BPM to Delay Time Calculator
Convert BPM (beats per minute) to delay, reverb, and echo timing in milliseconds for music production and live performance.
Setting delay effects in sync with a song’s tempo creates a polished, professional sound. When delay times are rhythmically in sync with the music, the echo blends naturally with the groove. When they’re out of sync, the echo fights the rhythm and sounds muddy.
The Basic Formula
One beat at a given tempo takes:
ms per beat = 60,000 ÷ BPM
For example, at 120 BPM:
- 60,000 ÷ 120 = 500ms per beat (1/4 note at 120 BPM)
Musical Note Values and Delay Times
Different delay settings create different rhythmic feels:
| Note Value | Formula | At 120 BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Whole note (1/1) | 4 × (60,000 ÷ BPM) | 2,000 ms |
| Half note (1/2) | 2 × (60,000 ÷ BPM) | 1,000 ms |
| Quarter note (1/4) | 60,000 ÷ BPM | 500 ms |
| 8th note (1/8) | 30,000 ÷ BPM | 250 ms |
| 16th note (1/16) | 15,000 ÷ BPM | 125 ms |
| Dotted quarter | 1.5 × quarter | 750 ms |
| Dotted 8th | 1.5 × 8th | 375 ms |
| Quarter triplet | 2/3 × quarter | 333 ms |
The Dotted 8th Note Delay
The dotted 8th note delay is one of the most famous delay settings in music, used extensively by The Edge (U2), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), and countless others. It creates an interlocking pattern with the beat that fills space without cluttering the rhythm. At 120 BPM, this is 375ms.
Reverb Pre-Delay
Pre-delay in a reverb plugin can also be tempo-synced. Using a 16th or 32nd note pre-delay (31–62ms at 120 BPM) separates the dry signal from the reverb tail, adding depth while preserving clarity.
Practical Tips
- Set delay feedback low (20–40%) for subtle echoes; higher for longer trails
- Low-pass filter on the delay return keeps repeats warm and out of the way of the dry signal
- Ping-pong delays using stereo left/right timing add width
- For live settings, tap-tempo features on delay pedals auto-calculate from your taps