Hi All,

Newbie question: How do you use punch in recording? My understanding is that if I make a mistake, I can re-record over a section of a recording. So for example, I messed up a solo from bars 66 - 70, What values do I enter in the 8 Punch in boxes below to be able to do this?

From [1] : [-1] : [1] : [1]

Thru [1] : [-1] : [1] : [1]

This is what is displayed in the Record Audio window but obviously I need to enter more numbers that 66 - 70.

Of course, if I am completely misunderstanding the purpose of punch in recording, let me know. Maybe there's a better way?

Edit, was thinking of Realband, not BiaB

These boxes in BiaB have to do with Bar and Chorus number .. I've never understood it and never try to record audio in BiaB.
sorry
Someone should be along shortly to answer

The 4 numbers are Chorus | Bar | Beat | Tick. The first 3 are self-explanatory, and the last one is the exact position within a beat - generally best to set this to 1.

For bar 66 to 70, assuming you're recording on Chorus 1, enter 1:66:1:1 to 1:70:1:1.

There are two reasons why it can be difficult to get the number of ticks to match exactly where you want; one is tick resolution and the second is the amount of time from when the command is given to when it is carried out.

Go to Options > Preferences > MIDI File to open the MIDI File Options window. The bottom window entry is the Resolution for MIDI File selection box. The selection ranges from the default of 120 PPQ to a high of 1,920 PPQ. PPQ is the abbreviation for Parts Per Quarter Note. Ticks and PPQ is essentially the same thing.

You don't want to automatically select the highest setting though as high settings can cause the program to spit and sputter and your computer to slow down.

Generally speaking a setting of 480 PPQ is a good compromise.

As for the second reason, it takes time for the program to switch from playback mode to record mode or vice versa. There are too many moving variables for the time to be consistent. One way to minimize this variance is by choosing where to place your punch in and punch out points. The further apart they are the less variances there will be. It's easier to punch in and punch out a bar than it is a beat. It's easier to punch in and punch out a musical phrase with a natural pause than a bar. Punch in or out when there is no audio means there won't be any overlapping audio highlighting old and new audio.

Others have instructed you how to do it in BB & RB.

Personally, I think there's a better way to do that. It does involve a DAW such as what I use....Sonar.

I have imported my tracks from RB into the tracks in Sonar. I record my live stuff in other tracks in the project. When I make a mistake and need to fix something, I simply set the resolution to what I prefer which is often "Measure" but can be "Quarter" note or something else entirely. I use the cursor to highlight the part of the track with the mistake that needs fixing and drag through the mistake. I set the punch recording and activate the points which appear at the start and end of the highlighted area. I click in the track, in the highlighted area and delete what's there. I now have a hole in the track....

I now set the start point a few measures ahead of the punch in point and hit RECORD.... it gives me a count in and starts playing. As soon as it hits the PI point, it starts grabbing and printing my guitar or vocals and when it hits the PO point it stops. All in and out transitions occur at a zero crossing of the wave so there's no click or pop in that transition on either end.

Personally, I find this to be the most expedient way for me to work. Your Mileage and experience may vary


Edit: I've used this where the punch point was in the middle of a held note. I was expecting a noticeable change..... nope.... nada..... zip. It was like it was one continuous good take. Of course, the object was to duplicate as close as possible the original take so it wasn't done 2 distinctly different ways. That matters in situations like this.

Exactly how I do it in Cunase. Never an issue and very precise. Thumbs up for sure!

Mike