Calculate audio latency from buffer size and sample rate, solve missing audio settings, or estimate sound delay by distance and medium.
Audio Latency Formula
The following formula estimates the delay represented by one buffer, not total round-trip audio latency.
Variables:
- L is the one-buffer delay (milliseconds)
- B is the buffer size (samples)
- S is the sample rate (Hz)
To calculate one-buffer delay, divide the buffer size by the sample rate and multiply by 1000 for milliseconds. Sound travel delay instead equals distance divided by sound speed; choose Sound travel delay to use that mode.
What is Audio Latency?
Audio latency is the delay between when an audio signal is created and when it is heard. It is a critical aspect in digital audio processing, affecting the performance of audio recording and playback systems. High latency can cause noticeable delays that can disrupt the timing of audio events, especially in live performance settings. Understanding and minimizing latency is important for audio engineers and musicians.
How to Calculate Audio Latency?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Audio Latency.
- First, determine the sample rate (S) in Hertz (Hz).
- Next, determine the buffer size (B) in samples.
- Use the formula from above = L = (B / S) * 1000.
- Finally, calculate the one-buffer delay (L) in milliseconds.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
sample rate (S) = 44100 Hz
buffer size (B) = 512 samples
