How do I calculate delay time from BPM?

Divide 60,000 by the BPM for the quarter-note delay. Halve it for an eighth, multiply the eighth by 1.5 for a dotted eighth, or take two-thirds for a triplet. At 120 BPM the quarter is 500 ms and the dotted eighth is 375 ms.

What is the best delay time for vocals?

A quarter-note delay gives clean, on-the-beat throws that suit vocals. For a more rhythmic effect, a dotted eighth weaves the repeats between the beats. Match the choice to the tempo of the song using a delay calculator.

What is a dotted eighth note delay?

A dotted eighth is 1.5 times an eighth note. At 120 BPM the eighth is 250 ms, so the dotted eighth is 375 ms. Its repeats land between the main beats, creating the classic syncopated shimmer heard on countless guitar and synth parts.

Why does my delay sound muddy?

Usually because it is not synced to the tempo, so the repeats drift against the beat. Set the delay to a tempo-matched value, and roll off some low end on the repeats so they sit behind the dry signal.

Delay Time Calculator: Sync Delay to BPM

ArtyphonicJune 13, 20263 min read

A delay time calculator converts your tempo into the millisecond values that land on the beat. Enter the BPM and it returns the standard, dotted, and triplet delay times, so the repeats fall on musical subdivisions instead of drifting. Quarter-note delay is the workhorse; the dotted eighth gives the familiar rhythmic shimmer.

How delay times are calculated

Every delay time starts from the quarter note: 60000 ÷ BPM milliseconds. From there, straight subdivisions halve, dotted values multiply by 1.5, and triplets take two-thirds.

Delay	Formula	At 120 BPM
Quarter (1/4)	60000 ÷ BPM	500 ms
Eighth (1/8)	quarter ÷ 2	250 ms
Dotted eighth	eighth × 1.5	375 ms
Triplet eighth	eighth × 2/3	167 ms
Sixteenth (1/16)	quarter ÷ 4	125 ms

Free toolDelay CalculatorCalculate delay times from BPM for quarter, eighth, dotted, and triplet values. Free delay calculator for producers and mix engineers.

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Which delay time should you use?

The note value sets the feel. Match it to what the part is doing rather than reaching for the same setting every time.

Quarter note — slapback and vocal throws. Clear, on-the-beat repeats that read as deliberate echoes.

How delay times are calculated

Which delay time should you use?

Why sync delay to the tempo?