BPM to Delay Time Calculator (ms) — All Note Divisions
Quick answer: Enter BPM. Get delay times in ms for every note division (1/1 through 1/32) plus dotted and triplet variants and LFO rate in Hz.
Convert any BPM to precise delay time in milliseconds for every common note division — straight, dotted, and triplet — plus LFO rates in Hz. Used by mixing engineers, music producers, and live audio engineers for tempo-synced delays, reverbs, modulation effects, and time-aligned cues.
Advertisement
Last reviewed: April 2026Report an error
Quarter Note
500.00 ms
At 120 BPM, a quarter note = 500.00 ms. See full table for all note divisions, dotted, and triplet variants.
| Note | Straight (ms) | Dotted (ms) | Triplet (ms) | LFO (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/1 (whole note) | 2000 | 3000 | 1333.33 | 0.5 |
| 1/2 (half note) | 1000 | 1500 | 666.67 | 1 |
| 1/4 (quarter) | 500 | 750 | 333.33 | 2 |
| 1/8 (eighth) | 250 | 375 | 166.67 | 4 |
| 1/16 (sixteenth) | 125 | 187.5 | 83.33 | 8 |
| 1/32 (thirty-second) | 62.5 | 93.75 | 41.67 | 16 |
Formula: 60,000 ÷ BPM = quarter note in ms. Dotted = 1.5×, triplet = 2/3×.
Advertisement
The Formula
quarter_note_ms = 60,000 / BPM ; dotted = ×1.5 ; triplet = ×(2/3) ; LFO_Hz = 1000 / ms
- BPM = Beats per minute (tempo)
- 60,000 = Milliseconds per minute
- dotted = A dotted note adds half its own value (1.5×)
- triplet = Three notes in the time of two (2/3×)
How to Use This BPM Delay Calculator
- 1Enter the song or session BPM.
- 2Read the table of all note division delay times.
- 3Pick the column you need: straight, dotted (1.5×), or triplet (2/3×).
- 4Apply to your delay, reverb pre-delay, or LFO rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 60,000 ÷ BPM = duration of one quarter note in milliseconds. Then multiply or divide for other note values: half note = quarter × 2, eighth = quarter ÷ 2, etc.
- A dotted note adds half its own value (1.5× total). A dotted-eighth = an eighth + a sixteenth. Dotted delays are common on guitar leads (The Edge from U2 used dotted-eighths constantly).
- Three notes squeezed into the time of two. So an eighth-note triplet = 2/3 the duration of a regular eighth. Often used for swung or hip-hop feel.
- Many synth LFOs and modulation effects use Hz instead of note divisions. Quarter note in Hz = BPM ÷ 60. So 120 BPM = 2 Hz quarter note rate.
- Straight (1/8 or 1/4) gives a tight, on-beat repeat — good for rhythmic doubling. Dotted gives a "trailing" feel that fills space without competing with the beat — favored on lead vocals, guitars, and synths.
Advertisement
Related Calculators
</> Embed this calculator on your website
<iframe src="https://calqpro.com/calculators/bpm-to-delay-time-calculator" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0" title="CalQpro Calculator" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p>Powered by <a href="https://calqpro.com">CalQpro</a></p>
Advertisement