BPM to Delay Calculator
Turn any tempo into tempo-synced delay and reverb times, quarter, eighth, dotted and triplet note values in milliseconds, with their matching frequencies. Runs in your browser.
Quarter-note delay
-
All note values
| Note value | Delay (ms) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| Whole | - | - |
| Half | - | - |
| Quarter | - | - |
| Eighth | - | - |
| Sixteenth | - | - |
| Thirty-second | - | - |
| Dotted half | - | - |
| Dotted quarter | - | - |
| Dotted eighth | - | - |
| Triplet quarter | - | - |
| Triplet eighth | - | - |
| Triplet sixteenth | - | - |
Show the math
A quarter note lasts one beat, so its length in milliseconds comes straight from the tempo:
quarter-note ms = 60,000 ÷ BPM
Other note values scale by their fraction of a beat, and the delay's frequency is 1,000 ÷ ms. Use these for tempo-synced delay and reverb pre-delay.
Everything is calculated in your browser.
What this does
A BPM-to-delay calculator turns any tempo into tempo-synced delay and reverb times — quarter, eighth, dotted, and triplet note values in milliseconds, with their matching frequencies.
How to use it
- Enter your track’s tempo.
- Read each note value in ms.
- Pick a quarter, eighth, or dotted time.
- Set your delay or reverb pre-delay to it.
How it works
A quarter note lasts one beat; every other value scales by its fraction — an eighth is half, a dotted quarter is 1.5×. The frequency column is 1,000 ÷ ms for hertz-based units.
quarter note ms = 60,000 ÷ BPM
Understanding your result
These millisecond values are what you dial into a delay or reverb so the echoes lock to the groove instead of muddying it. Reach for dotted and triplet times when you want rhythmic interest rather than a plain repeat, a dotted eighth delay is the classic wide, syncopated sound. Set your plugin to milliseconds, not note divisions, if you want these exact figures to apply.
Example
At 120 BPM a quarter note is 500 ms and an eighth is 250 ms.
Sources & methodology
Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
How is the delay time calculated?
A quarter note lasts one beat, so its length in milliseconds is 60,000 ÷ BPM. Every other note value scales by its fraction of a beat, an eighth is half, a dotted quarter is 1.5×, and so on.
What is the frequency column for?
It is 1,000 ÷ delay-in-ms, useful when a delay or LFO is set in hertz rather than milliseconds, or for matching a tremolo rate to the tempo.
Should I use this for reverb too?
Yes, setting a reverb pre-delay to a note value (often an eighth or sixteenth) keeps the tail in time with the track. The same milliseconds apply.
Do you store my numbers?
No. Everything is calculated locally in your browser, nothing you enter is uploaded or saved.
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