> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gridshift.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Zero Latency Monitoring

> Bypass plugin delay compensation for live instrument monitoring — hear your input immediately, even with heavy plugin chains.

When recording or playing instruments live, plugin delay compensation (PDC) can add noticeable latency between your input and what you hear. **Zero Latency Monitoring** bypasses PDC and temporarily disables high-latency plugins so live input is heard immediately.

Bypassed plugins are shown with an orange tint in the plugin strip.

## Modes

Access via `Settings → Audio` or the Command Palette (`⌘K` → **Zero Latency Mode**).

| Mode                    | Behavior                                                                                                                           |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Recording**           | Bypasses latency plugins and PDC only while recording. This is the default.                                                        |
| **Recording & Playing** | Bypasses latency plugins and PDC for the selected track at all times — during playback and recording. Useful for live performance. |
| **Off**                 | Normal PDC behavior, no bypasses.                                                                                                  |

## How it works

When Zero Latency Monitoring is active:

1. **Plugin bypass** — All plugins with latency > 0 in the signal path (track inserts, parent groups, master bus) are temporarily bypassed.
2. **PDC bypass** — The track's mixer node skips the PDC delay buffer entirely.
3. **Clip compensation** — Clip playback positions are adjusted by the PDC offset so that recorded audio stays aligned with the rest of the session.

Live MIDI and audio input always arrives with zero added latency. Only clip playback needs the read-position offset to stay in sync.

## Signal path scope

The bypass applies to the full signal path of the monitored track:

**Track Inserts** → **Parent Group Inserts** → **Master Bus Inserts**

Any plugin with reported latency > 0 in this chain is temporarily bypassed. Plugins that are already user-bypassed are left unchanged.