Set up a microphone stand in a quiet part of the room, away from windows and creaky floorboards. Adjust the telescopic stem so that the collar is approximately at shoulder height.
Fit a microphone into the collar. Adjust the collar so that the microphone points horizontally.
Connect the female end of an XLR cable to the microphone. Connect the male end of the cable to the "XLR In" jack on your audio interface.
Connect the audio interface to your computer. The connection method varies depending on make and model, but this typically calls for either a USB cable or a Firewire cable. Connect the cable to the relevant port on your computer. The audio interface converts audio into digital data, which your music production can interpret.
Open your preferred music-production program. Double-click the desktop icon.
Click "File" and select "New Audio Track." Double-click where it says "Audio 1" and type "finger-snaps 1."
Audition the microphone. Snap your fingers approximately one inch in front of the microphone. If the red LED warning light on the audio interface comes on, turn down the "Gain" dial. If the green light fails to come on, turn the "Gain" dial up. Aim for the loudest possible sound level that doesn't trigger the warning light.
Press "Record" and snap your fingers into the microphone. Snap both hands, slightly out of time to create an untidy, multiple-impact effect. Hit "Stop."
Click "File" and select "New Audio Track." Rename the track "finger snaps 2." Record another take. Repeat this process six or seven times until you have a sufficient amount of finger snaps.
Press "Play"" to listen to the snaps. Click "Effects" and choose "Delay" from the drop-down menu. This is an echo effect. Adjust the "Time" parameter on the delay interface. Tweak it to a level where the claps seemingly "bounce" around, somewhere between 45 and 60 percent.
Click "Effects" and choose "Reverb" from the drop-down menu. Reverb increases the ambiance of the recorded sound. Turn the "Depth" dial up to around 80 percent for an intense and dark reverb. This will create the illusion of space and distance on the finger snap sounds, approximating the effect of a thunderstorm approaching from the distance.