Dotted eighth magic
At 120 BPM, a dotted eighth lands at 375 ms—the classic U2 delay feel that slots between vocal phrases.
Edge timing
BPM to Delay Time Calculator – BPM to ms, Hz, Dotted & Triplet Notes
Tempo Input
Quarter-note beat. Adjust BPM to update all note values instantly.
Bar Timing
2.000 seconds
500.0 ms • 2.00 Hz
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Delay Time Table
Milliseconds and Hertz for common subdivisions and dotted/triplet feels.
| Note value | Beats | Milliseconds | Hertz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 bars | 16 beats | 8000.0 ms | 0.125 Hz |
| 2 bars | 8 beats | 4000.0 ms | 0.250 Hz |
| 1 bar | 4 beats | 2000.0 ms | 0.500 Hz |
| Quarter note | 1 beat | 500.0 ms | 2.00 Hz |
| Dotted eighth | 0.75 beats | 375.0 ms | 2.667 Hz |
| Eighth note | 0.5 beats | 250.0 ms | 4.000 Hz |
| Triplet eighth | 1/3 beat | 166.7 ms | 6.000 Hz |
| Sixteenth note | 0.25 beats | 125.0 ms | 8.000 Hz |
Release Updates
v1.1 (May 20, 2026)
- Expanded the delay table with bar lengths, 1/64, 1/128, dotted values, and triplet note timings.
- Added copy buttons for every millisecond and Hertz value so settings can be pasted into pedals, plugins, and DAW notes.
- Added a BPM to delay formula section, table of contents, popular tempo tables, and FAQ content.
- Improved BPM to ms, BPM to Hz, reverb pre-delay, dotted eighth delay, LFO rates, and tempo-synced delay workflows.
BPM to delay time formula
The basic BPM to milliseconds formula is:
60,000 ÷ BPM = quarter-note delay time in ms
For example, at 120 BPM:
60,000 ÷ 120 = 500 ms
That means a quarter-note delay is 500 ms. From there, other note values are calculated by multiplying or dividing the quarter-note value:
| Note value | Formula at any BPM | Example at 120 BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Whole note | quarter x 4 | 2000 ms |
| Half note | quarter x 2 | 1000 ms |
| Quarter note | quarter x 1 | 500 ms |
| Dotted eighth | quarter x 0.75 | 375 ms |
| Eighth note | quarter x 0.5 | 250 ms |
| Triplet eighth | quarter ÷ 3 | 166.7 ms |
| Sixteenth | quarter x 0.25 | 125 ms |
How to use the BPM to delay calculator
This BPM to delay calculator turns tempo into practical delay times, so you can dial in echoes, repeats, and tempo-synced effects without guessing. If you have ever wondered how many milliseconds a quarter note is at 128 BPM, or what frequency equals a half-note tremolo, this tool gives you clear answers in one place. It is designed for music production, mixing, sound design, and anyone who wants tempo-locked timing in a DAW or on hardware pedals.
The idea is simple: BPM means beats per minute, so each beat has a fixed length in time. Once you know the duration of one beat, you can divide it into common musical note values like eighths, sixteenths, dotted notes, and triplets. The calculator converts those note values into milliseconds for delay time, and into Hertz for modulation rate. That makes it easy to sync a delay plugin, reverb pre-delay, tremolo, autopan, or LFO to the tempo of a song. You also get a 4/4 bar length in seconds, which helps when building long echoes, ambient swells, or tempo-based transitions.
To use it, enter your song tempo in BPM. The delay table updates instantly, showing milliseconds and Hertz for each subdivision, while the bar timing panel shows one beat and one bar of 4/4. Pick the note value you want, then copy the millisecond value into your delay time setting or the Hertz value into a modulation rate. For example, a dotted eighth note is a classic rhythmic delay for guitars, while triplets can add swing to straight grooves. If you are setting a reverb, try a short pre-delay like 10 to 40 ms to keep vocals clear without losing space.
Real-world use cases are everywhere: matching slapback delay to a rockabilly track, syncing ping-pong echoes to a synth arpeggio, aligning film cues to bar lengths, or keeping live pedal settings consistent across songs with different tempos. Save your favorite timings in session notes, and use the bar and beat readouts when a device lists only frequency instead of musical divisions. With a few clicks, this delay time calculator helps you stay in time and keep your effects musical.
Common delay times at popular tempos
These static BPM to milliseconds tables cover common production tempos. Use them for quick delay pedal milliseconds, plugin delay settings, reverb pre-delay references, and tempo synced delay calculator checks.
120 BPM delay times
| Note | Delay time |
|---|---|
| Quarter | 500.0 ms |
| Dotted eighth | 375.0 ms |
| Eighth | 250.0 ms |
| Triplet eighth | 166.7 ms |
| Sixteenth | 125.0 ms |
128 BPM delay times
| Note | Delay time |
|---|---|
| Quarter | 468.8 ms |
| Dotted eighth | 351.6 ms |
| Eighth | 234.4 ms |
| Triplet eighth | 156.3 ms |
| Sixteenth | 117.2 ms |
140 BPM delay times
| Note | Delay time |
|---|---|
| Quarter | 428.6 ms |
| Dotted eighth | 321.4 ms |
| Eighth | 214.3 ms |
| Triplet eighth | 142.9 ms |
| Sixteenth | 107.1 ms |
90 BPM delay times
| Note | Delay time |
|---|---|
| Quarter | 666.7 ms |
| Dotted eighth | 500.0 ms |
| Eighth | 333.3 ms |
| Triplet eighth | 222.2 ms |
| Sixteenth | 166.7 ms |
100 BPM delay times
| Note | Delay time |
|---|---|
| Quarter | 600.0 ms |
| Dotted eighth | 450.0 ms |
| Eighth | 300.0 ms |
| Triplet eighth | 200.0 ms |
| Sixteenth | 150.0 ms |
Dotted eighth delay explained
A dotted eighth delay is three quarters of a beat, or quarter-note ms x 0.75. It is a popular guitar and synth delay because the repeats fall between straight eighth notes, creating a driving rhythmic pattern without changing the performance.
Triplet delay times explained
Triplet delay divides the beat into three equal parts. A triplet eighth delay is quarter-note ms ÷ 3. Use triplet delays when you want swing, shuffle, or a rolling feel against a straight groove.
Using BPM delay times for reverb pre-delay
A reverb pre-delay calculator helps keep vocals, snares, and lead instruments clear before the reverb tail blooms. Tempo-synced values can work, but many mixes use shorter pre-delay settings around 10 to 40 ms for clarity and depth.
Using Hz values for tremolo, chorus, autopan and LFOs
BPM to Hz conversion is useful when a plugin asks for frequency instead of note value. The Hz column tells you cycles per second, so you can tempo-sync tremolo, chorus, phaser, autopan, filter movement, and other LFO-based modulation.
Delay time examples for guitar pedals and plugins
For a delay pedal milliseconds calculator workflow, enter the song tempo, choose the note value, then copy the ms value into your pedal or plugin. Slapback often sits around 80 to 140 ms, quarter-note delays work well for clear tempo repeats, dotted eighth delays add rhythmic movement, and triplet delays add swing.
FAQ
What is the formula for BPM to milliseconds?
The formula is 60,000 ÷ BPM = quarter-note delay time in ms.
What is a dotted eighth delay at 120 BPM?
At 120 BPM, a dotted eighth delay is 375 ms.
How do I calculate delay time for guitar pedals?
Enter the song BPM, choose a note value, then copy the millisecond value into the pedal delay time setting.
What is the difference between dotted and triplet delay?
Dotted delay extends a note by half its value; triplet delay divides the beat into three equal parts.
Can I use BPM delay times for reverb pre-delay?
Yes. Tempo-synced pre-delay can work, though short values around 10 to 40 ms are common for vocals.
What does Hz mean in a delay calculator?
Hz means cycles per second. It is useful for tempo-syncing LFOs, tremolo, chorus, autopan, and modulation.
What delay time should I use for vocals?
Try slapback around 80 to 140 ms, tempo eighth or quarter delays for repeats, and 10 to 40 ms for reverb pre-delay.
What BPM is 500 ms delay?
A 500 ms quarter-note delay is 120 BPM.
5 Fun Facts for Mixers
Tempo vs. division
Halving BPM gives the same times as doubling your note length; you can double either tempo or subdivision to stay on-grid.
Same groove
Modulation sweet spots
Chorus, tremolo, and autopan often sound more musical at bar or half-note rates than at eighths.
LFO pacing
Pre-delay clarity
Short reverbs with 10–40 ms of pre-delay keep vocals intelligible while leaving space around consonants.
Vocal space
Triplets add swing
Triplet delays create groove without changing the performance—instant shuffle without MIDI quantize.
Feel tweaks