Web/API/BaseAudioContext/createDelay

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.

Syntax

var delayNode = audioCtx.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.

Returns

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

Example

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.

var AudioContext = window.AudioContext || window.webkitAudioContext;
var audioCtx = new AudioContext();

var synthDelay = audioCtx.createDelay(5.0);

  ...

var synthSource;

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

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

...

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

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
Web Audio APIThe definition of 'createDelay()' in that specification.	Working Draft

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`createDelay`	Chrome Full support 10 Prefixed' Full support 10 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	Edge Full support ≤18	Firefox Full support 53 Notes' Full support 53 Notes' Notes' Originally implemented on `AudioContext` in Firefox 25.	IE No support No	Opera Full support 22 Full support 22 Full support 15 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	Safari Full support 6 Prefixed' Full support 6 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support 33	Firefox Android Full support 53 Notes' Full support 53 Notes' Notes' Originally implemented on `AudioContext` in Firefox Android 26.	Opera Android Full support 22 Full support 22 Full support 14 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	Safari iOS Full support 6 Prefixed' Full support 6 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	Samsung Internet Android Full support 2.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.': Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.