How do I calculate note duration from BPM?

Quarter note duration (ms) = 60,000 / BPM. At 120 BPM: 60,000 / 120 = 500ms per quarter note. Multiply by 2 for half notes, divide by 2 for eighth notes. Dotted notes are 1.5x the straight value. Triplets are 2/3 of the straight value.

Why do I need note durations in milliseconds?

Many audio effects (delay, reverb pre-delay, LFO rate, gate timing) are set in milliseconds. To sync these effects to the tempo of your music, you need the exact millisecond value for each note division. This ensures effects groove with the music rather than fighting it.

What is a dotted note?

A dotted note lasts 1.5 times as long as a regular note. A dotted eighth note = eighth note + sixteenth note = 1.5 x eighth note. Dotted eighth note delays are extremely popular — they create the rhythmic delay sound heard in countless pop and rock recordings.

A triplet divides a beat into three equal parts instead of two. A triplet quarter note is 2/3 the length of a regular quarter note. Triplets create a swinging, rolling feel and are fundamental to jazz, blues, shuffle and many dance music styles.

AudioCalcs

Tempo Calculator — BPM to Note Duration in Milliseconds

Convert BPM to note durations in milliseconds for delay, reverb and LFO.

BPM

Tempo in beats per minute — type your own or select a preset

Tempo Marking

Italian tempo markings — select to auto-fill BPM

How We Calculate This

Base Formula

Quarter note (ms) = 60,000 / BPM

Note Divisions

Whole = quarter × 4
Half = quarter × 2
Eighth = quarter / 2
Sixteenth = quarter / 4
Dotted = straight × 1.5
Triplet = straight × 2/3

Sample Count

For sample-accurate editing: Samples = (ms / 1000) × sample rate. At 44,100 Hz, a quarter note at 120 BPM = 22,050 samples.

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.