Delay Time Calculator
Convert BPM to delay times in milliseconds for all note values including dotted and triplet subdivisions. Essential for syncing delays, reverbs, and LFOs in music production.
About this calculator
Every note-value output in this calculator is a fixed multiple of one base number: the quarter-note duration, which is 60,000 divided by Tempo (since a quarter note is one beat, and there are 60,000 milliseconds in a minute). Every other output is that quarter-note value scaled by a constant -- Whole Note is 4x it, Half Note is 2x, Eighth Note is 0.5x, dotted values are 1.5x their plain note, and triplet values are 2/3 of their plain note -- so raising Tempo shortens every single delay-time output at once, in perfect lockstep, because they all share the same 1/Tempo relationship. That's also why the relationship is inverse rather than direct: a faster tempo means beats happen closer together in time, so the millisecond value for any given note length must shrink as Tempo climbs.
Quarter Note Frequency is the one output that runs the other direction from the millisecond values -- it converts Tempo directly to Hz (Tempo divided by 60) for syncing an LFO or modulation rate, so it rises as Tempo rises even while every delay time in milliseconds is falling. Because Tempo is the calculator's only input, it is definitionally the sole driver of every output -- there is no second input whose effect could compete with or override it.
Convert
Results
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Tempo.
- Review Whole Note (1/1) (ms) and Quarter Note (1/4) (ms).
- Use Half Note (1/2) (ms) and Eighth Note (1/8) (ms) to inform your decision.
How the result changes with Tempo
| Tempo | Whole Note (1/1) | Quarter Note (1/4) |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 4,000 ms | 1,000 ms |
| 90 | 2,666.67 ms | 666.67 ms |
| 180 | 1,333.33 ms | 333.33 ms |
| 300 | 800 ms | 200 ms |
What each input means
- Tempo
- The tempo of your song in beats per minute.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input ParametersTempo = 120 = 1 input(s) provided
- Calculate Whole NoteWhole Note2000 = 2000
- Calculate Quarter NoteQuarter Note500 = 500
- Calculate Half NoteHalf Note1000 = 1000
- Calculate Eighth NoteEighth Note250 = 250
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators. Built by Paul Gunder, a software engineer, not a licensed financial, medical, or legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a higher Tempo produce shorter delay times in milliseconds?
Every note value is derived from the quarter-note duration, which equals 60,000 divided by Tempo. As Tempo increases, that division produces a smaller number, and because every other note value (half, eighth, dotted, triplet, and so on) is just a fixed multiple of the quarter note, all of them shrink together. A faster song simply means less time passes between beats.
How is a dotted note's delay time related to its plain note value?
A dotted note is always 1.5 times the duration of its plain equivalent, because a dot adds half the note's original value. Dotted Eighth is therefore 1.5x the plain Eighth Note figure, Dotted Quarter is 1.5x the plain Quarter Note figure, and this ratio holds at every Tempo, since both values scale together off the same quarter-note base.
What is Quarter Note Frequency used for, and why does it move opposite the other outputs?
Quarter Note Frequency converts Tempo directly into Hz (Tempo divided by 60) so you can sync an LFO, tremolo, or modulation rate to the beat. It rises as Tempo rises, which is the opposite direction from every millisecond-based output on this page, because Hz measures cycles per second while the other outputs measure milliseconds per cycle -- inverses of each other by definition.
What delay time is a dotted eighth note at 120 BPM?
375 ms. At 120 BPM the quarter note is 500 ms (60,000 / 120), so the plain eighth note is 250 ms, and the dotted eighth adds half of that again (250 x 1.5) for 375 ms. This is the classic "dotted eighth delay" setting used to get the syncopated, rhythmic slap-back sound heard on many delay-pedal-driven guitar and synth parts.
Related Calculators
The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.
BPM Tap Calculator
Calculate beats per minute from tap count and elapsed time. Essential for musicians, DJs, and music producers to determine song tempo.
Music & AudioReverb Time (RT60) Calculator
Calculate room reverberation time using the Sabine and Eyring formulas. Determine if a room is suitable for recording, performance, or speech.
Music ProductionCompression Settings Calculator
Get suggested compressor settings based on source material, dynamic range, and tempo.
Music ProductionEQ Frequency Guide Calculator
Find the best frequencies to cut and boost for common instruments and problem areas.
Zero Budget AdvancedBudget Sync Calculator
Bank vs budget reconciliation gap score.
More in Creative, Media & Design.