Double-click the desktop icon for your favored digital audio workstation, for example Logic, Cubase or Mixcraft.
Open a new session. The method for doing this varies a little between programs, but you typically click “File” then “New.”
Create two MIDI channels. MIDI is a universal interface that permits you to control and record synthesized and sampled sounds. It is distinct from audio because it is comprised of data commands, rather than actual sounds.
Name the MIDI channels “Kick 1” and “Kick 2.”
Click “Kick 1” to highlight it. This assigns subsequent commands to that channel specifically.
Open the “Instruments” menu by clicking it. Select a deep, intense bass drum sound. Audition bass drum sounds by scrolling through the list and clicking on the piano keys on the sequencer interface.
Click “Kick 2” to highlight it.
Open the “Instruments” menu again and select an instrument to create the “tick” part of the kick sound, for example “Wood block.”
Open a step-sequencer. A step-sequencer is a MIDI programming interface that enables you to compose music using a grid interface. Typical digital audio workstations have a native step-sequencer in the “Instruments” menu. For example, if using Logic, click “Instruments" and select “Ultrabeat.”
Set the tempo to 140. This is the typical tempo for hardstyle beats. The standard default for a digital audio workstation is 120 beats per minute. Locate the box that says “Tempo” and change 120 to 140.
Sequence a bass drum pattern. Click in the grid squares on the “Kick Drum” row on the step sequencer. The vertical axis represents instruments and the horizontal axis represents time, measured in beats and bars. Hit “Play” to listen back to the pattern. To remove a note, click on the illuminated grid square.
Click “Pattern” and drag it to both MIDI channels. This inserts the drum pattern into both the deep kick and click kick channel, so the beat is assigned to both sounds. This forms the basis of the hardstyle drum groove.
Open a third MIDI channel and name it “Snare.” Assign a suitable snare sound to this channel and compose the snare part of the beat using the sequencer. Typically the snare stroke falls equidistantly between kick drums.
Add further percussive elements to your preference using the instrument sounds in your workstation and the step-sequencer.