Tempo to delay time calculator
Type the song's BPM. Every note value in milliseconds, ready to dial into a delay or reverb.
| Note | Straight (ms) | Dotted (ms) | Triplet (ms) | Straight (Hz) |
|---|
How it works
quarter note (ms) = 60,000 ÷ BPM
dotted = × 1.5 triplet = × ⅔ Hz = 1000 ÷ ms
dotted = × 1.5 triplet = × ⅔ Hz = 1000 ÷ ms
At 120 BPM a quarter note is 500 ms, an eighth is 250 ms and a dotted eighth is 375 ms. The hertz column is handy for modulation and tremolo rates.
Field notes
- Dotted eighths are the classic. A dotted-eighth delay on a quarter-note groove fills the space between beats instead of landing on them, which is why it shows up on so many guitar parts.
- Pre-delay keeps vocals clear. Delaying the reverb's start by a 32nd or 64th note lets the dry word land before the space blooms. Pre-delay times are shown below the table.
- Reverb decay that ends on a note value breathes with the song. A decay of a half note or whole note is a good starting point for ballads; shorter for busy mixes.
- Live, tap it in. Bands drift from the click. Tapping the tempo during the song beats setting it from the set list.