BPM to Milliseconds
| Note value | Whole (ms) | Dotted (ms) | Triplet (ms) | LFO (Hz) |
|---|
How to use
- Set your BPM using the number field, the slider, or by tapping along to a song with the Tap button.
- Pick the right time signature if your project isn't 4/4.
- Each cell in the table is the delay (or LFO frequency) you'd punch into a DAW plugin to sync that note value to your tempo. Click any cell to copy its value.
- Hit Test delay to hear what that timing actually sounds like — useful when picking between dotted, straight, and triplet feels.
How BPM-to-ms calculation works
The math is simple. A quarter note at any BPM lasts 60,000 ÷ BPM milliseconds — at 120 BPM, that's 500 ms. Every other note value is just a fraction of that: an 8th note is half a quarter (250 ms), a 16th is half an 8th (125 ms), and so on. Dotted values are 1.5× the straight value (a dotted 8th = 375 ms at 120 BPM); triplet values are 2/3 of the straight value (8th triplet = 167 ms).
The LFO frequency in Hz column is the inverse — how many full cycles per second you'd need an LFO to run to sync to that note value. A whole note at 120 BPM lasts 2000 ms, which is 0.5 Hz. This is what to enter into a tempo-synced LFO that takes Hz instead of beats.
For tempo-synced delay plugins, just match the value in the table to the corresponding "ms" parameter in your plugin. Some plugins also offer a tempo-sync mode that does this for you — but knowing the exact ms is essential for fixed-time delays, vintage hardware emulations, or any plugin that doesn't sync.
FAQs
What's the difference between dotted and triplet delays?
A dotted 8th delay (1.5× an 8th note) creates the rhythmic pull that's classic in U2-style guitar lines and reggae. A triplet 8th delay (2/3 of an 8th) creates a different swung feel — common in jazz, blues, and shuffle-based grooves. Try both with the same source and you'll hear immediately why producers reach for them.
Why do producers sync delays to BPM?
Because a delay that doesn't lock to the tempo creates rhythmic confusion — the echoes fight against the drums. A tempo-synced delay turns the echo into another rhythmic layer that supports the groove, so it feels like part of the song rather than an afterthought.
Should reverb pre-delay be tempo-synced?
Often yes, especially on lead vocals and important drum hits. Setting reverb pre-delay to a 16th or 32nd note keeps the wet signal from smearing the dry signal, while still making the reverb feel rhythmically connected. For longer pre-delay (drum-room style), syncing to a dotted 8th can make the room feel surprisingly musical.
How do I use this with my DAW's tempo?
Match the BPM here to your project's BPM, then copy the cell that matches the note value you want. Paste it into the delay or LFO parameter on your plugin. If your plugin already has tempo-sync mode, use that — otherwise the ms value here will give you the exact same result.
What's an LFO Hz value?
Some LFOs (low-frequency oscillators — the things that wobble filters, panning, and pitch in synths) are set in Hz instead of beats. The Hz column gives you the exact frequency to type in to make the LFO complete one full cycle per note value at your tempo. 1 Hz = one cycle per second.