Timing and latency

Use this page if you keep getting FAST or SLOW even when you feel on time, or if the sound seems delayed. Delay depends on your computer, monitor, and audio device, so adjust the settings for your setup.

It is easier to get good results in this order:

1. Reduce audio delay
2. Reduce display delay
3. Adjust the timing

1. Reduce audio delay

Adjust these in Settings → Audio. Press Apply after changing them.

Buffer size

This is how much audio is processed at once. A smaller buffer reduces delay, but if it is too small the sound crackles. Set Buffer size mode to Fixed, then choose the smallest value that plays cleanly. We recommend starting with the 128 or 64 preset.

On Windows

When Backend is WASAPI, you can change the Output mode.

Output mode	Description
Shared	Other apps can play sound at the same time. Delay is larger
Shared low latency	Other apps can still play sound, with less delay. Requires Windows 10 or later
Exclusive	Only BMZ Player plays sound. This gives the lowest delay, but other apps go silent

If your audio device supports ASIO, choosing ASIO as the Backend may reduce delay further. With ASIO, the buffer setting in the device driver may take priority.

2. Reduce display delay

Adjust these in Settings → Video.

Setting	Description
Sync mode	Choose whether to prevent screen tearing. Preventing it adds a little display delay
Frame latency	Low latency reduces display delay. Choose Stable if the picture stutters
Target FPS	The maximum number of frames drawn per second. 0 means no limit
Window mode	Fullscreen may reduce display delay

3. Adjust the timing

Automatic timing adjustment (recommended)

Press 0 during play to turn on automatic timing adjustment. Play a few songs with it on, and the visual offset (below) is adjusted little by little to match your timing. When it feels right, press 0 again to turn it off.

Visual offset

This shifts when notes appear to reach the judgement line, relative to the sound. Change Visual offset in the Timing section of Settings → Gameplay. During play, press 3 / 9 to change it by 1 ms.

• If you get many FAST, adjust it in the minus direction.
• If you get many SLOW, adjust it in the plus direction.

Use this when you want to match your timing to what you see.

Input offset

This shifts when key and button presses are judged, relative to the sound. Use it when your input device itself is delayed, such as some controllers. If you get many SLOW, adjust it in the plus direction. If you get many FAST, adjust it in the minus direction.

The visual offset alone is usually enough. If you change both by a lot, it becomes hard to tell which one is causing the problem.

FAST / SLOW display

FAST is shown when you hit too early, and SLOW when you hit too late. Set FAST/SLOW display mode in Settings → Gameplay to Threshold (ms) to show FAST / SLOW on PGREAT as well. FAST/SLOW display threshold sets how far off a PGREAT must be to show it. Set it to 0 to show it for every judgement.