What is audio latency?
When you record through a computer, sound travels from the microphone or instrument into the audio interface, is converted to digital, processed in buffers by the driver and the DAW, and converted back to analog for your headphones. The delay between playing a note and hearing it is the round-trip latency. Small amounts go unnoticed; larger amounts make it hard to play in time, especially for drummers, percussionists and singers who hear their own voice in their head.
Buffer latency (ms) = buffer size ÷ sample rate × 1000 · Round trip ≈ 2 × buffer + converters + plugins
Buffer size
The computer processes audio in blocks. A small buffer means low latency but more work for the CPU – if the computer can't keep up, you'll hear clicks, pops and dropouts. A large buffer is stable but slow to respond. That's why most producers use a small buffer while recording and a large one while mixing.
Buffer latency at a glance (one direction)
| Buffer | 44.1 kHz | 48 kHz | 96 kHz |
|---|
| 32 | 0.73 ms | 0.67 ms | 0.33 ms |
| 64 | 1.45 ms | 1.33 ms | 0.67 ms |
| 128 | 2.90 ms | 2.67 ms | 1.33 ms |
| 256 | 5.80 ms | 5.33 ms | 2.67 ms |
| 512 | 11.6 ms | 10.7 ms | 5.33 ms |
| 1024 | 23.2 ms | 21.3 ms | 10.7 ms |
How much latency is acceptable?
Sound travels about 0.34 m (1.1 ft) per millisecond, so 10 ms of latency is like standing 3.4 m (11 ft) from your amplifier – something guitarists do on stage all the time. Most musicians are comfortable below about 10 ms round trip; under 5 ms is effectively imperceptible. Vocalists monitoring through headphones notice smaller delays because they also hear themselves through bone conduction.
Choosing an audio interface for low latency
- Driver quality matters more than the connection type. Well-written ASIO (Windows) and Core Audio (macOS) drivers add little extra buffering.
- Measured round-trip latency at 48 kHz / 64 or 128 samples is the most useful figure to compare.
- Direct monitoring – a mix knob or software mixer – lets performers hear themselves with zero latency.
- Onboard DSP in some interfaces adds reverb or amp simulation without computer latency.
- USB-C, Thunderbolt or PCIe all work well; stability depends on drivers and the computer.
Reducing latency and dropouts
- Freeze or bounce heavy tracks while recording new parts.
- Disable look-ahead limiters, linear-phase EQs and other high-latency plugins during tracking.
- Close other applications, turn off Wi-Fi and power-saving modes on laptops.
- Use the interface's native driver rather than generic drivers like ASIO4ALL where possible.
Frequently asked questions
What buffer size should I use for recording?
64 or 128 samples at 44.1 – 48 kHz gives roughly 4 – 8 ms round-trip latency on good interfaces, fine for most recording.
What buffer size for mixing?
512 or 1024 samples. Latency doesn't matter during mixing and larger buffers let you run more plugins.
Does a higher sample rate reduce latency?
Yes, each buffer is shorter at higher sample rates, but CPU load and file sizes increase. Most people record at 48 kHz.
How much latency is noticeable?
Most musicians notice delays above about 10 – 12 ms; drummers and singers may notice 6 – 8 ms.
What is direct monitoring?
The interface routes the input straight to your headphones before it reaches the computer, so you hear yourself with no latency.
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