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Delay Reverb Times Calculator
Convert song tempo in BPM to straight, dotted, and triplet note durations in milliseconds.
Delay Reverb Times Calculator
Tempo-synchronised times
Enter a tempo to calculate delay and reverb timing values.
Formula version 1.0.0
How to use this calculator
- Enter the project tempo in beats per minute.
- Select Calculate.
- Use the quarter-note value as the base delay time.
- Choose the displayed straight, dotted, or triplet subdivision that matches the musical part.
Symbols and units
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit or domain |
|---|---|---|
BPM | Quarter-note beats per minute | beats/min |
Tq | Quarter-note duration | ms |
Td | Dotted duration | ms |
Tt | Triplet duration | ms |
Checked examples
120 BPM
Inputs: Tempo 120 BPM
Calculation: Tq = 60,000 ÷ 120; eighth = Tq ÷ 2; dotted quarter = 1.5×Tq
Result: Quarter 500 ms; eighth 250 ms; dotted quarter 750 ms
These times align repeats to a 120 BPM grid.
Check: delay-reverb-times.test.ts
60.5 BPM
Inputs: Tempo 60.5 BPM
Calculation: Tq = 60,000 ÷ 60.5
Result: Quarter ≈ 991.736 ms
Fractional tempos are supported without rounding the input first.
Check: delay-reverb-times.test.ts
Assumptions, rounding, and limits
- BPM represents quarter-note beats.
- Tempo is constant for the calculated passage.
- The output is timing only.
- Feedback, decay, pre-delay, mix, groove, and device latency are not modeled.
Frequently asked questions
Why divide 60,000 by BPM?
There are 60,000 milliseconds in one minute, so the division gives milliseconds per quarter-note beat.
What is a dotted note time?
A dotted duration is one and a half times the corresponding straight note.
Does this set reverb decay?
No. It supplies tempo-related timing references; the appropriate decay depends on the arrangement and sound.
Sources and review
- Sound On Sound: Creating & Using Custom Delay Effects — Tempo-related delay timing
- Ableton: Live Audio Effect Reference — Delay — Synced delay subdivisions
- Formula version
- delay.reverb-times@1.0.0
- Formula review
- Equatara formula review
- Editorial review
- Equatara editorial review
- Last verified
- 2026-10-25
- Applicability
- Tempo-synchronised note durations; not an acoustic reverb model.
- Next review
- On material formula/source change, or by 2028-10-25.
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