Topic by stamkorg

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  • stamkorg
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Topic: Latency Linux vs Windows

Hi,

I use Pianoteq on 2 os with the same computer.
I have 2 SSD discs installed on this pc, the first one on Windows 10 and the 2nd on Librazik 2, a linux distro optimized for music (RT kernel...).

My sound card is a Babyface pro.

I always play at 44100Hz and 64 samples. The playing experience is perfect at these values.

Now, if I set the system at 128 samples, in Linux I can feel the latency, not in Windows.

This leads me to think that for the same setting of buffer and sampling frequency, Windows manages the latency better than Linux.


Is there any experience out there about that or an explanation?

Last edited by stamkorg (07-06-2020 10:20)

Reply by Neo

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Re: Latency Linux vs Windows

stamkorg wrote:

Hi,

I use Pianoteq on 2 os with the same computer.
I have 2 SSD discs installed on this pc, the first one on Windows 10 and the 2nd on Librazik 2, a linux distro optimized for music (RT kernel...).

My sound card is a Babyface pro.

I always play at 44100Hz and 64 samples. The playing experience is perfect at these values.

Now, if I set the system at 128 samples, in Linux I can feel the latency, not in Windows.

This leads me to think that for the same setting of buffer and sampling frequency, Windows manages the latency better than Linux.


Is there any experience out there about that or an explanation?

Are you working with the "Jack" audio-server or "Pulse-Audio"?

Regards,
Neo

Reply by hanysz

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  • hanysz
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Re: Latency Linux vs Windows

Interesting, it's the reverse for me.  Annoying latency in Windows 10 (using Asio4All drivers) but almost imperceptible in Ubuntu 18.04 (jack with buffer size of 256 -- I tried 128, but the sound quality is slightly better at 256 and I didn't notice the extra latency).

I stopped using realtime kernels and customised distros a few years ago.  Modern processors are fast enough that I think these things are no longer necessary, and installing/upgrading software seems easier in a more mainstream version of Linux. (Just my opinion, I haven't done any rigorous testing, just pleased to find that the standard Ubuntu install seems good enough for me these days.)

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Reply by stamkorg

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Re: Latency Linux vs Windows

Neo wrote:

Are you working with the "Jack" audio-server or "Pulse-Audio"?

Regards,
Neo


Jack with Alsa as driver