What is Audio Latency?

Audio latency is the delay between when a sound is supposed to play and when you actually hear it through your headphones or speakers. This delay can range from a few milliseconds to over 200ms depending on your audio setup. High latency can make music production, gaming, and video calls feel sluggish or out of sync.

How to Use This Tool

1. Click the Start button to begin playing a metronome beat
2. Adjust the BPM (beats per minute) to a comfortable tempo before starting
3. Press the spacebar exactly when you hear each beat
4. The tool measures how early or late your tap is compared to when the beat was scheduled
5. A consistent positive offset indicates your audio system's latency
6. Check the average of your last 10 taps for a reliable measurement

Understanding Your Results

• 0-20ms - Excellent. Ideal for music production and gaming
• 20-50ms - Good. Acceptable for most uses
• 50-100ms - Noticeable. May cause sync issues in production
• 100ms+ - High latency. Consider using wired headphones or checking your audio driver settings

Limitations

• Results include your reaction time, so the actual audio latency is likely lower than shown
• Browser-based audio has inherent limitations compared to native apps
• Background tabs or system load can affect measurement accuracy
• Wireless headphones typically add 40-200ms of latency on top of your system latency
• For best results, keep this tab in focus and minimize other applications

Tips for Reducing Audio Latency

• Use wired headphones or speakers instead of Bluetooth
• Update your audio drivers to the latest version
• On Windows, consider using ASIO drivers for professional audio work
• Close unnecessary background applications
• Lower your audio buffer size in your DAW or system settings