A Maximum Length Sequence–Based Method for Robust Round-Trip Latency Estimation in online Digital Audio Workstations

Accurate estimation of latency when working with digital audio equipment is critical for the precise operation of cer- tain applications. This is particularly true for Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and other tools used in the creation and editing of audio, especially music. These systems re- quire exact synchronization or alignment of tracks, which is essential for the mixing process. Latency is an inherent phe- nomenon in audio capture and restitution. Although it may sometimes be minimal, it is always variable depending on the device, operating system, and audio configuration. The undesired effect introduced by latency—specifically referred to in this context as round-trip latency—manifests as a delay between the audio input and the corresponding output. The most effective way to address this issue is through prior mea- surement to enable proper compensation. Various methods exist for performing this measurement, generally based on the playback and recording of acoustic signals. This article presents an existing method applied in a novel way within the domain of audio and web browsers, based on the use of a Maximum Length Sequence (MLS) signal. This signal is commonly used in room impulse response characteriza- tion. To validate its effectiveness and identify the limitations of the proposed approach, multiple tests and experiments were conducted on different devices. Results were compared across various browsers and operating systems, and the pro- posed solution was benchmarked against the methods em- ployed by existing online DAWs. The implementation of the proposed method is available as part of the Hi-Audio online platform—an open-source, browser-based DAW—providing a practical demonstration of its applicability and integration in real-world web audio environments.