I think the main advantage of clips is that they can be synced / quantised to the tempo at varying levels, as well as assigned to mute groups. So you can safely launch a clip in advance of a bar, or know that it’ll kick in on the next downbeat, or whatever. So in that respect they’re probably more useful in a performance context than a programming one. If you’re constructing everything by hand in patterns and sequences, they may not offer much over loops assigned to kit pads, though I suppose they could help simplify things depending on the setup.
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Thanks for the explanation!
I recorded a bunch of 16 bar loops the other day from a drum machine, simple stuff, kick, snare, hats etc. Do you know if a Clip Program could bring some benefit to arranging those?
I would simply like to mute/unmute the loops per sequence, instead of having to mess with the midi notes. AFAIC that’s not possible with a Drum programs, since Pad Mutes are stored per Program instead of per Sequence…
It definitely could… being able to mix and match mute/choke groups, fx per pad/clip, ability to edit the loop lengths on the fly within the Clip Prog… then being able to record the results as audio files, etc… worth experimenting for sure.
Yeah, the only thing I can’t recall right now is whether muting is straightforward. With 16 bar samples you’re presumably not looking so much at using mute groups, but rather mixing simultaneous / layered loops. I’ve been led astray by the Force, so I’d need to go back to an MPC clip program to refresh my memory on how much scope these is for all that.
Just had a quick fiddle and you can indeed go into pad mute mode to have mute control over the clips (with optional TC settings). I powered off before thinking to check, but I assume pad mix mode would work the same. So it could work very nicely with a collection of long loops, as a kind of easy stem mixer.
Thanks a bunch @CCMP and @NickD! It definitely sounds interesting, need to make some time for a Clip Program experimentation session soon! 
Be aware that warping sounds bad for anything more than 2/3 bpm.
I’m going unquantised mode but that means your time based effects won’t be synced unless you tap tempo to sync…
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I bought one of the red ones. At the moment I have no sampler and even though I’ve had multiple MPCs over the years 699 is a great deal for all you can do with it. I’m going to use it as a sampler and sound source for my pyramid. Good price for sure. Red color that is still up in the air!
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A great pairing! The Pyramid covers all the exotic sequencing ground that the button-down MPC refuses to get tangled up in, and you can happily CC map your days away.
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You can always get a skin if it’s not easy on the eyes! Good luck with it!
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My plan was to get the X & the Pyramid to be a clip sequencer for it. I got the Pyramid, but then went with the Force after it the MIDI hub update. Still the Pyramid has features that a unhacked OS Force don’t have like tempo changes & Euclidean seq. Either way, Akai & the Pyramid were made for each other.
What do you like about the Pyramid?
I love the midi effects. Had a pyramid forever and the effects to really liven up patterns is so good.
Yeah, those 5 MIDI FX’s for each track are great. I really like that all 64 tracks can have 32 clips & all the cool things that could be done with them, like when trying cool presets that work with a melody. You can use the clips to save each preset, then you can sort thru a bunch of patch ideas, ease what you don’t want & reorganized, layer, edit…etc, the rest.
there is a new update
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has anyone with Jura taken a stab at programming the Mr Fingers bass patch? i’ve always found the MPC plugins (except the Mini D) to be on the thin side of bass sounds. but maybe Jura can pull off a credible copy?
That would be interesting to know
With the EQ bass boost in its FX section you can prob get pretty close. I think that bass sounded good, but as soon as I compared to my Prologue that has a Juno style user osc and Chorus Fx, if fell short. But tbh the Prologue prob sounded better than my original Juno 106 I used to open with this config, so it’s an unfair comparison.
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Be honest can you hear the difference?
& is it that much to make a difference?
3k Vintage-mode is on point. Hopefully this will stop all the hate the new MPC for its “poor sound”. I hope he does the MPC-60 & the SP-1200.
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There is no hate for the sound on Elektronauts, AFAIK… it seems to be just social media/YouTube pointless fodder… I like to think folks here are a bit more informed. 
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Yes, people here seem more sensible, but my statement for directed more for that crowd. I love the sound of the new stuff & I hope Akai don’t pay these “vintage sonic fanatics” any attention.