How do I calculate delay time from BPM?

The base formula is: Delay (ms) = 60,000 / BPM. This gives you a quarter note delay. Multiply by 2 for half notes, divide by 2 for eighth notes, and so on. For dotted notes, multiply by 1.5. For triplets, multiply by 2/3.

What is a dotted delay?

A dotted note is 1.5 times the length of the regular note. Dotted eighth note delays (1/8.) are extremely popular in music production — they create the rhythmic ping-pong delay heard in countless records from U2 to modern electronic music.

What is a triplet delay?

A triplet divides a note value into three equal parts instead of two. Triplet delays (2/3 of the straight value) create a swinging, bouncing feel. Triplet sixteenth delays are commonly used in dub and reggae-influenced production.

Why should I sync my delays to the BPM?

Tempo-synced delays sit in time with the music, creating rhythmic patterns that complement the groove rather than fighting it. Un-synced delays can sound messy and clutter the mix, especially on rhythmic material.

AudioCalcs

Delay Time Calculator — BPM-Synced Delay in Milliseconds

Calculate delay times in milliseconds synced to BPM for all note values including dotted and triplet.

BPM

Tempo of your track in beats per minute

Swing50% is straight; 67% is triplet swing (2:1 long:short). Shows the swung long/short eighth pair.

How We Calculate This

Base Formula

Quarter note delay (ms) = 60,000 / BPM

Note Divisions

Whole note = quarter × 4
Half note = quarter × 2
Eighth note = quarter / 2
Sixteenth note = quarter / 4

Dotted & Triplet

Dotted = straight × 1.5

Triplet = straight × 2/3

Swing

Swing splits the pair of eighth notes in a beat into a long onbeat note and a short offbeat note. The swing percentage is the share of the beat given to the long (onbeat) eighth: 50% is straight (an even 1:1 split), and 67% is triplet swing (a 2:1 long-to-short ratio, where the long eighth = 2/3 of a beat and the short eighth = 1/3).

Long (onbeat) eighth = quarter × swing%
Short (offbeat) eighth = quarter × (1 − swing%)

At any swing above 50% the calculator shows this long/short pair so you can dial the delay to match a swung groove. The other note divisions stay straight.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify results for critical applications.