How do punch ins work?

[Gtr698]

ok i almost have all the production setup down, but one thing.

When my band recorded our drummer to a double bass punch in while he was listenin to the track because he didnt like the double bass in the track already.

I understand you are just rerecording a little "snipet" of the track but how does it work? is it part of the recording program?

i was wanting multiple inputs into my DAW PC so then i could view all the drum mics as different tracks before i mixed them down, but i was told that a "cheap" soundcard wouldnt let me do that. So would i be able to edit out the double kick in that "snipet" of the 1 and only drum track and replace that piece with the players opinion of a higher quality double kick part? is it like anything under 150Hz gets cut in the "selected" section?

PLEASE HELP!!!!!! just wondering is driving me mad!

 

[TexRoadkill]

A punch in just of fancy term for rerecording a part on the fly. That means while the song is playing you simply hit the Track Arm or Record button (depends on your gear) and punch in the new part.

If you recorded all the drums to one track then you will have to punch in the entire drum kit again to fix those mistakes. You can only rerecord a specific part if you have it on it's own track. One workaround may be to find a section of the song where he played it correctly and copy and paste that over the bad part. Just be sure it lines up correctly. That is a big reason to use click tracks while recording. It makes it easier to edit later on.

 

[nave]

a lot of software apps will provide you with the option of precisely setting the exact time that the re-recording starts. Set it up so it starts just before the mistake and ends just after the mistake is over. Usually that snippet is only a window as small as a couple of seconds...The good thing about the punch in is that you can play along to the entire tune...though it may not be recording..at least up to the part of the mistake....that way when it does start re-recording over the mistake you are already in full groove.


But tex is right....I like to cut and paste...but then again I always was good at arts and crafts.. However, there are occasional times when the cut and paste annoys the hell out of me for various reasons...one of which tex mentioned about lining up...I'd try the cut and paste first..if that don't work...then use punch in.

 

[Jeeper]

Destructive vs Non Destructive

You need to know the difference in destructive and non-destructive punch. With destructive you totally loose the first take of punch region. With non destructive you can revert back to old region. Destructive just records over the first take, non-destructive records new material in parallel so old may be recovered. Check your software documentation for which it is before doing it.

Workaround for destructive punch is to copy entire drum tracks to another track and mute it as a backup that does not playback. This will keep a safe copy if the drummer makes bigger mistakes and stuff goes downhill. It will also save your rear from a mad drummer when this happens.

If you used multi mike setup on drums you probably will have to punch entire kit to prevent the kicks bad take from being heard in the other mikes. (If I read your post correctly that's what you will be forced to do.) On a full band take all in one room the offending kick may even be heard in other mics as well. If that's the case the drummer may not be the only punch you have to do. You may, depending on duration and placement of kick in time, be able to just cut out the offending beat and either punch back in or paste in a good kick beat from somewhere else on track. Still I'd copy track just in case things do not go right.

This is only a small curve on the recording learning road. You'll probably go through some other sharper curves later.

Your current question is a simple answered one. Just don't ask about what mic to use on that kick then you'll get some opinionated answers. That's where you will have to learn to listen others ways and then use that as a basis to work out your own sound. Wouldn't recording be dull if we all worked just alike as though we were preprogramed robots run on one MIDI file.

BTW do not invest in a new soudcard until you study the options available. Also take a hard look at the compatability of the prospective card and your software.

Hope this helps and Good Luck.