BaseAudioContext: createDelay() method

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since April 2021.

The createDelay() method of the BaseAudioContext Interface is used to create a DelayNode, which is used to delay the incoming audio signal by a certain amount of time.

Note: The DelayNode() constructor is the recommended way to create a DelayNode; see Creating an AudioNode.

Syntax

js
createDelay(maxDelayTime)

Parameters

maxDelayTime Optional

The maximum amount of time, in seconds, that the audio signal can be delayed by. Must be less than 180 seconds, and defaults to 1 second if not specified.

Return value

A DelayNode. The default DelayNode.delayTime is 0 seconds.

Examples

We have created a simple example that allows you to play three different samples on a constant loop — see create-delay (you can also view the source code). If you just press the play buttons, the loops will start immediately; if you slide the sliders up to the right, then press the play buttons, a delay will be introduced, so the looping sounds don't start playing for a short amount of time.

js
const audioCtx = new AudioContext();

const synthDelay = audioCtx.createDelay(5.0);

// …

let synthSource;

playSynth.onclick = () => {
  synthSource = audioCtx.createBufferSource();
  synthSource.buffer = buffers[2];
  synthSource.loop = true;
  synthSource.start();
  synthSource.connect(synthDelay);
  synthDelay.connect(destination);
  this.setAttribute("disabled", "disabled");
};

stopSynth.onclick = () => {
  synthSource.disconnect(synthDelay);
  synthDelay.disconnect(destination);
  synthSource.stop();
  playSynth.removeAttribute("disabled");
};

// …

let delay1;
rangeSynth.oninput = () => {
  delay1 = rangeSynth.value;
  synthDelay.delayTime.setValueAtTime(delay1, audioCtx.currentTime);
};

Specifications

Specification
Web Audio API
# dom-baseaudiocontext-createdelay

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also