Enablelowlatency

Enablelowlatency is a configuration flag used in various software to request reduced processing and input/output latency. When the option is enabled, applications may adjust buffering, scheduling, and path choices to speed up processing and reduce delay. The exact behavior is highly dependent on the platform and the specific program, and some environments may ignore the flag if real-time capabilities or safe buffering reductions are not available.

Common contexts and meanings

The flag frequently appears in audio-related software, such as digital audio workstations, audio interfaces, or live performance tools, where it can lower audio buffer sizes and enable faster processing paths. It also may show up in streaming encoders, video conferencing tools, or game engines where lower latency improves responsiveness. Variants of the option may be named enableLowLatency, lowlatency, or similar, and can appear in settings menus, configuration files, or as command-line arguments.

Technical considerations

Enabling low latency typically reduces buffering and may enable higher-priority or real-time threads. While this can improve responsiveness, it often increases CPU load and the risk of glitches or dropouts if the system cannot sustain the reduced buffers. Success depends on hardware capabilities, driver support, and operating system scheduling. On some platforms, enabling low latency may require additional configuration, such as real-time permissions or specific driver settings, and may require a restart to take effect.

Configuration guidance

Consult the software documentation to determine whether enablelowlatency is supported and how it interacts with other latency-related settings such as buffer size, sample rate, or thread priority. Consider testing under your typical workload to assess stability and performance.