MPC standalone guide:
Sequences into an arrangement.

A sequence holds the events for one section and has its own length and tempo. The sequence arrangement is the linear timeline you edit in Arrange Mode. A Song is a playlist of up to 999 steps, and a project can hold up to 32 songs. Each step points at a sequence, repeats it, and shows that sequence's tempo and bar length. Inserting a Song step does not insert bars on the Arrange timeline. Doubling arrangement length does not add a Song step. Main Mode mixdown exports the current sequence. Song Mode mixdown exports the whole song.

1. Use Song Mode when finished sections already exist as separate sequences and you want them in order with repeats.
2. Use Arrange Mode when one sequence should become a single timeline edited with bar tools or the v3.9 Loop Brace.
3. Press Stop before opening Song Mode. The mode will not open while a sequence is playing.
4. Save the project before you convert a song or change length.
5. Save the editable project. Use Song Export for a playlist stereo mix, or select the intended sequence for its mixdown. For Song stems, first convert to an unused sequence and select that destination.

Arrange length edits and Song playlist edits are different structures. Finishing one does not build the other.

Tracks, their instruments and their static mixer settings belong to the project. Copying sequence events does not make an independent kit or mixer. Enable Track Mute State Per Sequence to retain different mute setups when changing sequences. Track Mute has separate Event and Audio choices; choose the one you intend to change. Event mute stops new MIDI events while allowing currently sounding events to ring out. This is distinct from audio mute and from recorded automation.

1. Press Menu and tap Save, then Project As. Choose a storage location and folder, enter a distinct File Name, and tap Save. Wait for the save to finish before editing.
2. Make the variation with sequence events or per-sequence mutes. Leave the shared program in place when other sequences must keep it.
3. Press Menu and tap Track Mute. Tap the gear icon and check Track Mute State Per Sequence.
4. On the Track Mute tab, select the pad bank and Event or Audio mute. Press the track pad to mute or unmute it; muted pads are orange and unmuted pads yellow when track colors are not enabled.
5. Use the Sequence field to select another sequence and confirm its mutes. When correct, press Menu > Save > Project to save the working copy.

Copying a sequence does not isolate its instrument or static mixer settings. Recorded automation is a separate mechanism.

Project keeps the editable MPC project. On a previously saved project, Project immediately overwrites the last saved file. Project As lets you choose a different name and location; use a distinct filename to retain the original. An unsaved project opens the save window with either choice. Standalone projects from 3.4 to 3.9 are not compatible with MPC 2.15 desktop.

1. Press the Save button, or press Menu and tap Save.
2. Tap Project As when this file must stay intact. Tap Project only when you mean to replace the last saved version.
3. Choose Internal, MPC Documents, or a connected USB or SD device in the Storage column. Double-tap a folder to enter it.
4. Tap New Folder, name it, and tap Do It if you want a new folder. Tap the File Name field and name the project.
5. Tap Save. Wait until the save completes, then confirm the file name on screen before you delete, convert, or double anything.

Project overwrites the saved file. Use a new name with Project As and let the save finish; firmware 3.9 documents a possible failure when cancelling Save.

Copy Sequence copies events from a source sequence over a destination sequence. Choose an unused destination to preserve existing work. It does not create an independent track list, instrument or mixer. Use Main Mode Sequence Edit for this command; the Arrange toolbar edits the current linear arrangement.

1. Press Menu and tap Save, then Project As. Choose a storage location and folder, enter a distinct File Name, and tap Save. Wait for the save to finish before editing.
2. Press Main. In the Sequence section, tap its pencil icon to open Sequence Edit, then tap Copy Sequence. Confirm Copy Contents of Sequence and Over Contents of Sequence are visible.
3. Set Copy Contents of Sequence to the section you want to keep as the source.
4. Set Over Contents of Sequence to an unused sequence, or to one whose contents you can lose.
5. Tap Do It. Tap Cancel if the destination is wrong.
6. Select the destination from a Sequence field, play it, and press Stop. Confirm the source still plays correctly. When the copy is correct, press Menu > Save > Project to save the working copy.

Do It writes over the destination sequence. The shared program and mixer are still the same project track state.

Main Mode Sequence Edit offers Insert Bars, Delete Bars, Double Length and Half Length. Insert Bars adds empty bars before the selected bar. Delete Bars removes the inclusive First Bar to Last Bar range. Double Length immediately doubles the sequence and copies events into its second half. Half Length immediately halves its length without deleting note events. These sequence popups have a Sequence field; Arrange Edit is a separate entry point.

1. Save a working copy. Press Main, tap the pencil in the Sequence section to open Sequence Edit, then choose the intended bar command.
2. For empty bars, choose Insert Bars, set the sequence, set # of Bars, set Before Bar, and tap Do It.
3. For removal, choose Delete Bars, set the sequence, set First Bar and Last Bar, and tap Do It only when that range is the part you can lose.
4. Use Double Length only when the second half should receive a copy of the existing events. It happens immediately.
5. Use Half Length only when a shorter sequence is acceptable. It happens immediately and keeps the note events.
6. Press Play across the edited bars, press Stop, and save when the result is correct.

Double Length is a duplicated half, not a gap. Insert Bars is the empty-bar command. Grid View documents Undo for the last grid action; these pages do not promise Undo after an immediate length change.

Copy Bars places an inclusive source bar range after After Bar in another sequence. Copy Events selects source and destination tracks, source time range, destination time and a copy count. Pads or Notes defaults to All; MIDI tracks also offer Copy All Events or Copy Only Selected Events. Merge adds events without erasing the destination. Replace overwrites destination material.

1. Save a working copy. Press Main, tap the pencil in the Sequence section to open Sequence Edit, then choose Copy Bars or Copy Events. Confirm From Sequence and To Sequence.
2. Set the source sequence. For bars, set First Bar and Last Bar. For events, set From Track, the pad or note choice, and the start and end time.
3. Set To Sequence. For bars, set After Bar. For events, set To Track and the destination bar, beat, and tick.
4. Set Copies to the number of times you want the material placed.
5. Tap Merge to keep what is already in the destination. Tap Replace only when that destination material should be overwritten.
6. Play the destination from the insert point, then Stop. Confirm the source still exists, and save the project when correct.

Replace overwrites destination events. After Bar inserts the copy after that bar, and the event destination starts after the time you enter.

Song Mode orders sequences into a playlist. Stop playback before entering it. Open Menu > Song Mode (the tour labels it Song). The Song field selects one of up to 32 songs, each with up to 999 steps. Used sequences have pads; empty pads indicate unused sequences. Pad Bank reaches other banks. The playlist is separate from the Arrange timeline.

1. Press Stop and confirm playback has stopped.
2. Press Menu and tap Song Mode. If the menu says Song, tap that.
3. Use the Song field to select the song you want to edit.
4. Read the playlist and the pads. Use Pad Bank if the sequence you need is not in this bank.
5. Stay in this mode to edit steps. Press Menu and tap Arrange when you meant to edit the linear timeline instead.

A playing sequence blocks entry. Opening Song Mode does not convert the current Arrange timeline into playlist steps.

A Song step selects a sequence and repeat count. Insert places a new step after the selected step. Repeat 1 plays once; Hold repeats until Stop, and numeric repeats can reach 999. Delete removes the selected step; Clear removes the entire playlist. Rec or Overdub plus pad taps enters sequences as steps without playing them; repeated taps increase the repeat count.

1. If the playlist is empty, press Rec or Overdub, tap the pad for the first sequence, then press Stop. The sequence will not play while you do this.
2. Tap the step that the new step should follow, then tap Insert.
3. Tap that step's sequence name and turn the data dial, or use the -/+ buttons, to choose the sequence.
4. Tap the Repeat field beside the name and turn the data dial. Use 1 for a single pass.
5. To remove one step, tap it and tap Delete. Tap Clear only when every step should go.
6. Press Play, listen through the order, press Stop and save the project when correct.

Clear deletes the entire playlist. Extra pad taps while Rec or Overdub is armed add repeats instead of letting you audition.

Seq uses each sequence tempo; Gbl ignores those tempos and uses one global BPM. The playlist BPM column displays each sequence tempo. Select Gbl before setting BPM for a steady song. Hold is a Repeat setting that continues until Stop, not a tempo setting.

1. In Song Mode, look at Seq/Gbl on the top row.
2. For one tempo, tap the button until it shows Gbl, then set BPM. Sequence tempos are ignored in this state.
3. For section tempo changes, tap the button until it shows Seq and leave each sequence at its own tempo.
4. Set Repeat to Hold only for a section that should continue until Stop.
5. Press Play and listen across a step boundary, then press Stop.
6. If the boundary changed tempo and the song should stay steady, switch to Gbl and play that boundary again.

Leaving the project on sequence tempo lets each step use its own BPM. Gbl is the control that makes one tempo win.

Song Mode Convert > Seq writes the current Song playlist into To Sequence. Choose an unused destination to preserve existing work. Track Status offers Ignore Muted Tracks or Include Muted Tracks; do not assume inclusion unmutes a track. On 3.9 a sequence has one time signature: Song conversion translates changing meters into bar/beat/pulse positions, rather than preserving multiple signatures. Inspect and audition the destination before saving.

1. Press Menu and tap Save, then Project As. Choose a storage location and folder, enter a distinct File Name, and tap Save. Wait for the save to finish before editing.
2. In Song Mode, tap Convert > Seq.
3. Set To Sequence to an unused sequence. Do not choose a sequence whose events you still need.
4. Set Track Status to Ignore Muted Tracks or Include Muted Tracks, matching whether muted parts belong in the result.
5. Tap Do It. Tap Close if the destination or mute choice is wrong.
6. Press Main and choose the destination in the Sequence field. Open Menu > Arrange to inspect its timeline. Press Play, then Stop; verify length and intended muted parts. When correct, press Menu > Save > Project to save the working copy created before conversion.

Ignore Muted Tracks can drop a part you only meant to mute temporarily. Shared mutes apply if Track Mute State Per Sequence is off. A 3.9 song with changing time signatures will not keep those signatures as separate meters in the new sequence.

Arrange Mode is the linear timeline. Open it with Menu, then Arrange. Arrange, Grid, and List are tabs at the top left. The pencil opens Arrange Edit in the v3.4 Arrange chapter. Tracks are the project tracks; tap a header to select one, and pinch the zoom until record-arm, mute, solo, and automation states fit. The loop region stays visible when Loop is off. On 3.9, Loop on/off is on the toolbar, and the BPM field is removed from that toolbar. Change tempo from the pull-down: drag down from the top center, tap BPM, and set it in the Tempo window. The Bars field still sets arrangement length. Desktop Arrange is a separate beta and is outside this pack.

1. Press Menu and tap Arrange.
2. Tap the track header you want. Pinch to zoom if mute, solo, or record-arm is not visible.
3. On 3.9, use the toolbar Loop control when you want the transport to cycle. Leave it off while positioning the brace for an edit you want to hear once.
4. Change tempo from the pull-down BPM control. Do not look for a BPM field on the 3.9 Arrange toolbar.
5. Change the Bars field only when you intend to set the arrangement length.
6. Press Play. It starts at 1:1:00, or at the Loop Start when Loop is on. Hold Shift and press Play to start at the playhead. Press Stop when the check is done.

The v3.4 Arrange BPM field is not the 3.9 control. A missing BPM box on the Arrange toolbar is the documented 3.9 layout.

Arrange Edit offers Insert Bars before the chosen bar, Delete Bars over an inclusive range, and immediate Half Length, Double Length and Trim. The manual tour says Double Length duplicates recorded events into the new half; it is not an empty-gap command. Trim crops to the Bars value already shown. On 3.9 open the Toolbar Edit menu or double-tap the Loop Brace, then More Options for the legacy popups.

1. Save, then press Menu and tap Arrange.
2. On 3.9, open the Toolbar Edit menu or double-tap the Loop Brace, then tap More Options to reach the legacy Arrange Edit popups.
3. Choose Insert Bars, set # of bars and Before Bar, then tap Do It.
4. Choose Delete Bars only for a range you can lose. Set First Bar and Last Bar, then tap Do It. Cancel, the X, or a tap outside the window aborts that popup.
5. Run Double Length when you want a repeated second half, or Half Length when a shorter timeline is intended. Both act immediately.
6. Use Trim only after the Bars field already shows the length you want to keep. Press Play over the edit, then Stop.

Trim, Half Length, and Double Length do not wait for a bar-range confirmation. Set Bars before Trim, or the crop uses the length already on screen.

Arrangement Copy Bars uses First Bar, Last Bar, After Bar, and Copies. It has no separate source sequence. Replace overwrites the arrangement at the destination. Merge adds events and erases nothing. Copy Events chooses a source track, all events or selected events, a time range, a destination track, a destination time, and a copy count, then Replace or Merge. The same choice appears from a MIDI or audio track header's Copy Events command. Cancel returns to Arrange without applying the popup.

1. Save a working copy and open Menu > Arrange. On 3.9 open the Toolbar Edit menu or double-tap the Loop Brace, then More Options for the legacy Arrange Edit popups.
2. For a bar range, choose Copy Bars and set First Bar, Last Bar, After Bar, and Copies.
3. For track material, choose Copy Events. Set From Track, copy all events or only selected events, and set the source time range.
4. Set To Track and the destination time. Set Copies.
5. Tap Merge to keep existing destination events, or Replace to overwrite them.
6. Play from the destination, press Stop, check the source and destination material, then save when correct.

Replace overwrites at the destination. After Bar and the event destination time decide where the copy starts, so a wrong bar still completes if you tap Replace.

The standalone 3.9 bottom bar adds Cut, Copy, Paste and Duplicate using the Loop Brace selection. Copy retains the selected contents; Paste inserts them at the playhead, including when a clip is selected. Duplicate places the copy immediately after the selection and moves the brace to it. The release-note example is bars 1–3 copied to 3–5. Cut removes and copies the contents; no ripple-delete behavior is claimed. These new 3.9 tools are not covered for 3.4 or desktop.

1. Save if this project file is the only copy, then press Menu and tap Arrange.
2. Drag the Loop Brace around the section. Drag the middle to move the whole brace. Leave Loop off if you do not want playback to cycle.
3. Tap Copy on the bottom bar.
4. Move the playhead with the Playhead Position field and the data dial or -/+ buttons, or tap the lower half of the timeline.
5. Tap Paste. The insert point is the playhead, including when a clip is selected.
6. Hold Shift and press Play to audition from the playhead, then Stop. Duplicate instead places a following copy and moves the brace onto it. Save after checking the result.

Duplicate follows the release-note boundary: bars 1 to 3 produce a copy at bars 3 to 5, and the brace moves with it. Paste uses the playhead, not the selected clip.

On standalone 3.9, double-tap the Loop Brace or open the Toolbar Edit menu. More Options exposes the legacy popups, including Insert Bars with explicit # of bars and Before Bar fields. The new menu also lists Clear, Delete, Insert Blank Bars and Insert Clip Row, but the release notes do not specify a complete confirmation procedure for every new command. Use the documented legacy popup when you need an explicit bar range. These new menu controls are not instructions for 3.4.

1. Save a working copy, then open Menu > Arrange on standalone 3.9.
2. Double-tap the Loop Brace or open the Toolbar Edit menu.
3. Tap More Options, then Insert Bars.
4. Set # of bars and Before Bar. Tap Do It only when these fields match the intended insertion. Cancel if they do not.
5. Play across the changed bars, Stop, and save when the result is correct.

Do not infer the range of Clear or Delete from their names. The legacy Insert Bars popup provides explicit fields and a confirmation.

Project or Project As preserves editable MPC work. Audio Mixdown renders a separate listening file over a chosen bar range; it does not replace project save. Keep the saved project when you need to revise notes, instruments or the Song playlist. A WAV or MP3 is rendered audio, not an editable MPC project.

1. Finish the structural edits you need, then press Save or open Menu and tap Save.
2. Tap Project As, choose a storage location and folder, enter a distinct File Name and tap Save. Wait for completion before rendering audio.
3. Open Audio Mixdown only after that project file exists: from Save, from Song Mode Export, or from the Main Mode Project field and Export.
4. Set the audio options and tap Export. Name the audio file and tap Save.
5. Confirm two results: the project file is still in its folder, and the new audio file is a separate file.
6. Stop there. Keep the project after the mixdown exists.

A finished mp3 or WAV is not a project. Overwriting the project with Project, or deleting it after export, removes the editable version.

Song Mode Export renders the playlist; Main Mode Project > Export renders the current sequence. Menu > Save > Audio Mixdown also opens arrangement mixdown settings. Start Bar and End Bar set the range; Audio Tail adds seconds for sound after it. Choose enough tail for the actual decay:2 seconds is a starting point, not a guaranteed full tail. WAV/AIFF offer PCM bit-depth choices; pick rate/depth for the destination. The manual commonly recommends 44.1 kHz. Firmware3.9 documents rare blank WAV renders.

1. Save the editable project. Use Song Mode Export for the playlist, or select the intended sequence in Main before Project > Export or Menu > Save > Audio Mixdown.
2. Set the start to the first bar you want, usually 1.
3. Set the end to the last bar that should be heard. Later bars are left out.
4. Set Audio Tail long enough for the audible effects or sample decay; start with at least 2 seconds and verify the exported ending.
5. For a stereo mix, select Stereo Output and the intended output pair. Enable Main Inserts if those effects belong in the mix. Choose format, sample rate and bit depth for the destination.
6. Tap Export, choose a folder, enter File Name and Save. Wait, then audition through the ending. If blank, check source playback/settings and render again.

Audition the rendered beginning and ending. For a blank WAV, check source playback/settings and render again;3.9 documents rare blank WAV renders.

On MPC 3, Separate Tracks is unavailable in Song Mode. Changing to the Save window while still using Song Mode is not a workaround. For a Song playlist, first use Convert > Seq with an unused destination, then select that destination sequence in Main. Menu > Save > Audio Mixdown offers Separate Tracks for sequence/arrangement stems. Pad and keygroup outputs must route to Track to be included. Export Returns adds return-channel files. This is track rendering, not sample stem separation.

1. Press Menu and tap Save, then Project As. Choose a storage location and folder, enter a distinct File Name, and tap Save. Wait for the save to finish before editing.
2. If the source is a Song playlist, open Song Mode while stopped, tap Convert > Seq, choose an unused To Sequence and the intended Track Status, then Do It.
3. Press Main and select the converted destination sequence in the Sequence field, or select the existing sequence whose arrangement you want. Audition it and press Stop.
4. Press Menu > Save > Audio Mixdown. Check Separate Tracks.
5. Confirm included pads/keygroups route to Track; use Menu > Pad Mixer > I/O to inspect their output. Enable Export Returns if you need return-channel files.
6. Set Start Bar, End Bar, Audio Tail, format, rate and depth. Export, choose a folder/name and Save. Wait and audition every expected track file.

Song Mode cannot export Separate Tracks on MPC 3. Preserve the source Song and choose an unused conversion destination; do not overwrite a needed sequence.