Audio Latency Calculator

Two buffers of 256 samples at 48,000 Hz add about 10.67 ms of delay.

The audio latency formula

Buffer latency in milliseconds equals samples times buffers, divided by the sample rate, times 1,000.

Each extra buffer adds one more buffer length of delay.

Take 256 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz. 256 × 2 ÷ 48,000 × 1,000 gives 10.667 ms.

Take 128 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz. 128 × 2 ÷ 48,000 × 1,000 gives 5.333 ms.

Buffers add up

Audio latency is the time from when a signal enters a system until it exits. It includes converters, drivers, sample rate, buffer size and delay in effects (MathWorks: Measure audio latency).

This page counts only the buffers. The more buffers you chain, the more delay you add.

How to convert audio latency step by step

1. Read the buffer size in samples, the number of buffers and the sample rate.
2. Multiply the samples by the buffers.
3. Divide by the sample rate and multiply by 1,000.
4. Read the total samples in the last column.

The three examples below use common sizes.

Each one shows the sum in full.

audio latency conversion table

The highlighted row is the default of the calculator. The last column gives samples.

A quick mental shortcut for audio latency

At 48,000 Hz, every 48 samples last 1 ms. So 512 samples in total last about 10.67 ms.

Double the buffers and the latency doubles.

Worked examples

Two buffers of 128 samples at 48,000 Hz add about 5.333 ms. Two buffers of 64 samples add about 2.667 ms.

Three buffers of 256 samples at 48,000 Hz add 16 ms, and three buffers of 64 samples add 4 ms.

Different sample rates

Two buffers of 256 samples add about 11.61 ms at 44,100 Hz and about 10.67 ms at 48,000 Hz.

Generally, latency is lower for higher sampling rates (MathWorks: Measure audio latency).

What this page leaves out

Converters, drivers and effects add delay of their own, so the real round trip is longer than the buffer figure.

A loopback test, where you play a sound out and record it back, shows the real total. The measured value is the lower bound for what a microphone and loudspeaker will add to (MathWorks: Measure audio latency).

Reading the result

Many people notice delay once it grows beyond a few milliseconds when they play and monitor at once. How much matters depends on the player and the sound.

Treat the figure as a guide, not a rule.

Quick conversion answers

Where this conversion is used

Musicians pick buffer settings for recording and monitoring.

Engineers estimate the buffer part of a delay budget.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Counting one buffer. Multiply by the number of buffers.
• Treating it as total delay. Converters and drivers add more.
• Using the wrong sample rate. Check the project and the interface.
• Forgetting the 1,000. The answer would be in seconds.

Related converters

• audio buffer size
• audio data rate
• audio file size
• notes per second
• RMS To Peak

More buffer setups

32 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 1.333 ms. 48 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 2 ms. 96 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 4 ms.

192 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 8 ms. 384 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 16 ms. 768 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 32 ms.

160 samples x 2 buffers at 44,100 Hz is 7.256 ms. 320 samples x 3 buffers at 44,100 Hz is 21.77 ms. 640 samples x 2 buffers at 96,000 Hz is 13.33 ms.

Doubling the first number

64 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 2.667 ms. 96 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 4 ms. 192 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 8 ms.

384 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 16 ms. 768 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 32 ms. 1,536 samples x 2 buffers at 48,000 Hz is 64 ms.

320 samples x 2 buffers at 44,100 Hz is 14.51 ms. 640 samples x 3 buffers at 44,100 Hz is 43.54 ms. 1,280 samples x 2 buffers at 96,000 Hz is 26.67 ms.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• MathWorks: Measure audio latency (mathworks.com)