Delay Time Calculator
Convert any BPM to delay and reverb times in milliseconds. Get perfectly synced values for every note division - dotted and triplet included.
How to use delay times
Setting your delay or reverb pre-delay to a tempo-synced value makes the effect sit in time with your track instead of smearing across beats. Most producers use quarter-note delays for a classic echo, dotted eighth for the "U2 / The Edge" ping-pong effect, or sixteenth-note for fast slapback.
For reverb, set the pre-delay to a short synced value (e.g. 1/16 or 1/32) so the dry signal cuts through before the reverb tail begins. This keeps things clean without losing space.
The formula
The base quarter-note delay in milliseconds is 60,000 / BPM. Multiply by 4 for a whole note, divide by 2 for an eighth, and so on. Dotted values are 1.5x the normal value. Triplet values are 2/3 of the normal value.
Why manual ms values matter
Many plugins offer a "sync" button, but third-party delays and hardware units often only accept millisecond values. Knowing the exact ms value also lets you nudge timing slightly off-grid for a more organic feel - a technique used heavily in dub, ambient, and electronic production.
For keeping track of your delay settings, templates, and project notes across sessions, try Mixvisor.