Digital Audio
Latency refers to the delay between an audio signal entering and exiting a digital system, typically caused by buffering and processing time within hardware and software.
In digital audio systems, latency is the time it takes for an input signal—such as a microphone—to pass through conversion, processing, and playback stages. It is measured in milliseconds and affects the responsiveness of monitoring and recording.
Sources of latency include A/D and D/A conversion, buffer size, plug-in processing, and computer performance. Excessive latency can make real-time performance difficult, so engineers often use low buffer settings when recording and higher ones when mixing.
Some audio interfaces provide hardware direct monitoring, allowing zero-latency monitoring by routing signals directly to outputs before digital processing. Understanding and managing latency is critical for smooth workflow in modern DAW-based studios.
