Work with plug-in latencies

Audio processed through some plug-ins is subject to small timing delays, known as latency. For example, a software instrument running inside Logic Pro will only have an output latency, because it’s generated inside the application. An audio recording that is being monitored in real time will have both an input and an output latency. These two values are summed, resulting in an overall monitoring latency figure. Each further process—such as the use of an effect plug-in, for example—may also add an amount of latency, which is combined with the input and output latency figure, depending on whether a software instrument or audio channel strip is in use.

In Logic Pro, you can compensate for internal latencies introduced by plug-ins, ensuring that all track and channel strip output is perfectly synchronized.

You can also turn plug-in latency compensation on or off, for audio and software instrument tracks or for all channels (audio, instrument, aux, output, and ReWire). When this setting is turned on, Logic Pro compensates for latency introduced by plug-ins, ensuring that audio routed through them is synchronized with all other audio. This is achieved by calculating the amount of latency caused by plug-ins, and then delaying audio streams by an appropriate amount—or shifting instrument and audio tracks forward in time.