Skip to content
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Latency

Latency is always present in online audio. Bonza is designed to keep it low so your rehearsals and performances feel natural and connected.

Understanding Latency in Bonza

What is Latency?

Definition: latency is the time delay induced by the digital processing of audio.

  • One-way latency: The delay from you playing → to others hearing you in the session.

  • Round-trip latency: The there-and-back delay across a signal path. For example, the time for your microphone signal to go through your audio interface into your computer, be processed by Bonza, and return through your audio interface into your headphones.

 

Why Latency Happens

A small delay is inevitable because audio must be:

  • Captured and converted by your audio interface and computer

  • Transmitted over the internet between locations

  • Processed and buffered to keep streams stable

  • Played back on the other side

Other contributors include network quality (jitter, packet loss), computer performance (CPU/RAM load), and geographic distance between participants.

 

How Bonza Minimizes Latency

Bonza aims to balance the lowest practical delay with stable, high-quality audio/video by using:

  • OPUS audio compression codec for efficient, low-latency audio (with 16-bit linear PCM also available)

  • Peer-to-peer connections to shorten the network path where possible

  • JPEG-based video compression tuned for responsiveness, so video doesn’t get in the way of audio timing

 

What Level of Latency is Normal?

Imagine a sound as a wave that ripples through air at roughly 3 milliseconds per meter - step back 10 meters and you’re about 30ms “behind” your friend’s note. Online, we swap air and physical distance for circuits and networks. Nothing’s broken; your audio just needs to be captured, packed, sent, unpacked, and played. The aim isn’t zero delay (that’s impossible), but low enough that playing still feels natural.

What you’ll typically see in Bonza

  • Common case: usually under 30 ms

  • Best case (good hardware + network): as low as ~5 ms

How that tends to feel

  • ≤ ~30 ms: Feels natural - like standing a few meters apart in the same room.

  • ~30–50 ms: Noticeable, but many players adapt with feel and phrasing.

  • > 50 ms: Can feel delayed; some ensembles may adjust parts or workflow.

 

Tips to Keep Latency Low

  • Prefer wired Ethernet over Wi-Fi

  • Close background apps (especially anything using CPU, disk, or internet bandwidth)

  • Use modern hardware where available (details covered in your hardware section)

  • Adjust buffer size pragmatically: if you hear crackles/dropouts, increase the buffer step-by-step until sound quality stabilises

  • Reduce bandwidth load if needed (e.g., lower video resolution or switch video off during critical moments)

  • Avoid long, congested routes (VPNs, heavy network usage on the same connection)

     

 

 

Is zero-latency possible online?
No. There’s always some delay; the goal is to keep it low enough to feel natural.

Why do video calls feel okay but music is harder?
Music performance needs much tighter timing than speech. Bonza prioritizes audio responsiveness to meet that need.

Can we play with people in other countries?
Yes - but physical distance is the biggest predictor of latency. For the most reliable experience, we don’t recommend connecting across continents. Nearby countries or regions on the same continent often feel fine when networks are good, but expect latency to rise as the real-world distance grows.

Rule of thumb: the closer someone is in real life, the lower the likely latency. If you’re choosing collaborators, prefer the same city, region or continent for the most natural feel.