free Hardstyle Sample Pack. It includes all the layers used in this post and much more. Or save time and access a fully-customizable professional kick tail by downloading Raw Kick Power Project.
Final thoughts on creating a hardstyle kick and punch
Creating a hardstyle punch kick is all about layering, shaping, and refining. This FL Studio-only workflow gives you full control over every detail without relying on expensive third-party plugins.
Experiment, adjust, and trust your ears. The best results come from testing different combinations until the punch feels right in the mix.
Make hardstyle music like a pro
If you want your mixes to truly stand out, check out my EDM Mixing Guide (self-affiliated). It covers all the methods I use to get clean, powerful results, especially in hardstyle.
No fancy gear needed. Just you + this guide = epic EDM. Join me inside.