Punching in?

[JerryD]

I have an idea of what "Punching in" is and I think I need it.

When I was at a pro studio I would mess up the vocals and they would just say I'm punching that in after you sing it correctly.

Now I'm wondering how to do that with a DAW? I'm mean I can't sing an entire song all the way through exactly the way that I want it.

Here's what I have been doing (OK I"m new to this)

I have to be able to sing the entire song all the way through.
Let's say I get to the end of the song and can't remember the words. I have to restart the song completly.

There has got to be a better way. I think the better way is punching in but I'm not sure how all that works on a DAW?

Any suggestions

 

[Emeric]

What software are you using? They all work similiar.

A few ways you can do this:

1. Using a typical punch in. You recorded the vocal on one track, but screwed up the first line of the second verse. Using location markers, you set a start point, which is when your software will become active and record, and an end point when the software will go out of record mode. The start and end points may not need be exact - it all depends how 'tight' of a punch-in is required. Like, if your singing something half a second before the track is to be punched in, or if something occurs after the punch in, how fast you have to punch out etc.

Most software allow you to do 'pre-roll' and 'post-roll'. Generally you need some lead time when doing a punch in, an amount of time where you can comfortably punch the track in, without it 'sounding' like a punch in. This is set in seconds, or bars depending on your software. So, if you set a pre-roll of 10 seconds, and post-roll of 10 seconds, when you hit record you will hear 10 seconds before your punch-in (including what is on the track that your recording over) it will go into record-mode after 10 seconds, go out of record mode whereever you set the end point, and play for 10 seconds beyond the end point.

2. Use more than one track. Sing the song 4 or 5 times, and then sift through all the takes and assemble one good one by editing.


Let us know what your software is, I'm sure someone can give you exact instructions.

 

[JerryD]

Thanks

Cool edit pro is the package

Thanks.