# How to Avoid Latency When Recording > That distracting delay between playing and hearing yourself has a few specific causes. Here's how to actually reduce it, in the order that matters most. [All guides](/blog) # How to Avoid Latency When Recording Published 11 September 2026, 20:00 UTC · updated 31 August 2026, 13:05 UTC · by Loopin The distracting delay between performing and hearing yourself through headphones — latency — has a handful of specific, fixable causes. Working through them in order clears up most cases. ## Reduce your buffer size first Buffer size is the single biggest factor in recording latency — a smaller buffer means less delay but requires more processing power in real time. Try reducing your buffer size specifically during recording, then increasing it again for mixing where latency doesn't matter as much but processing load does. Most software lets you set a different buffer size for recording versus mixing. Take advantage of that rather than using one setting for everything. ## Use direct monitoring if your interface supports it Direct monitoring routes your input signal straight to your headphones before it passes through the software at all, eliminating the round-trip delay of a signal going into the computer and back out. Many audio interfaces have a dedicated direct monitoring switch or knob specifically for this. If your interface has this feature and you're not using it, this is often the single fastest fix for perceived latency during recording, regardless of your buffer size setting. ## Close unnecessary background processes Other applications competing for processing power can worsen latency even with a well-chosen buffer size, particularly on less powerful hardware. Close browser tabs, background apps, and anything not directly needed for the recording session before you start. This matters more on older or lower-spec computers, where available processing headroom is already tighter. ## Check your driver settings on Windows specifically Windows systems benefit from using a proper audio driver — ASIO or a manufacturer-specific low-latency driver — rather than the generic system driver, which typically introduces significantly more latency by design. Mac systems generally handle this better through Core Audio by default. If you're on Windows and haven't specifically installed and selected your interface's dedicated driver, this is worth checking before assuming latency is an unavoidable hardware limitation. ## Know when some latency is simply unavoidable Very complex sessions with many plugins active, especially on older hardware, may have some irreducible latency even after all the above optimizations. In that case, recording with fewer active plugins and adding processing back in afterward is a practical workaround. A small, consistent amount of latency is also something performers can partially adapt to with practice — but it's always worth minimizing technically first before relying on that adaptation. ## Frequently asked questions ### What's the fastest way to reduce recording latency? Reduce your buffer size during recording, and use direct monitoring if your audio interface supports it -- direct monitoring routes input straight to headphones before it passes through the software, eliminating round-trip delay entirely. ### Does buffer size affect anything besides latency? Yes, a smaller buffer requires more real-time processing power. A common workflow is using a small buffer for recording and a larger one for mixing, where latency matters less but processing load for plugins matters more. ### Why is latency worse on Windows than Mac? Windows systems need a proper low-latency driver -- ASIO or a manufacturer-specific one -- instead of the generic system driver, which introduces significantly more latency by design. Mac generally handles this better through Core Audio by default. ## Related reads - [Do you need an audio interface?](/blog/do-you-need-an-audio-interface) - [Master your track free](/mastering) - [How close should you be to the mic?](/blog/how-close-should-you-be-to-the-mic) --- Source: https://onloopin.com/blog/how-to-avoid-latency-when-recording