AudioCalcs
Buffer Latency Calculator — Audio Interface Latency
Calculate input, output and round-trip latency for your audio interface settings.
How We Calculate This
Buffer latency (ms) = (Buffer size / Sample rate) × 1000
Input latency = Buffer latency + Driver overhead
Output latency = Buffer latency + Driver overhead + DAW overhead
Round-trip = Input + Output + Plugin latency
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffer latency is the delay introduced by the audio buffer between your audio interface and your DAW. It is the time the computer needs to process audio. Smaller buffers mean less latency but higher CPU load.
For tracking (recording while monitoring through the DAW), use 64 or 128 samples for low latency. For mixing, 256-1024 is fine since latency does not affect playback quality. Higher sample rates allow larger buffers at the same latency.
Under 10ms round-trip is ideal and feels like playing acoustically. 10-20ms is noticeable but workable. Over 20ms becomes distracting for most musicians. Vocalists and drummers are most sensitive to latency.
At the same buffer size, yes. 128 samples at 96kHz = 1.33ms, versus 128 samples at 48kHz = 2.67ms. However, higher sample rates use more CPU, so the net benefit depends on your system.
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Last updated: March 2026
All calculations are estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify results for critical applications.