Delay Time Calculator
Tempo-synced delay times for every note division, with a note on what each one actually does to the rhythm.
0 taps
Stability —
Beats per minute, 20 to 400.
Four beats of 4/4, pulsing at the tempo shown.
- 1/4 straight
- ms
- 1/8 dotted
- ms
- 1/16 straight
- ms
- 1/4 triplet
- ms
Tempo-synced delay times come from the length of a note at your tempo. At 128 BPM an eighth-note delay is 234.38 ms, a dotted eighth is 351.56 ms, and a quarter-note triplet is 312.5 ms. Enter your tempo below for the full table across every division.
Every division at 120 BPM
Each column does a different job. Straight values reinforce the existing grid, dotted values land between grid positions and pull against the beat, and triplets add density without doubling the rhythm.
| Note | Straight | Dotted | Triplet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole note 1/1 | |||
| Half note 1/2 | |||
| Quarter note 1/4 | |||
| Eighth note 1/8 | |||
| Sixteenth 1/16 | |||
| Thirty-second 1/32 | |||
| Sixty-fourth 1/64 |
All values in milliseconds. Round to the nearest value your delay unit accepts.
Choosing a division
The usual starting points, at 120 BPM:
- Eighth note — 250 ms. Sits on the grid. Thickens a part without changing its rhythm.
- Dotted eighth — 375 ms. The classic rhythmic delay. Repeats fall between the eighths and take three of them to line back up with the beat.
- Quarter note — 500 ms. Spacious. Works on sparse arrangements, clutters dense ones.
- Sixteenth — 125 ms. Short enough to read as thickening rather than repetition.
The formula
delay ms = (60000 ÷ BPM) × note value
Dotted multiplies by 1.5, triplet by two thirds. The formula guide works through where each multiplier comes from.
Feedback matters as much as time. A correctly timed delay with feedback too high still muddies a mix. Start low, raise until the repeats are just audible, and roll off the return below about 300 Hz and above about 5 kHz.
Need every value at once?
The main BPM calculator shows milliseconds, delay times, reverb ranges, hertz and bar length together, updating from a single tempo.
Understand the maths
Set a delay to tempo by matching its time to a note length at your BPM. Eighth-note delays reinforce the groove, dotted eighths create the off-grid pulse common in rock and electronic music, and triplets add movement without doubling the rhythm. Feedback and filtering matter as much as the time itself.
Common questions
What delay time should I use for 128 BPM?
It depends on the effect you want. At 128 BPM a quarter note is 468.75 ms, an eighth is 234.38 ms, and a dotted eighth is 351.56 ms. Dotted eighths give the off-grid pulse common in electronic and rock production.
What is a dotted eighth delay?
A delay set to one and a half times an eighth note. Because it lands between grid positions it creates a rhythmic pattern against the beat rather than reinforcing it.
Should I use straight, dotted or triplet delay?
Straight delays reinforce the existing groove. Dotted delays create movement across the beat. Triplets add density without doubling the rhythm. Straight and dotted eighths cover most cases.
Related tools and guides
- Reverb Time Calculator Pre-delay and decay times that sit with your tempo instead of fighting it, with the note-division maths shown for room, plate and hall reverbs. Tool
- BPM to Milliseconds Converter Convert any tempo to milliseconds per beat and back again. Covers every note division from whole notes to 1/64, straight, dotted and triplet. Converter
- BPM Calculator Tap a tempo and get every value it drives: milliseconds per beat, delay and reverb times, hertz, frames and bar length. Free, instant, no sign-up.
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