# Latency Compensation {% embed url="" %} This video explains how to compensate latency in Audacity {% endembed %} {% hint style="info" %} **Note:** Latency Compensation is only important for the following recording scenarios: * **Overdubbing**: recording a new audio track while listening to previously-recorded track(s). You want what you play to be synchronized with the tracks you are listening to. * **Punch and roll recording** {% endhint %} ## Measuring latency in your system {% hint style="success" %} There is an automated method available now, which is available at It's currently in beta, so please leave your feedback in the forum thread {% endhint %} ### Step 1: Adjust your Audacity preferences #### 1. Set your Devices Preferences * On Windows open the **Edit** menu and select **Preferences...** or press **`Ctrl + P`** in your keyboard. On macOS open the **Audacity** menu and select **Preferences...** or press **Cmd + P** * Select **Devices** in the left pane of the **Preferences** window * Select the preferred **Interface Host:** MME or Windows WASAPI should work * Verify your preferred **Playback Device** is selected * Verify your preferred **Recording Device** is selected * Set the **Latency compensation** to 0 (zero) milliseconds * Click **OK** to save your preferences ![Select Edit > Preferences... or press Ctrl + P to open Audacity Preferences and click on Devices](https://2387260374-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhmBVzGzh8SctWQ6jPR%2Fuploads%2FLywNweoOxNlxaIc68mlz%2FPreferences%20-%20Devices.png?alt=media\&token=901c3fbb-65c8-4126-9d9a-08b5250366ab) #### 2. Set your Recording Preferences * Select **Recording** in the left pane of the **Preferences** window * Enable **Overdub**: Check **Play other tracks while recording (overdub)** * Make sure **Software playthrough of input** is not checked * Click **OK** to save your preferences ![Select Edit > Preferences... or press Ctrl + P to open Audacity Preferences and click on Recording](https://2387260374-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhmBVzGzh8SctWQ6jPR%2Fuploads%2FiqBbZAghcuZcHkwcCeGO%2FPreferences%20-%20Recording.png?alt=media\&token=a7c3323e-1616-450d-817b-895026b4a5be) #### 3. Set your Selection preferences At the bottom of the Audacity window you will find the **Selection** toolbar * Disable snapping, if you have it enabled * Select **Start and Length of Selection** as your selection format ![Audacity Selection Toolbar](https://2387260374-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhmBVzGzh8SctWQ6jPR%2Fuploads%2FRKtydnEhQL3Ig1H0LtoP%2FSelection%20toolbar.png?alt=media\&token=d9c2c160-347c-46f2-a435-79c515ce86e3) ### Step 2: Measuring the latency #### Hardware Setup To measure the latency you will need to record the audio from your playback device using your microphone. To do this place your microphone next to your speakers/headphones ![Place your microphone next to your speakers or headphones](https://2387260374-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhmBVzGzh8SctWQ6jPR%2Fuploads%2F7UWmsHwsLKnZSuqaQyGW%2Fabcd.jpg?alt=media\&token=24373a9d-2250-4aea-b8e5-0e0ed7158f80) #### Recording while playing a test track (Overdub) * Open the **Generate** menu and select the **Rhythm Track...** option. Set **Number of Measures (bars)** to 2 and set the **Beat Sound** to **Ping (short)**. Click **OK** to generate the track. * Press **Shift + R** to record a new track. The rhythm track will be played back and recorded on a new track. ![Recording a new track while playing the previously generated track (Overdub)](https://2387260374-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhmBVzGzh8SctWQ6jPR%2Fuploads%2Fil44B6jnpUpD2zZiOyJX%2FRhythym%20Overdub.png?alt=media\&token=b78b583a-1212-4978-ab55-d343a6c74d2d) * Zoom in so you can see the clicks on the top track and its delayed version on the bottom track * Create a selection that goes from the start of one click to the next You should see something like this: ![Drag a selection to measure the latency](https://2387260374-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhmBVzGzh8SctWQ6jPR%2Fuploads%2FgXA6xRfjzF4mmMT4Geij%2FLatency%20estimation%20-%20Length%20of%20Selection.png?alt=media\&token=082601b7-ed64-4e27-9d33-2c1e34105775) You can read the latency directly from the second panel of numbers. In this case it is 0.184 seconds or 184 milliseconds. Click on **Edit > Preferences**, click on **Devices** tab and enter the negative of this number in the **Latency compensation** box. In this case it would be -184. Press **OK** to save your preferences. ![Set Latency compensation value according to the measured latency](https://2387260374-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhmBVzGzh8SctWQ6jPR%2Fuploads%2FRq0aw8ogy2HYqOiaPKvD%2FLatency%20compensation%20-%20Set%20value.png?alt=media\&token=49106973-3514-4b85-9e2d-6609c9279aa2) ### Step 3: Checking the result * Delete the second track by clicking the close box in its Track Control Panel * Click in the Track Control Panel of the remaining track to select it * Press **Shift + R** to record a new track After the recording is finished Audacity will apply the Latency compensation by pushing the newly-recorded track back by the Latency compensation value. ![Recording with latency compensation applied to the second track](https://2387260374-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhmBVzGzh8SctWQ6jPR%2Fuploads%2FG0fwTU05Tlnb9PoHo4YV%2FOverdub%20Rhythym%20-%20Latency%20compensation.png?alt=media\&token=00f1e7bd-5b37-49b8-9cc4-43c28af42d4c) {% hint style="info" %} **Note:** If you change any of your recording or playback devices (for example, if you change from using the line input port on your computer to using a USB audio interface) or if you use the same device but change the [Audio Host](https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/device_toolbar.html#host) in [Device Toolbar](https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/device_toolbar.html), then you will need to do this test again. The test you just did only applies for the specific inputs and outputs and host used during the test. {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://support.audacityteam.org/troubleshooting/solving-recording-problems/latency-compensation.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.