Delay Time Calculator — BPM to Milliseconds
This delay time calculator converts BPM to milliseconds for tempo-synced delay, reverb pre-delay, and LFO rates. At 120 BPM: quarter note = 500 ms, dotted quarter = 750 ms, eighth = 250 ms, dotted eighth = 375 ms. Enter any BPM to get a full delay table for all note values.
Delay Times at 120 BPM
| Note | ms | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| Whole | 2000.00 | 0.500 |
| Dotted Half | 1500.00 | 0.667 |
| Half | 1000.00 | 1.000 |
| Dotted Quarter | 750.00 | 1.333 |
| Quarter | 500.00 | 2.000 |
| Dotted Eighth | 375.00 | 2.667 |
| Quarter Triplet | 333.33 | 3.000 |
| Eighth | 250.00 | 4.000 |
| Eighth Triplet | 166.67 | 6.000 |
| Sixteenth | 125.00 | 8.000 |
| Sixteenth Triplet | 83.33 | 12.000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate delay time from BPM?
Divide 60,000 (milliseconds in a minute) by the BPM to get the quarter note delay time in ms. For example: 120 BPM → 60,000 / 120 = 500 ms. For an eighth note, divide that by 2 (250 ms). For a dotted quarter, multiply by 1.5 (750 ms).
What is the delay time for 120 BPM?
At 120 BPM: Quarter = 500ms, Dotted Quarter = 750ms, Half = 1000ms, Eighth = 250ms, Dotted Eighth = 375ms, Sixteenth = 125ms, Quarter Triplet = 333ms, Eighth Triplet = 167ms.
What delay time is the 'dotted eighth' delay?
The dotted eighth delay (used famously by The Edge of U2) is 1.5 × the eighth note delay. At 120 BPM: eighth = 250ms, dotted eighth = 375ms. It creates a cascading, spacious rhythm on guitar when set with 2–4 feedback repeats.
How do I set delay time without a tempo-sync option?
Use this calculator to find the exact millisecond value for your BPM. Enter that number directly into your delay plugin's time parameter. Most delay effects accept values from 0–2000 ms. For whole notes at slower tempos, you may need two separate delays in series.
What are triplet delays?
Triplet delays divide the beat into three equal parts instead of two. A quarter note triplet at 120 BPM = 500ms / 1.5 ≈ 333ms. Triplet rhythms create a shuffling, swing feel. Stacking a straight eighth delay with a triplet eighth delay creates polyrhythmic texture.
What is LFO sync and how are Hz values used?
LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) rates in synthesizers and effects are often set in Hz (cycles per second). Syncing an LFO to your tempo means setting its rate to the Hz value of a note. At 120 BPM, a quarter note = 2 Hz, an eighth note = 4 Hz, a half note = 1 Hz.
What BPM is electronic dance music?
Common EDM BPM ranges: House = 120–130 BPM, Techno = 130–145 BPM, Drum and Bass = 160–180 BPM, Dubstep = 138–142 BPM (often felt at half-tempo 69–71 BPM), Hip-hop = 70–100 BPM, Trance = 128–145 BPM.
How do I find the BPM of a song?
Use a tap tempo calculator: tap along with the beat for 8–16 beats and it averages the time between taps. Many DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) also have automatic BPM detection. Once you know the BPM, use this calculator to get all delay times.
BPM to Milliseconds Formula
The delay time for a quarter note at a given BPM is calculated by dividing 60,000 milliseconds (one minute) by the BPM. All other note values are multiples or fractions of the quarter note.
Quarter Note (ms) = 60,000 / BPM
Example: 120 BPM → 60,000 / 120 = 500 ms
Note Value Multipliers
| Note Value | Multiplier | At 120 BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Whole | × 4 | 2000 ms |
| Dotted Half | × 3 | 1500 ms |
| Half | × 2 | 1000 ms |
| Dotted Quarter | × 1.5 | 750 ms |
| Quarter | × 1 | 500 ms |
| Quarter Triplet | × 2/3 | 333 ms |
| Eighth | × 0.5 | 250 ms |
| Dotted Eighth | × 0.75 | 375 ms |
| Eighth Triplet | × 1/3 | 167 ms |
| Sixteenth | × 0.25 | 125 ms |
| Sixteenth Triplet | × 1/6 | 83 ms |
How to Use Delay Times in Music Production
Related Tools
- BPM Tap Tempo Calculator — Tap to find the BPM of any song
- Frequency to Note Calculator — Convert Hz to musical note names