Native Instruments Audio 4 DJ - Understanding Audio Latency

AUDIO 4 DJ – 42
10.4.2 Break the loop with a DI box (AUDIO 4 DJ only)
If you cannot x the ground noise problem by disconnecting equipment, you still have the
possibility of using a DI (direct input) box after the AUDIO 4 DJ outputs. Most of these
boxes have a ground lift switch on them. This can be used to break the ground loop and
eliminate the noise.
10.5 What is Latency?
As with any digital device (including hardware signal processors) that converts audio to data
and back again, a computer adds a certain amount of delay (“latency”) when processing
audio signals. Fortunately, with today’s computers and low-latency sound card drivers, this
delay can be so small that you cannot hear it (as example: 3 milliseconds is about the
same delay caused by moving your head one meter further away from a speaker). However,
typical computers are generally not set up for low latency; attempting to play in real time
with the AUDIO 4 DJ will probably prove unsatisfying due to the delay.
Any computer-based audio system has some delay between the audio input and output.
As a result, if you are playing a MIDI keyboard through the AUDIO 4 DJ, you may hear an
annoying delay between the time you hit a key and the time you hear the sound. It is easy
to understand that this latency has be kept to a minimum in order to make instruments
and DJ applications playable. Even the most powerful computer can only do a certain
number of calculations per second; generating and processing sounds demands a lot from
a computer. On the other hand, it is important to minimize any computer-based delays in
order to achieve a playing experience without annoying delays in sound playback.
Fortunately, three main factors make delays virtually insignicant, assuming you have a
suitable computer setup.
Today’s multi-gigahertz computers allow for very low latencies.
The AUDIO 4 DJ includes drivers optimized for low latency.
The AUDIO 4 DJ has been optimized to work as efciently as possible.
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