layering

simple idea but there must be lots of different methods to doing it, what is the easiest???? i'm talking about layering sounds like claps and rim shots or whatever.

Easiest way is to just hit the pads and layer that way. Quick and easy.
Or
You can use the SIMULT function and hook 2 other pads to 1 main pad and all 3 of them bang when you hit the main pad.

ok cool, i know how to do that but i didn't know if using a sound editing program would be easier. or if there were some other methods out there. i guess i just need to experiment with different combos where in i hope to find my steez. thanks for hittin me back. any cool sites you know of besides this one that are helpful not only with the mpc but production ideas in general. not that i want to know how to make a primo beat or a pete rock one, i mean real general like how to make good kicks, or rolling claps. there is a style of hand clap being used out there a lot right now. it sounds like it might be the same clap or very simlar ones, but two or three on top of each other but not quite. sounds kinda like a rolling clap. not that i think it's a good beat but in 50 cents "in da club" has a perfect example. dj hi-tek also uses this a lot like in "the blast" and i'm wondering if it's an effect or are they just layering multiple claps. thanks

It's just a timing off-set, I use this alot with my snares and claps. I prefer to use a low clap and a higher picthed clap or a simple snare/clap combo.
Just record the sequence like you normaly would and then go into the timing screen and shift one sample 1 or two ticks later(or earlier). Try different timing, shift one forward a tick and the other back a tick and experiment with which sounds better in front and back. If you want a real chunky sound use three different samples or the same sample pitched shifted up and down and put one in the middle, one in front and one in back.

so hwta do you mean by ticks, i think i know what your talking about. then how do i make the sounds hit right then?