Feeling the Delay: Latency and its impact on electronic drumming

In the world of electronic drumming, few topics generate as much heated discussion — and player frustration — as latency. It’s the invisible gremlin that can turn a tight groove into a sluggish mess. But what exactly is latency, and why does it matter?

What is Latency?

In simple terms, latency is the time delay between hitting a drum pad and hearing the resulting sound. It’s usually measured in milliseconds (ms), and while a few milliseconds may seem trivial, drummers — especially those with a good sense of timing — can feel the difference. Too much latency can make playing feel disconnected and unnatural.

Latency in acoustic vs. electronic drums

Even acoustic drums have latency because sound takes time to travel. For instance, if you’re sitting a metre away from your snare, sound takes about 3 ms to reach your ears. But since this delay is consistent and directly linked to real-world physics, our brains don’t perceive it as latency.

Electronic drums, on the other hand, introduce additional processing steps, and with each step, the potential for added delay increases. While most drummers can tolerate up to 6 ms without noticeable impact, anything above 10 ms starts to feel sluggish — especially in fast, intricate playing.

Understanding the signal chain

To understand where latency creeps in, let’s look at a typical e-drum signal chain:

1. Pad hit – A mesh or rubber pad is struck, triggering a sensor.
2. Trigger detection – The sensor sends an electrical signal to the module.
3. MIDI transfer: A MIDI message takes about 1 ms.
4. Sound processing – The drum brain or VST processes the input, matches it to a sample, adds effects and prepares it for output.
5. Digital-to-Analogue conversion – The sound is converted from digital data to analogue audio. This can add another 1 ms.
6. Output – The signal is sent to headphones, monitors or a PA system.

Each of these steps can add a few milliseconds. Standalone drum modules (like Roland, Yamaha, mimicPRO or 2box) are finely tuned to deliver very low latency — typically under 4 ms. However, for setups using VSTs on a computer, total latency can balloon if you’re not careful.

Reducing latency: Tips and Tricks

For VST/computer-based set-ups:

• Use a quality audio interface: The stock soundcard in your laptop isn’t up to the task. Invest in a low-latency interface from brands like Focusrite, Steinberg or RME.
• Select ASIO drivers: On Windows, use ASIO drivers — preferably the manufacturer’s own rather than ASIO4ALL — for optimal performance. This is not necessary for Macs.
• Adjust buffer size: Lower buffer sizes reduce latency but increase CPU load. Experiment to find the lowest buffer size your system can handle without dropouts (usually 64–128 samples).
• Optimise your computer: Disable background processes, close unnecessary apps and ensure your DAW is prioritised for audio tasks.

For standalone modules:

• Keep firmware updated: Manufacturers often release updates that improve performance and latency.
• Optimise triggers: Reduce scan and mask times to the lowest possible settings. Scan time alone can add 3 ms.
• Avoid external FX chains: Using external processors can introduce unnecessary delays.
• Monitor directly from the module: Avoid routing your audio through other devices unless necessary.

The developer of the EDLM iPhone app which digitalDrummer uses for latency testing warns that incorrect piezo wiring can add tiny amounts of latency for some modules which do not implement signal rectification. This is a potential source of latency especially for drummers using DIY pads, or mixing pads and modules from different manufacturers.

Module latency rankings

digitalDrummer routinely measures the latency of all modules in our reviews. Here is the current module latency scorecard:

*  Analogue input tested

The Bottom Line

Latency is an unavoidable part of electronic drumming, but with the right setup and tweaks, it can be brought down to imperceptible levels. Whether you’re triggering a VST in a high-powered studio or jamming with a compact e-drum kit in your apartment, understanding and managing latency is key to keeping your playing tight and enjoyable.

Ultimately, the goal is for your kit to feel as responsive and “real” as possible. In electronic drumming, milliseconds matter. And when you get it right, the groove comes alive.