Could cloud-based audio mixing be useful for streamed music events, or would there be latency issues?
ASKED BY · Douglas Carmichael · 10 OCT 2026 · ▶ 00:50:47
Latency irrelevant when mixing for stream output; becomes critical only when mixing venue monitor sends that feed back to performers.
Front-of-house mixing requires hands-on focus and reaction to live band; noticeable latency of 20-50+ milliseconds would be unworkable for that application.
Live broadcasts use seven-second delay built-in for safety; latency can be an advantage if non-delayed video preview available for mixing reference; not an issue unless onsite crew needs real-time cues from delayed feed.
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From the transcript.
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50:46If you are mixing for the venue, if you are mixing to send back monitors, then latency becomes an issue. But if you're strictly taking the audio feeds in to a mixer and mixing them to go back out to the public, then latency doesn't actually even matter. Corny. me. Yeah, Chris nailed it. Latency is your friend, actually, in remotely mixed and in venues. You
51:13know, a lot of people don't realize this, but, you know, all live broadcasts over the last 15, 20 years have had a seven-second delay built into the audio automatically so they could censor out the bad words that may come fleetingly out of the lips of someone on stage. So, you know, latency has been around for a long time, up to seven seconds.
51:34So a lot of times it gives you a jump on, you know what's coming. You have a little preview of it if you've got a non-delayed version of the video and a delayed version that you're using for mixing. So you can use it to your advantage, and it doesn't make any difference unless you're feeding that image back to someone at the live event
51:54who is watching the performance live on the stage and has the feed of the mix at the same time, then it's an issue. But other than that, you know, like if the cameramen are their on-site announcers that had to take their cues off the broadcast rather than the local feed, then it might be an issue. But other than that, latency can be your friend.
52:19Yeah, I agree with all that too. I mean, for me, like I couldn't do my job as a front-of-house engineer for a band if there was noticeable latency. Like someone's paying me to be there. Like I need to be able to react to the band and what's going on there. And, you know, music is a musical performance is a very dynamic thing and it requires hands on.
52:42It requires focus. And I just I wouldn't be able to do that with like 20 or 40 or 50 or more milliseconds of latency. Just not not something I would want to do. All right. Let's go to the next question. From Chautauqua, New York, Zach Stahlsmith says, can QLab interface with Zoom OSC or Zoom ISO? Chris, I'm certainly not a QLab expert, but in my use, I don't, depending on what you're trying to do, sure, it can.
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