Playback and Recording : Audio Recording : Audio Punch Recording Over a Specified Range

Audio Punch Recording Over a Specified Range
You can set Pro Tools to automatically punch record over a specific range in an audio track (for example, to replace a portion of a recorded track). The range’s start (punch in) and end (punch out) points must be specified before recording.
 
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To manually punch in and out on record-enabled audio tracks during playback, see Punch Recording Modes.
Though there are several ways to set record and play ranges (see Setting Punch and Loop Points), perhaps the easiest is to select within the track’s playlist the range for recording.
 
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To set a record or play range by selecting within a playlist, the Edit and Timeline selections must be linked (select Options > Link Timeline and Edit Selection).
During the recording process, playback begins at the pre-roll time (if enabled) and proceeds to the start time (the punch-in point), where recording begins. When the end time (the punch-out point) is reached, Pro Tools automatically switches out of Record mode and continues playing through the specified amount of post-roll. This automated punch-in/out feature is a powerful and precise way of recording or re-recording on a track.
To punch record on an audio track:
1 Do one of the following:
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To record nondestructively, make sure that Options > Destructive Record is not selected.
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If you do want to permanently record over the specified record range, select Options > Destructive Record.
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If you are recording in any mode other than Destructive Record mode, punches do not permanently replace previously recorded material. If you do want to permanently record over the specified record range (and keep only the most recent take), select Options > Destructive Record.
2 Record enable the track.
3 Select Options > Link Timeline and Edit Selection.
4 With the Selector tool, drag in the track’s playlist or in one of the Timebase rulers until the selection encompasses the punch range (see Setting Punch and Loop Points).
5 To hear any existing track material up to the start point, or after the end point, enable and set pre- and post-roll times (see Setting Pre- and Post-Roll).
6 Click Record in the Transport to arm Pro Tools for recording.
7 Click Play to start recording.
Pro Tools starts recording from the punch-in (start) point. If there is any pre-roll, recording starts when the punch-in (start) point is reached. Recording continues until the punch-out (end) point is reached (unless you manually stop recording first). If post-roll is enabled, playback continues for the specified post-roll amount.
If recording nondestructively, a new audio file is written to your hard drive and a new audio clip appears both in the track and the Clip List.
If recording in Destructive Record mode, the new audio overwrites the previous material in the existing audio file and clip.
Monitoring during Punch-Ins
Pro Tools provides two monitoring modes for recording: Auto Input monitoring and Input Only monitoring (see Selecting a Record Input Monitoring Mode).