Producers often lower the buffer, update drivers and still hear crackles or see CPU spikes the moment a heavy plugin such as real-time pitch correction is switched on. Start from the symptom you hear, then work down the list.
Find your symptom
| Symptom | Most likely cause | First fix |
|---|---|---|
| Clicks and pops while playing back | Buffer too small for the session | Raise the buffer one step |
| CPU meter jumps when one plugin is on | A heavy or look-ahead plugin | Use its low-latency mode, or freeze the track |
| Delay on one track only | Plugin latency on that track | Bypass plugins on the track you are recording |
| Delay hearing yourself while recording | Software monitoring at a large buffer | Use direct monitoring on the interface |
| Random dropouts, even in small sessions | Power saving, Wi-Fi or background apps | See the system checklist below |
| Wrong pitch or speed | Sample rate mismatch | Match the DAW and interface sample rates |
Heavy plugins while recording
Real-time pitch correction, linear-phase EQs, look-ahead limiters and big reverbs can add delay or load the CPU. While recording:
- Switch such plugins to their low-latency or live mode if they have one.
- Bypass mastering-style plugins on the master bus.
- Freeze or bounce finished instrument tracks to audio to free the CPU.
- Turn on your DAW's low-latency monitoring mode if it has one.
Use two buffer settings
Record at a small buffer, around 64 to 128 samples, with few plugins running. Mix at a large buffer, 512 to 1024 samples, with everything on. Switching between the two solves most problems without new hardware. Full details in how to fix audio latency.
System checklist
- Windows: use the interface's ASIO driver and a high-performance power plan; close browsers and game launchers.
- Mac: turn off Low Power Mode while recording.
- Both: plug the interface directly into the computer rather than a hub, turn off Bluetooth audio, and pause cloud syncing during sessions.
- Laptops often perform better plugged in to power.
When it is the hardware
If a small session still crackles at a 256-sample buffer after all of this, your interface driver or computer may be the limit. A modern interface with good drivers helps; see our beginner picks.
About this guide
This guide explains widely used production practice and contains no statistics or product claims that need an outside source. See our editorial standards.
