What is a Punch In?

A punch in is a recording technique used to replace or correct a specific portion of an existing audio track without re-recording the entire performance. It allows a performer to record over a selected section of a track while leaving the rest of the recording unchanged.

During a punch in, the recording system switches from playback mode to record mode at a precise moment in the timeline. This enables the performer to re-record only the part that needs improvement, such as a vocal phrase or instrument note.

Punch-ins are commonly used in studio recording and digital audio workstations to fix mistakes, improve performances, or refine specific sections of a track while preserving the rest of the original recording.