Improve latency
Latency is the delay between hitting a pad and hearing the sound. A few milliseconds are fine, but on some devices the delay is long enough to throw off your timing. This page shows how to get the sound tight and how to align the notes with the music.
Where latency comes from
Windows
The default audio drivers on Windows add a noticeable delay to the drum sounds in the browser.
Android browsers
Mobile browsers process audio with extra buffering, which slows down real-time drumming.
On a phone: use the app
The free Drum Kit app plays samples natively with no latency. It is the better choice on a phone.
Mute the browser, use external audio
For the tightest sound, mute the drum sounds in Play Drums Online in the mixer and listen to your kit directly. The game still reads every hit through MIDI, but the sound comes from a source without browser delay.
Drum module
The built-in sounds of your electronic drum kit, straight into your headphones.
DAW software
A DAW with ASIO or Core Audio drivers and a small buffer size.
Notes not aligned with the music?
If your hits feel early or late compared to the notes on screen, adjust the timing offset in three steps.
Test your timing
Play along with a song and notice whether your hits register early or late compared to the notes.
Open adjust latency
Go to settings and click adjust latency to open the calibration tool.
Fine-tune the offset
Move the offset until your hits line up with the music and the notes on screen, then save.
More tips for a tight response
- Use wired headphones instead of Bluetooth headphones
- Close other tabs and applications while you play
- On Windows, use ASIO drivers or a dedicated audio interface
- Try a smaller buffer size in your audio settings
- Prefer a USB-MIDI cable over Bluetooth MIDI for the lowest input delay
Frequently asked questions
The browser has to receive the MIDI hit, play the sample and push it through the audio driver. On Windows and on Android browsers that chain adds a delay. Muting the browser sounds and listening to your module or DAW removes it.
No. The latency setting only shifts the timing of the notes on screen so they line up with the music and your hits. It does not change how the samples sound.
No. The Drum Kit app decodes every sample once and fires it instantly, so what you tap is what you hear.