AUDIO 4 DJ – 43
10.5.1 How low can you go?
1.5 ms of latency approaches the theoretical minimum, because it will always take some
time to convert a human action into something digital and then to convert the digital action
back to analog sound. However, note that ultra-low latency settings (or higher sampling
rates) make your computer work harder, which can affect the performance. So, here are
some tips on living with latency.
10.5.2 About Samples and Buffers
Audio cannot be handled continuously by a computer, but has to wait its turn while other
operations are being carried out. As a result, sound cards create a “buffer,” which can
hold a certain number of samples, where data can be stored and released as needed to
create a smooth ow of data. An analogy would be if you had a hose that does not deliver
water continuously, but in bursts. So you use a holding tank to store the water coming in
from the hose and have a valve in the tank that releases a steady amount of water in a
smooth, continuous ow.
If the tank (buffer) is large, then you can store more water in case the hose goes dry for a
bit. But it will take longer to ll the bucket, which is equivalent to latency. A smaller tank
takes less time to ll, but the hose needs to deliver water on a pretty continuous basis.
All ASIO audio interfaces and sound cards include a Control Panel in which you can adjust
latency. This may be given as the number of samples per buffer or just milliseconds.
The AUDIO 4 DJ provides you with six predened settings (in milliseconds) to choose from
and the option to user-dene the values.
Open Start > All Programs > Native Instruments > Audio 4 DJ Driver > Control Panel.
Read more about the c
ontrol
P
Anel
of the AUDIO 4 DJ in chapter 7.2 “Understanding
the Control Panel”.
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