How to Make Techno Top Kicks

First I take down the randomize knob, so the phase is always at the same point and the kick doesn't change sound. Envelope two goes to around 400 milliseconds, envelope three gets the same shape at around 100 milliseconds. Both go on the coarse pitch, so these two control the pitch of the whole kick. The first one needs to be longer, the second one more snappy.

Then I add a noise oscillator with the attack of a kick, on one shot. You can take any kick you like. I want one that's snappy and doesn't add a lot of character. It's just there to give a nice snap, because you need that tick in the beginning.

This is where you really make and break the kick. The first thing I add is an inflator. If you don't have one, an inflator is basically a half sine in the waveshaper. Then a soft clipper just in front of it, and an EQ where I control the sub, because that really makes a difference once we add clipping. Low pass to muffle the highs. That EQ goes in front of everything.

Then another soft clipper and Misstortion 2, which is free from Nimble Tools. Open the hard clipper, don't touch any other knob and don't make it clip too much. Then an EQ after it. Boost the sub, the mids a little bit and the highs where needed. The mids give a bit of character, the highs give it some air. Don't overdo it.