Delay and reverb calculator: BPM to ms and Hz
Turn the tempo into delay times (straight, dotted and triplet), reverb pre-delay and decay in ms, and LFO rates in Hz.
Click the button or press the space bar in time.
Delay (ms)Repeat time synced to the tempo. Dotted = ×1.5 (repeats that “roll” against the beat); triplet = ×2/3.
| Note | Straight | Dotted | Triplet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole 1/1 | 1,875ms | 2,812.5ms | 1,250ms |
| Half 1/2 | 937.5ms | 1,406.25ms | 625ms |
| Quarter 1/4 | 468.75ms | 703.13ms | 312.5ms |
| Eighth 1/8 | 234.38ms | 351.56ms | 156.25ms |
| Sixteenth 1/16 | 117.19ms | 175.78ms | 78.13ms |
| Thirty-second 1/32 | 58.59ms | 87.89ms | 39.06ms |
Reverb in timeThe pre-delay separates the dry hit from the tail (the transient comes through clean). The decay is the remaining time so the tail ends just as the next hit of that note value arrives.
| Size | Total | Decay (pre-delay 1/64) | Decay (pre-delay 1/128) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small room 1/4 | 468.75 ms | 439.45ms | 454.1ms |
| Room 1/2 | 937.5 ms | 908.2ms | 922.85ms |
| Hall 1/1 | 1,875 ms | 1,845.7ms | 1,860.35ms |
| Long hall 2 bars | 3,750 ms | 3,720.7ms | 3,735.35ms |
Tempo frequency (Hz)f = BPM / 60 is the quarter-note frequency. Use it (or its multiples) for tremolo, autopan or filter LFOs. The audible octaves help you tune resonances in time.
Quarter note: 2.133 Hz (f = BPM / 60)
Audible octaves (f · 2ⁿ)
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How to use “Delay and Reverb Calculator”
- Type your project’s BPM (decimals are fine) or click “Tap Tempo” (or press the space bar) in time with the song.
- Pick the note value and type in the delay table: straight, dotted or triplet.
- For reverb, use a 1/64 or 1/128 pre-delay and the decay of the size you are after.
- Click the copy icon next to any value and paste it into your plugin or DAW.
Formulas the calculator uses
A quarter note lasts 60,000 / BPM milliseconds; each note value lasts half the previous one (half note = 2 quarters, eighth = half a quarter). Dotted values are multiplied by 1.5 and triplets by 2/3. For reverb, the pre-delay (1/64 or 1/128) separates the dry hit from the tail so the transient comes through clean, and the decay is the remaining time to complete the chosen note value, so the tail ends just as the next hit arrives. The tempo frequency is f = BPM / 60 Hz (that of the quarter note); its multiples are used for LFOs and its audible octaves (f · 2ⁿ) for tuning filters or resonances in tempo. Tap Tempo averages the intervals of the last 4 taps and resets if more than 2 seconds pass without a tap.
Frequently asked questions
Which delay makes it sound “in time”?
Dotted eighth or dotted quarter are the classics for vocals and guitars: the repeats fall between the hits and fill without muddying. A straight quarter or eighth reinforces the rhythm; triplets give a sense of swing.
What is reverb pre-delay for?
It delays the start of the tail relative to the dry sound. That way the attack (consonants, snare hit) comes through clearly before the reverb arrives. 1/64 or 1/128 of the tempo are usually natural values.
Why does the decay depend on the tempo?
If the tail lasts exactly one note value (a quarter, a half, a bar), it dies away as the next hit arrives and does not mask the transients. It is a starting point: adjust it by ear.
How does Tap Tempo work?
Click the button or press the space bar in time. The intervals of the last 4 taps are averaged; if you stop tapping for more than 2 seconds, a new measurement starts.