Delay Time Calculator
| Note Value | Standard | Dotted | Triplet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Note | — | — | — |
| Half Note | — | — | — |
| Quarter Note | — | — | — |
| Eighth Note | — | — | — |
| Sixteenth Note | — | — | — |
Show the math
What Your Result Means
- Standard values: The delay time in milliseconds for each note division at your tempo. Enter these directly into your DAW's delay plugin to sync the effect to the beat.
- Dotted values: 1.5× the standard note length, creating the classic "dotted eighth" delay heard in many pop and rock songs. The delayed note lands on the next off-beat.
- Triplet values: Two-thirds of the standard length, fitting three evenly spaced repeats into the space of two normal notes. Common in shuffle and swing grooves.
- Note divisions: Whole through sixteenth notes cover the practical range for most delay and reverb pre-delay settings in music production.
How This Calculator Works
You enter your song's tempo in beats per minute. The tool divides 60,000 milliseconds (one minute) by the BPM to get the quarter-note duration, then scales up or down for other note values — whole notes are 4× a quarter, eighths are half, sixteenths are a quarter. Dotted values multiply by 1.5 and triplet values multiply by two-thirds. The results are rounded to whole milliseconds for direct entry into delay plugins.
Quick Questions
What is a dotted delay?
A dotted note lasts 1.5 times a standard note. In a delay plugin, a dotted-eighth setting makes repeats land on off-beats, creating a rhythmic "ping-pong" feel popularized by U2-style guitar tones.
How do I use these values in my DAW?
Open your delay plugin, switch the time parameter from "sync" to "ms" (milliseconds) mode, then type in the value from the table. This gives you tempo-locked delays even when your DAW's sync mode is unavailable or imprecise.
Should I use standard, dotted, or triplet?
Standard delays repeat on the beat and sound rhythmic. Dotted eighth delays create a galloping off-beat pattern. Triplet delays add a swing or shuffle feel. Experiment with each to find what suits your track.
Can I use these for reverb pre-delay?
Yes. Setting a reverb's pre-delay to a musically related value (often a sixteenth or thirty-second note) keeps the reverb onset rhythmically coherent and prevents it from smearing transients.
What if my tempo changes mid-song?
Recalculate for the new tempo section. If your DAW supports tempo automation, using the DAW's built-in sync mode may be easier than manual millisecond entry for variable-tempo tracks.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Tempo (BPM definition and note-value relationships)
- Wikipedia — Delay (Audio Effect) (delay time concepts and musical applications)
Method & review
Estimate only. Results reflect your inputs and standard formulas. Double-check important decisions independently.