what is latency
sreekant wrote:
Hi guys
I have a Athlon 64 3000+ system with 512 RAM and a 7200rpm HDD. I
Ordered a M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496 to setup recording via Behringer
mixer.
One thing that stumps me is the latency. I read quite a lot about how to
avoid latency or how to keep it down. But what latency are we talking about!
Is it the interval beteen starting a recording software/command to the
commencement of recording itself. If so I can start recording a moment
before and chop off unnecessary bit later.
If it is not can someone enlighten me about this please! :-(
Ta
Sreekant
It depends on the exact application but normally, with sound cards, it
is used to describe how long it takes for the audio data to pass through
the sound card driver and digital to analogue convertor stages (or vice
versa if you are recording). This is important if you are using a
software synthesiser where the delay between pressing a note on the
keyboard and hearing the sound is important.
Audio processing software also takes a little time to carry out the
necessary calculations and, if you are trying to work in real time, you
will hear a slight delay from input to output.
Good software will compensate for system latencies but it is surprising
how much widely used software doesn't compensate properly.
Cheers.
James.
|