Convert tempo and note value into milliseconds. Useful for setting synth delay/reverb to musical values, drum programming, and music theory practice. Supports dotted and triplet modifiers.
Inputs
1 – 999
Which note duration to compute — whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, or thirty-second. Pick a quarter note (the typical beat) if you just want the duration of one beat.
Dotted multiplies the duration by 3/2 (a dotted quarter = 1.5 quarter notes); Triplet multiplies by 2/3 (three triplets fit in two beats).
Results
Length of one note. Plug directly into delay-time fields on synthesisers and effects units for tempo-synced echoes.
How much of a whole note this note value represents (e.g. quarter = 1/4 = 0.25). Multiplied by the modifier before computing duration.
How many times per second the note repeats (1 ÷ duration). Useful for LFO-rate matching on synths.
Tempo-Synced Delays and Note Duration
Setting a delay or reverb time to a musical value — one that locks in with the tempo of a track — transforms a static effect into a rhythmic element. This calculator converts tempo (BPM) and note value into milliseconds, seconds, and frequency (Hz), with support for dotted and triplet modifiers.
How It Works
A quarter note is the standard beat unit. Its duration in milliseconds is:
tquarter=BPM60,000
A whole note lasts four quarter notes, so:
twhole=BPM60,000×4
The general formula for any note value is:
t=BPM60,000×4×N1×M
where is the note value (1 = whole, 2 = half, 4 = quarter, 8 = eighth…) and is the modifier multiplier.
Dotted and Triplet Modifiers
Mdotted=23=1.5Mtriplet=32≈0.667
A dotted note lasts 1.5× its plain value. Three triplet notes fit exactly into the space of two plain notes.
Common Delay Times at Typical BPMs
BPM
Quarter note
Eighth note
Dotted eighth
Sixteenth
80
750 ms
375 ms
562.5 ms
187.5 ms
100
600 ms
300 ms
450 ms
150 ms
120
500 ms
250 ms
375 ms
125 ms
128
468.8 ms
234.4 ms
351.6 ms
117.2 ms
140
428.6 ms
214.3 ms
321.4 ms
107.1 ms
The dotted eighth (375 ms at 120 BPM) is the most popular delay time in pop and EDM production because it creates a syncopated "slapback" feel that complements straight rhythms.
Production Applications
Delay: Set your delay time to the note value that matches the groove — dotted eighth for syncopated movement, quarter for straight echoes, eighth for tight doubling effects.
Reverb pre-delay: A pre-delay of 20–50 ms (roughly a 32nd note at moderate tempos) separates the dry signal from the reverb tail, preserving clarity while adding space.
LFO rate: Sync LFO frequency (Hz) to tempo using the Hz output. At 120 BPM a quarter-note LFO runs at 2 Hz; a half-note at 1 Hz.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the formula for note duration in milliseconds?
Quarter note (ms) = 60,000 ÷ BPM. For other notes: multiply by 4 and divide by the note value. For example, an eighth note at 120 BPM = (60,000 / 120) × 4 × (1/8) = 250 ms.
What is a dotted note?
A dot adds half of the note's own value, making it 1.5× longer. A dotted quarter at 120 BPM = 500 × 1.5 = 750 ms.
What is a triplet?
A triplet fits three notes into the space normally occupied by two, making each note 2/3 of its plain duration. A quarter-note triplet at 120 BPM = 500 × (2/3) ≈ 333 ms.
Why is the dotted eighth so popular for delay?
At 120 BPM it is 375 ms — long enough to be heard as a distinct repeat but short enough to stay rhythmically tight. It creates a natural swing that complements straight eighth-note rhythms.
