How can I minimize input to output delay during live performance?

Question

Been processing my guitar live and as I use some of the more processor intensive patches I'm getting notcieable delay.  The lowest my IO delay setting will go is 6 ms and I'm definitely feeling like it's lagging.  Any setup tricks to get the latency down?  I'm chaining my Macbook Pro, to my Paca, to my MOTU Traveller mk3.

Thanks for any tips!

Answer 1

The input to output delay does not increase as a function of the number of modules in a patch. The entire signal flow graph is computed on each sample.

Some algorithms have a delay built into them as part of the algorithm, and this may be what you are hearing. For example, if you are doing a live spectral analysis and resynthesis, you may hear a delay due to the size of the analysis frame (set by the lowest analyzed frequency).

If you'd like to share your Sound, we would take a look at it and give you some tips for minimizing the input to output delay.