How to Fix Recording Guitar Latency Issue On Mac & Windows

Do you have a problem with latency issues while jamming or recording your guitar into DAW software on your computer?

Your guitar playing and the sound that comes out from your computer trough speaker monitor/headphone doesn’t exactly at the same time? there are a few seconds of delay?

Yeah! I know, that’s really annoying. A delay effect is good. But audio delay caused by latency issues is bad.

It’s a common issue when you just start learning how to make music from your computer.

That’s okay me too! all things seem overwhelming when I first time into audio recording stuff (Home recording)

But the good thing about becoming a ‘beginner’ there is a lot of things that you can learn with enthusiast spirits, isn’t it?

So here, I will share what I’ve learned so far about how I fix this issue.

Actually! it’s easier than you think.

What you need to do is a little tweak the audio driver software to fix the delay between what you playing and the sound that comes out from your computer.

If you are a Windows user I highly recommended to use Asio4all if your Audio Interface supports it. You can download latest Asio4all from the official website here: www.asio4all.org/

And to make this guide easier to find and to skip, I will make this post split into a four–part section;

How to fix for Windows user, how to fix audio driver settings for Mac user, how to fix another issue that may be causing the ‘Delay’ problem. And also tips on how to settings audio driver for mixing.

Okay! no more chit chat guys let’s find out how to fix it!

Fix latency issue on Windows computer

To fix it, in your favorite DAW go to audio setup usually in “Option” or “Preferences” depend on what the DAW that you use.

In the audio device, settings switch it to Asio4all and don’t forget to click Apply to save the change.

Then click on the Asio control panel to open Asio4alll settings.

In Asio driver go to Settings by click on the ‘wrench’ icon.

There you can see all your computer WDM device list, select your input and output device. In this case, is your audio interface. You won’t use the onboard audio device for serious audio recording. Believe me, it’s awful.

And then simply adjust ASIO buffer size to 112 samples for the first test.

Try to play your instrument to test it, if you feel there is still a delay then adjust the Asio buffer setting more low until you feel what you play and sound you hear “on time”

The reason to test it out is different computer specs is may different results. What I mean here is how many memory RAM size that you use etc.

And that’s it!

Simple eh?

Fix latency issue on Mac computer

To fix the latency issue on Mac computers is almost the same as how to do it in Windows. The difference is you don’t need an Asio driver.

Just go to settings > audio setup on your DAW or guitar amp standalone app and set the buffer to the lowest setting. First, try buffer setting in 128, if still having delay issue then set it to 64.

And click Apply to save the change you’ve just made

This is one of the advantages of using Mac computers for audio recording stuff. Everything was already built in the system.

And yeah! .. it makes you work more easily and efficiently.

Other causes of a latency problem

Another latency problem is caused because your PC /laptop doesn’t meet system requirements. Nowadays, most DAW or any standalone guitar amp sim apps required a computer having at least 4 GB of RAM.

If your computer has only 2 GB RAM. It may be caused another latency /delay problem and ya, computer lag.

But if your computer has 4 GB above RAM then you are “safe.”

Settings audio buffer for mixing

To set the audio buffer size for mixing your track is the opposite of the recording settings.

If to record your guitar you have to lower the buffer setting, in mixing you have to adjust the setting to the highest settings to prevent lag or unwanted distorted sound.

So the formula is;

Recording /jamming = “Less is more”

Mixing = “More is more”

Note

That’s how to deal with latency problem, I hope this post useful for you guys who just begin to learn audio /music production stuff.

Btw home recording is always interesting stuff to learning to, no matter just for hobby or if you serious into audio production.

Yeah! Audio Engineer is a cool profession. If you are really serious about this kind of skill.

Okay! that’s it for now, have fun!

P.S. If you are an audio expert who accidentally landing here I really appreciate it if you like to leave your advice here, thanks! ?