What is latency?

[Stevo7]

I have a Tascam US-122 and it allows me to set the latency to 256, 512, 1024, or 2048. What is latency? What should I set it at? Will it effect the quality of my recordings?

Thanks.

 

[notbradsohner]

latency is the "lag" that your computer produces when sending stuff in and out. Sometimes it will creat a delay in your recordings, because you hear stuff a little bit behind. Are you having any problems with latency?

 

[Stevo7]

No, I'm not having any problems with latency. Right now its set at 1024. If I can move it to 2048 and not experience a delay, will this increase the quality of my recordings?

 

[Rokket]

Personally, if I am not having problems with latency, I wouldn't mess with my settings because it's working. The higher setting might throw things off. But that's just me.

 

[zimmo]

Latency is the amount of delay from a given command, to the point where the command becomes action. Zero Latency is best, if it can be achieved, in most situations. In the audio world, There may be situations where a greater latency is desired.
Those settings noted may be a little ambiguous. If the higher numbers refer to speed as in 1024 is a fast time, and 2048 is faster, then try moving to the top speed.
What I would guess, is that it is more likely refering to incremental steps. Whereas: there are 2048 points/increments in a digital proportional command...like a volume/value knob with more precision, at 2048 than at 1024.
Eh, I could be wrong, just going from experience with Radar alignment and calibration back in the day...

 

[NYMorningstar]

Latency won't be a problem with your Tascam because it has its own hardware input monitor(I'm assuming you use) that has less than 1.5ms of latency. Your latency slider adjusts the buffer size that is used by the driver to store input and output audio samples. Larger buffers give you more protection against system interrupts that could cause clicks and pops.

If you were to monitor from your computers output then you would want to use smaller buffers which would give you less latency. Latency is the biggest complaint I think for people that monitor using the usb through the computer.

What you really need to do is to read your manual to figure out what will work best for you. Check out the sample rates material. It's all in there.

 

[Stevo7]

Uh, I think I broke it. I was having no latency problems but I wanted to experiment so I changed the latency to 2048 just to see what would happen. Well there was a delay so I moved it back the latency back to 1024 and now there is a delay on 1024. This is really frustrating, it was working fine until I screwed it up. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[notbradsohner]

Rokket is a very smart man............

Personally, if I am not having problems with latency, I wouldn't mess with my settings because it's working. The higher setting might throw things off. But that's just me.

 

[Carter]

Uh, I think I broke it. I was having no latency problems but I wanted to experiment so I changed the latency to 2048 just to see what would happen. Well there was a delay so I moved it back the latency back to 1024 and now there is a delay on 1024. This is really frustrating, it was working fine until I screwed it up. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Take it down to 256.

 

[Tifstorey]

Good old saying comes to mind here... 'if it aint broke, dont fix it'.... seems i was a little too late in posting this though...

 

[Stevo7]

Take it down to 256.

I tried 256 but I still get a delay.

 

[Tifstorey]

Hmm.... Uninstall the drivers and start again? Thats what i always do if i cant get to the bottom of a problem.. Disconnect everything and start again. Always seems to work for me..

 

[Carter]

I agree with Tif, uninstall and do a fresh install of the drivers....