Auto punch selected item records outside selected item

Hi All, I've just been trying out the auto-punch selected items, but it's not behaving as I intended. It also records ouside of the selected items. I have chosen the option "Loop points not linked to time selection" I have set up a loop, from 1.1.00 to 17.1.00 I have added a 4 bar empty item at 9.1.00 I select that item I move the current position back to 1.1.00 I set record mode to "auto-punch selected items" I press Ctrl-R Playhead moves and i see it record in the right place I let it loop around once I stop recording by pressing Crtl-R I find that it's recorded an extra chunk from 1.1.00 up until where I stopped it. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for this. ANyone knowwhy it might record ouside of the area I chose? Thanks in advance, Phil

This is sort of a weird almost "bug" I guess, it does it in other cases too. I think the problem is Reaper uses this logic... If the record mode is "Auto Punch Selected Items" and the play cursor doesn't reach the selected item, create a new item for the time that was recorded anyways. If the play cursor does reach the item, then only create the new item over that item. See Reaper records "in the background" in this mode. So even though you are only punching the selected item, it actually records everything outside of that selected item too, it just only creates an item to fill the selected item instead of showing the whole the recording on screen. This lets you trim the edges if you started playing a millisecond too early or sustained longer than the original item, etc. I personally think the logic should be changed such that if the selected item isn't reached, no new items are created on screen. It does the same thing in "time selection auto punch" mode. Try creating a selection later in the project, hitting record before the selection and hitting stop before it reaches the selection. It creates a new item anyways. It shouldn't IMO.

Hi Adam, Thanks for the quick reply. I also think this is wrong. The reason you select a punch-in section or item is so it only records in that place. I don't want it recording takes over my other original items otherwise I have to go cleaning up all that crap afterwards. Maybe there's an option to make Punch recording only record in the punch area/s? Or maybe some sort of workflow to easily keep just the punched stuff and remove the rest after a recording? Thoughts anyone? Phil

OK I just discovered a recording option. Checking this will avoid recording extra fluff when it loops back round. This solves it for me. :)

As Adam already wrote, Reaper does this, 'cos you have afterwards the option to change in and out points. Reaper generally does not destroy or alter recordings, but creates new files if you change anything. This enables you to correct even things that lie 100 or more steps back, which you couldn't do if the recording would be done destructively on the same soundfile. -Data

Punching Clean 

I understand the rationale for Reaper's approach to punching -- but I very much dislike the fact that I can't turn it off. (Or even 'seem to turn it off' just so my workspace doesn't look so cluttered and in need of tidying up.) It's just about the only thing in Reaper that makes me unhappy. I just wish I could punch-in in one designated location and leave it at that. Is there really no way to do that simple task?