How to set up latency?
Quick guide
What is latency?
Each iPhone and each bluetooth device acts a bit differently when you record or play something. This can cause a very small delay which is called latency.
When we want to have a perfect synch for looping multiple tracks, it's better to make sure latency is adjusted properly.
Where can I adjust latency?
The latency adjustment sliders can be found on Jam Looper settings.
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Tap the ☰ icon on the top left of your song.
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Tap the ⚙ icon on the top left of your 'All songs' view
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Tap 'Adjust latency'
About these latency sliders
We have 2 latency sliders:
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Playback latency - This impact latency between tracks. It changes when the playback of previous tracks is played compared to the record of a new track.
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Bluetooth latency - This impacts the bluetooth device inherit latency. Only active when you use a bluetooth device.
How to set up your latency
Before you begin
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Start a new song.
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Make sure you're not using any headphones or bluetooth device.
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Go to song settings (Tap the 3 dots on the bottom left of your song view).
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Set tempo to 60.
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Set metronome to 4/4.
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Set countdown to 1 Bar.
Record and view your first track
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Tap record
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Let the track record the metronome beats for a few seconds.
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Tap to stop recording.
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Tap the track control to get into Trim.
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You should see something like image 1
Image 1 - Your first track, recording the metronome beats, should appear every sec (tempo is 60)
Record and view your second track
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Make sure your songs doesn't play.
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Tap record again
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Let the 2nd track record the metronome beats for a few seconds. While the 1st track also plays the metronome beats recorded.
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Tap to stop recording.
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Tap the track control to get into Trim.
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Take a look and see if you're seeing 2 peaks or just one. (Image 2).
Image 2 - Your 2nd track.
If your tracks are synched you should see only 1 peak with each metronome beat (image 2b)
if your tracks are out of synch, you should see 2 peaks (image 2a)
2 a - before fix
2 metronome peaks
-> out of synch
2 b - after fix
Peaks are synched
Adjusting Playback latency slider
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There is a default value of 0.15 in the Playback latency slider.
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If you are seeing something like image 2a
-> add (or subtract) the difference between the 2 peaks to the latency slider. -
Delete this 2nd track, and record it again (following the same instructions)
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Make sure you adjust the slider until the peaks unite.
Adjusting bluetooth devices latency
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Open a new song.
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Make sure your bluetooth device is connected.
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In song settings, make sure tempo is 60, metronome is 4/4, and countdown is 1Bar.
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Record the 1st track - Make a sharp sound with every metronome beat you hear (tap a table, click your finger, etc..) - record a few seconds until your sounds correlate exactly with the metronome beats.
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Go to your track's Trim view (see image 3).
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If your recorded sounds doesn't sit on even seconds (exactly when the metronome beat is heard).
-> Adjust the bluetooth latency slider to accommodate for that delay. -
Delete this track and re-record it again to make sure it is perfectly synched.
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Make sure to go over all previous steps to adjust the Playback latency slider.
3 a - before fix
Peaks are slightly off even seconds.
3 b - after fix
Peaks are synched on even seconds.
Image 3 - Your 1st track trim view.
Make sure your recorded sound's peaks are on even seconds.