Music Production Tool
BPM to MS Calculator & Delay Time Table
Convert BPM to milliseconds and find accurate timing values for delay, echo, reverb and other tempo-synced effects. Use the calculator for instant results or the BPM-to-MS reference table below.
Open BPM / MS Calculator →BPM to Milliseconds
To convert BPM to milliseconds, divide 60,000 by the BPM. The result is the duration of one quarter note. From there, you can calculate eighth notes, sixteenth notes, dotted notes and triplets for tempo-synced effects.
Tip: use the calculated value as an accurate starting point, then adjust slightly by ear if the delay or effect needs to sit differently in the mix.
How to Use the BPM to MS Calculator
Use BPM-to-millisecond conversion to set delay, echo, reverb and other tempo-based effects accurately. The basic calculation starts with the duration of one quarter note.
Once you know the quarter-note value, the other rhythmic divisions can be calculated from it or looked up directly in the BPM/MS table below.
At 120 BPM, a quarter note is 500 ms. An eighth-note delay is therefore 250 ms, while a dotted eighth is 375 ms.
Log in or create a Guitar Training Studio account to download
the printable BPM / MS reference table.
| BPM | 1/4 | 1/8 | 1/16 | 1/4T | 1/8T | 1/16T | 1/4D | 1/8D | 1/16D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 1200.0 | 600.0 | 300.0 | 800.0 | 400.0 | 200.0 | 1800.0 | 900.0 | 450.0 |
| 51 | 1176.5 | 588.2 | 294.1 | 784.3 | 392.2 | 196.1 | 1764.7 | 882.4 | 441.2 |
| 52 | 1153.8 | 576.9 | 288.5 | 769.2 | 384.6 | 192.3 | 1730.8 | 865.4 | 432.7 |
| 53 | 1132.1 | 566.0 | 283.0 | 754.7 | 377.4 | 188.7 | 1698.1 | 849.1 | 424.5 |
| 54 | 1111.1 | 555.6 | 277.8 | 740.7 | 370.4 | 185.2 | 1666.7 | 833.3 | 416.7 |
| 55 | 1090.9 | 545.5 | 272.7 | 727.3 | 363.6 | 181.8 | 1636.4 | 818.2 | 409.1 |
| 56 | 1071.4 | 535.7 | 267.9 | 714.3 | 357.1 | 178.6 | 1607.1 | 803.6 | 401.8 |
| 57 | 1052.6 | 526.3 | 263.2 | 701.8 | 350.9 | 175.4 | 1578.9 | 789.5 | 394.7 |
| 58 | 1034.5 | 517.2 | 258.6 | 689.7 | 344.8 | 172.4 | 1551.7 | 775.9 | 387.9 |
| 59 | 1016.9 | 508.5 | 254.2 | 678.0 | 339.0 | 169.5 | 1525.4 | 762.7 | 381.4 |
| 60 | 1000.0 | 500.0 | 250.0 | 666.7 | 333.3 | 166.7 | 1500.0 | 750.0 | 375.0 |
| 61 | 983.6 | 491.8 | 245.9 | 655.7 | 327.9 | 163.9 | 1475.4 | 737.7 | 368.9 |
| 62 | 967.7 | 483.9 | 241.9 | 645.2 | 322.6 | 161.3 | 1451.6 | 725.8 | 362.9 |
| 63 | 952.4 | 476.2 | 238.1 | 634.9 | 317.5 | 158.7 | 1428.6 | 714.3 | 357.1 |
| 64 | 937.5 | 468.8 | 234.4 | 625.0 | 312.5 | 156.2 | 1406.2 | 703.1 | 351.6 |
| 65 | 923.1 | 461.5 | 230.8 | 615.4 | 307.7 | 153.8 | 1384.6 | 692.3 | 346.2 |
| 66 | 909.1 | 454.5 | 227.3 | 606.1 | 303.0 | 151.5 | 1363.6 | 681.8 | 340.9 |
| 67 | 895.5 | 447.8 | 223.9 | 597.0 | 298.5 | 149.3 | 1343.3 | 671.6 | 335.8 |
| 68 | 882.4 | 441.2 | 220.6 | 588.2 | 294.1 | 147.1 | 1323.5 | 661.8 | 330.9 |
| 69 | 869.6 | 434.8 | 217.4 | 579.7 | 289.9 | 144.9 | 1304.3 | 652.2 | 326.1 |
| 70 | 857.1 | 428.6 | 214.3 | 571.4 | 285.7 | 142.9 | 1285.7 | 642.9 | 321.4 |
| 71 | 845.1 | 422.5 | 211.3 | 563.4 | 281.7 | 140.8 | 1267.6 | 633.8 | 316.9 |
| 72 | 833.3 | 416.7 | 208.3 | 555.6 | 277.8 | 138.9 | 1250.0 | 625.0 | 312.5 |
| 73 | 821.9 | 411.0 | 205.5 | 547.9 | 274.0 | 137.0 | 1232.9 | 616.4 | 308.2 |
| 74 | 810.8 | 405.4 | 202.7 | 540.5 | 270.3 | 135.1 | 1216.2 | 608.1 | 304.1 |
| 75 | 800.0 | 400.0 | 200.0 | 533.3 | 266.7 | 133.3 | 1200.0 | 600.0 | 300.0 |
| 76 | 789.5 | 394.7 | 197.4 | 526.3 | 263.2 | 131.6 | 1184.2 | 592.1 | 296.1 |
| 77 | 779.2 | 389.6 | 194.8 | 519.5 | 259.7 | 129.9 | 1168.8 | 584.4 | 292.2 |
| 78 | 769.2 | 384.6 | 192.3 | 512.8 | 256.4 | 128.2 | 1153.8 | 576.9 | 288.5 |
| 79 | 759.5 | 379.7 | 189.9 | 506.3 | 253.2 | 126.6 | 1139.2 | 569.6 | 284.8 |
| 80 | 750.0 | 375.0 | 187.5 | 500.0 | 250.0 | 125.0 | 1125.0 | 562.5 | 281.2 |
| 81 | 740.7 | 370.4 | 185.2 | 493.8 | 246.9 | 123.5 | 1111.1 | 555.6 | 277.8 |
| 82 | 731.7 | 365.9 | 182.9 | 487.8 | 243.9 | 122.0 | 1097.6 | 548.8 | 274.4 |
| 83 | 722.9 | 361.4 | 180.7 | 481.9 | 241.0 | 120.5 | 1084.3 | 542.2 | 271.1 |
| 84 | 714.3 | 357.1 | 178.6 | 476.2 | 238.1 | 119.0 | 1071.4 | 535.7 | 267.9 |
| 85 | 705.9 | 352.9 | 176.5 | 470.6 | 235.3 | 117.6 | 1058.8 | 529.4 | 264.7 |
| 86 | 697.7 | 348.8 | 174.4 | 465.1 | 232.6 | 116.3 | 1046.5 | 523.3 | 261.6 |
| 87 | 689.7 | 344.8 | 172.4 | 459.8 | 229.9 | 114.9 | 1034.5 | 517.2 | 258.6 |
| 88 | 681.8 | 340.9 | 170.5 | 454.5 | 227.3 | 113.6 | 1022.7 | 511.4 | 255.7 |
| 89 | 674.2 | 337.1 | 168.5 | 449.4 | 224.7 | 112.4 | 1011.2 | 505.6 | 252.8 |
| 90 | 666.7 | 333.3 | 166.7 | 444.4 | 222.2 | 111.1 | 1000.0 | 500.0 | 250.0 |
| 91 | 659.3 | 329.7 | 164.8 | 439.6 | 219.8 | 109.9 | 989.0 | 494.5 | 247.3 |
| 92 | 652.2 | 326.1 | 163.0 | 434.8 | 217.4 | 108.7 | 978.3 | 489.1 | 244.6 |
| 93 | 645.2 | 322.6 | 161.3 | 430.1 | 215.1 | 107.5 | 967.7 | 483.9 | 241.9 |
| 94 | 638.3 | 319.1 | 159.6 | 425.5 | 212.8 | 106.4 | 957.4 | 478.7 | 239.4 |
| 95 | 631.6 | 315.8 | 157.9 | 421.1 | 210.5 | 105.3 | 947.4 | 473.7 | 236.8 |
| 96 | 625.0 | 312.5 | 156.2 | 416.7 | 208.3 | 104.2 | 937.5 | 468.8 | 234.4 |
| 97 | 618.6 | 309.3 | 154.6 | 412.4 | 206.2 | 103.1 | 927.8 | 463.9 | 232.0 |
| 98 | 612.2 | 306.1 | 153.1 | 408.2 | 204.1 | 102.0 | 918.4 | 459.2 | 229.6 |
| 99 | 606.1 | 303.0 | 151.5 | 404.0 | 202.0 | 101.0 | 909.1 | 454.5 | 227.3 |
| 100 | 600.0 | 300.0 | 150.0 | 400.0 | 200.0 | 100.0 | 900.0 | 450.0 | 225.0 |
| 101 | 594.1 | 297.0 | 148.5 | 396.0 | 198.0 | 99.0 | 891.1 | 445.5 | 222.8 |
| 102 | 588.2 | 294.1 | 147.1 | 392.2 | 196.1 | 98.0 | 882.4 | 441.2 | 220.6 |
| 103 | 582.5 | 291.3 | 145.6 | 388.3 | 194.2 | 97.1 | 873.8 | 436.9 | 218.4 |
| 104 | 576.9 | 288.5 | 144.2 | 384.6 | 192.3 | 96.2 | 865.4 | 432.7 | 216.3 |
| 105 | 571.4 | 285.7 | 142.9 | 381.0 | 190.5 | 95.2 | 857.1 | 428.6 | 214.3 |
| 106 | 566.0 | 283.0 | 141.5 | 377.4 | 188.7 | 94.3 | 849.1 | 424.5 | 212.3 |
| 107 | 560.7 | 280.4 | 140.2 | 373.8 | 186.9 | 93.5 | 841.1 | 420.6 | 210.3 |
| 108 | 555.6 | 277.8 | 138.9 | 370.4 | 185.2 | 92.6 | 833.3 | 416.7 | 208.3 |
| 109 | 550.5 | 275.2 | 137.6 | 367.0 | 183.5 | 91.7 | 825.7 | 412.8 | 206.4 |
| 110 | 545.5 | 272.7 | 136.4 | 363.6 | 181.8 | 90.9 | 818.2 | 409.1 | 204.5 |
| 111 | 540.5 | 270.3 | 135.1 | 360.4 | 180.2 | 90.1 | 810.8 | 405.4 | 202.7 |
| 112 | 535.7 | 267.9 | 133.9 | 357.1 | 178.6 | 89.3 | 803.6 | 401.8 | 200.9 |
| 113 | 531.0 | 265.5 | 132.7 | 354.0 | 177.0 | 88.5 | 796.5 | 398.2 | 199.1 |
| 114 | 526.3 | 263.2 | 131.6 | 350.9 | 175.4 | 87.7 | 789.5 | 394.7 | 197.4 |
| 115 | 521.7 | 260.9 | 130.4 | 347.8 | 173.9 | 87.0 | 782.6 | 391.3 | 195.7 |
| 116 | 517.2 | 258.6 | 129.3 | 344.8 | 172.4 | 86.2 | 775.9 | 387.9 | 194.0 |
| 117 | 512.8 | 256.4 | 128.2 | 341.9 | 170.9 | 85.5 | 769.2 | 384.6 | 192.3 |
| 118 | 508.5 | 254.2 | 127.1 | 339.0 | 169.5 | 84.7 | 762.7 | 381.4 | 190.7 |
| 119 | 504.2 | 252.1 | 126.1 | 336.1 | 168.1 | 84.0 | 756.3 | 378.2 | 189.1 |
| 120 | 500.0 | 250.0 | 125.0 | 333.3 | 166.7 | 83.3 | 750.0 | 375.0 | 187.5 |
| 121 | 495.9 | 247.9 | 124.0 | 330.6 | 165.3 | 82.6 | 743.8 | 371.9 | 186.0 |
| 122 | 491.8 | 245.9 | 123.0 | 327.9 | 163.9 | 82.0 | 737.7 | 368.9 | 184.4 |
| 123 | 487.8 | 243.9 | 122.0 | 325.2 | 162.6 | 81.3 | 731.7 | 365.9 | 182.9 |
| 124 | 483.9 | 241.9 | 121.0 | 322.6 | 161.3 | 80.6 | 725.8 | 362.9 | 181.5 |
| 125 | 480.0 | 240.0 | 120.0 | 320.0 | 160.0 | 80.0 | 720.0 | 360.0 | 180.0 |
| 126 | 476.2 | 238.1 | 119.0 | 317.5 | 158.7 | 79.4 | 714.3 | 357.1 | 178.6 |
| 127 | 472.4 | 236.2 | 118.1 | 315.0 | 157.5 | 78.7 | 708.7 | 354.3 | 177.2 |
| 128 | 468.8 | 234.4 | 117.2 | 312.5 | 156.2 | 78.1 | 703.1 | 351.6 | 175.8 |
| 129 | 465.1 | 232.6 | 116.3 | 310.1 | 155.0 | 77.5 | 697.7 | 348.8 | 174.4 |
| 130 | 461.5 | 230.8 | 115.4 | 307.7 | 153.8 | 76.9 | 692.3 | 346.2 | 173.1 |
| 131 | 458.0 | 229.0 | 114.5 | 305.3 | 152.7 | 76.3 | 687.0 | 343.5 | 171.8 |
| 132 | 454.5 | 227.3 | 113.6 | 303.0 | 151.5 | 75.8 | 681.8 | 340.9 | 170.5 |
| 133 | 451.1 | 225.6 | 112.8 | 300.8 | 150.4 | 75.2 | 676.7 | 338.3 | 169.2 |
| 134 | 447.8 | 223.9 | 111.9 | 298.5 | 149.3 | 74.6 | 671.6 | 335.8 | 167.9 |
| 135 | 444.4 | 222.2 | 111.1 | 296.3 | 148.1 | 74.1 | 666.7 | 333.3 | 166.7 |
| 136 | 441.2 | 220.6 | 110.3 | 294.1 | 147.1 | 73.5 | 661.8 | 330.9 | 165.4 |
| 137 | 438.0 | 219.0 | 109.5 | 292.0 | 146.0 | 73.0 | 656.9 | 328.5 | 164.2 |
| 138 | 434.8 | 217.4 | 108.7 | 289.9 | 144.9 | 72.5 | 652.2 | 326.1 | 163.0 |
| 139 | 431.7 | 215.8 | 107.9 | 287.8 | 143.9 | 71.9 | 647.5 | 323.7 | 161.9 |
| 140 | 428.6 | 214.3 | 107.1 | 285.7 | 142.9 | 71.4 | 642.9 | 321.4 | 160.7 |
| 141 | 425.5 | 212.8 | 106.4 | 283.7 | 141.8 | 70.9 | 638.3 | 319.1 | 159.6 |
| 142 | 422.5 | 211.3 | 105.6 | 281.7 | 140.8 | 70.4 | 633.8 | 316.9 | 158.5 |
| 143 | 419.6 | 209.8 | 104.9 | 279.7 | 139.9 | 69.9 | 629.4 | 314.7 | 157.3 |
| 144 | 416.7 | 208.3 | 104.2 | 277.8 | 138.9 | 69.4 | 625.0 | 312.5 | 156.2 |
| 145 | 413.8 | 206.9 | 103.4 | 275.9 | 137.9 | 69.0 | 620.7 | 310.3 | 155.2 |
| 146 | 411.0 | 205.5 | 102.7 | 274.0 | 137.0 | 68.5 | 616.4 | 308.2 | 154.1 |
| 147 | 408.2 | 204.1 | 102.0 | 272.1 | 136.1 | 68.0 | 612.2 | 306.1 | 153.1 |
| 148 | 405.4 | 202.7 | 101.4 | 270.3 | 135.1 | 67.6 | 608.1 | 304.1 | 152.0 |
| 149 | 402.7 | 201.3 | 100.7 | 268.5 | 134.2 | 67.1 | 604.0 | 302.0 | 151.0 |
| 150 | 400.0 | 200.0 | 100.0 | 266.7 | 133.3 | 66.7 | 600.0 | 300.0 | 150.0 |
| 151 | 397.4 | 198.7 | 99.3 | 264.9 | 132.5 | 66.2 | 596.0 | 298.0 | 149.0 |
| 152 | 394.7 | 197.4 | 98.7 | 263.2 | 131.6 | 65.8 | 592.1 | 296.1 | 148.0 |
| 153 | 392.2 | 196.1 | 98.0 | 261.4 | 130.7 | 65.4 | 588.2 | 294.1 | 147.1 |
| 154 | 389.6 | 194.8 | 97.4 | 259.7 | 129.9 | 64.9 | 584.4 | 292.2 | 146.1 |
| 155 | 387.1 | 193.5 | 96.8 | 258.1 | 129.0 | 64.5 | 580.6 | 290.3 | 145.2 |
| 156 | 384.6 | 192.3 | 96.2 | 256.4 | 128.2 | 64.1 | 576.9 | 288.5 | 144.2 |
| 157 | 382.2 | 191.1 | 95.5 | 254.8 | 127.4 | 63.7 | 573.2 | 286.6 | 143.3 |
| 158 | 379.7 | 189.9 | 94.9 | 253.2 | 126.6 | 63.3 | 569.6 | 284.8 | 142.4 |
| 159 | 377.4 | 188.7 | 94.3 | 251.6 | 125.8 | 62.9 | 566.0 | 283.0 | 141.5 |
| 160 | 375.0 | 187.5 | 93.8 | 250.0 | 125.0 | 62.5 | 562.5 | 281.2 | 140.6 |
| 161 | 372.7 | 186.3 | 93.2 | 248.4 | 124.2 | 62.1 | 559.0 | 279.5 | 139.8 |
| 162 | 370.4 | 185.2 | 92.6 | 246.9 | 123.5 | 61.7 | 555.6 | 277.8 | 138.9 |
| 163 | 368.1 | 184.0 | 92.0 | 245.4 | 122.7 | 61.3 | 552.1 | 276.1 | 138.0 |
| 164 | 365.9 | 182.9 | 91.5 | 243.9 | 122.0 | 61.0 | 548.8 | 274.4 | 137.2 |
| 165 | 363.6 | 181.8 | 90.9 | 242.4 | 121.2 | 60.6 | 545.5 | 272.7 | 136.4 |
| 166 | 361.4 | 180.7 | 90.4 | 241.0 | 120.5 | 60.2 | 542.2 | 271.1 | 135.5 |
| 167 | 359.3 | 179.6 | 89.8 | 239.5 | 119.8 | 59.9 | 538.9 | 269.5 | 134.7 |
| 168 | 357.1 | 178.6 | 89.3 | 238.1 | 119.0 | 59.5 | 535.7 | 267.9 | 133.9 |
| 169 | 355.0 | 177.5 | 88.8 | 236.7 | 118.3 | 59.2 | 532.5 | 266.3 | 133.1 |
| 170 | 352.9 | 176.5 | 88.2 | 235.3 | 117.6 | 58.8 | 529.4 | 264.7 | 132.4 |
| 171 | 350.9 | 175.4 | 87.7 | 233.9 | 117.0 | 58.5 | 526.3 | 263.2 | 131.6 |
| 172 | 348.8 | 174.4 | 87.2 | 232.6 | 116.3 | 58.1 | 523.3 | 261.6 | 130.8 |
| 173 | 346.8 | 173.4 | 86.7 | 231.2 | 115.6 | 57.8 | 520.2 | 260.1 | 130.1 |
| 174 | 344.8 | 172.4 | 86.2 | 229.9 | 114.9 | 57.5 | 517.2 | 258.6 | 129.3 |
| 175 | 342.9 | 171.4 | 85.7 | 228.6 | 114.3 | 57.1 | 514.3 | 257.1 | 128.6 |
| 176 | 340.9 | 170.5 | 85.2 | 227.3 | 113.6 | 56.8 | 511.4 | 255.7 | 127.8 |
| 177 | 339.0 | 169.5 | 84.7 | 226.0 | 113.0 | 56.5 | 508.5 | 254.2 | 127.1 |
| 178 | 337.1 | 168.5 | 84.3 | 224.7 | 112.4 | 56.2 | 505.6 | 252.8 | 126.4 |
| 179 | 335.2 | 167.6 | 83.8 | 223.5 | 111.7 | 55.9 | 502.8 | 251.4 | 125.7 |
| 180 | 333.3 | 166.7 | 83.3 | 222.2 | 111.1 | 55.6 | 500.0 | 250.0 | 125.0 |
| 181 | 331.5 | 165.7 | 82.9 | 221.0 | 110.5 | 55.2 | 497.2 | 248.6 | 124.3 |
| 182 | 329.7 | 164.8 | 82.4 | 219.8 | 109.9 | 54.9 | 494.5 | 247.3 | 123.6 |
| 183 | 327.9 | 163.9 | 82.0 | 218.6 | 109.3 | 54.6 | 491.8 | 245.9 | 123.0 |
| 184 | 326.1 | 163.0 | 81.5 | 217.4 | 108.7 | 54.3 | 489.1 | 244.6 | 122.3 |
| 185 | 324.3 | 162.2 | 81.1 | 216.2 | 108.1 | 54.1 | 486.5 | 243.2 | 121.6 |
| 186 | 322.6 | 161.3 | 80.6 | 215.1 | 107.5 | 53.8 | 483.9 | 241.9 | 121.0 |
| 187 | 320.9 | 160.4 | 80.2 | 213.9 | 107.0 | 53.5 | 481.3 | 240.6 | 120.3 |
| 188 | 319.1 | 159.6 | 79.8 | 212.8 | 106.4 | 53.2 | 478.7 | 239.4 | 119.7 |
| 189 | 317.5 | 158.7 | 79.4 | 211.6 | 105.8 | 52.9 | 476.2 | 238.1 | 119.0 |
| 190 | 315.8 | 157.9 | 78.9 | 210.5 | 105.3 | 52.6 | 473.7 | 236.8 | 118.4 |
| 191 | 314.1 | 157.1 | 78.5 | 209.4 | 104.7 | 52.4 | 471.2 | 235.6 | 117.8 |
| 192 | 312.5 | 156.2 | 78.1 | 208.3 | 104.2 | 52.1 | 468.8 | 234.4 | 117.2 |
| 193 | 310.9 | 155.4 | 77.7 | 207.3 | 103.6 | 51.8 | 466.3 | 233.2 | 116.6 |
| 194 | 309.3 | 154.6 | 77.3 | 206.2 | 103.1 | 51.5 | 463.9 | 232.0 | 116.0 |
| 195 | 307.7 | 153.8 | 76.9 | 205.1 | 102.6 | 51.3 | 461.5 | 230.8 | 115.4 |
| 196 | 306.1 | 153.1 | 76.5 | 204.1 | 102.0 | 51.0 | 459.2 | 229.6 | 114.8 |
| 197 | 304.6 | 152.3 | 76.1 | 203.0 | 101.5 | 50.8 | 456.9 | 228.4 | 114.2 |
| 198 | 303.0 | 151.5 | 75.8 | 202.0 | 101.0 | 50.5 | 454.5 | 227.3 | 113.6 |
| 199 | 301.5 | 150.8 | 75.4 | 201.0 | 100.5 | 50.3 | 452.3 | 226.1 | 113.1 |
| 200 | 300.0 | 150.0 | 75.0 | 200.0 | 100.0 | 50.0 | 450.0 | 225.0 | 112.5 |
Example: at 120 BPM, a quarter note is 500.0 ms, an eighth note is 250.0 ms and a dotted eighth note is 375.0 ms.
Why BPM to MS Conversion Matters
BPM tells you the speed of the music, while milliseconds give you an exact time value that can be entered into pedals, plugins and other audio equipment.
Converting BPM to milliseconds lets you connect time-based effects directly to the tempo of a song instead of relying on approximate settings.
This is especially useful for delay and echo, but the same principle applies to reverb pre-delay, modulation, rhythmic effects and other tempo-based processing.
Use the table above as an accurate reference for straight, dotted and triplet note divisions, then adjust by ear when the music calls for it.
If you want to practise at that exact tempo instead of programming an effect, use Smart Click as an online metronome and click track.
If you want to translate tempo into actual playing speed, use the Notes Per Second Calculator to convert BPM and rhythmic subdivisions into notes per second.
If you want to calculate how long a complete song, exercise or section will last, use the Song Duration Calculator to convert BPM, bars and time signature into total playing time.
Using BPM to MS for Guitar Delay Pedals
Many digital delay pedals and multi-effects processors allow delay time to be entered directly in milliseconds. If you know the BPM of the song, the table above gives you the corresponding value without having to guess.
Quarter-note delays create an obvious repeat on the beat. Eighth and sixteenth notes produce faster rhythmic movement, while dotted eighth delays can create interlocking guitar patterns. Triplet values work naturally with shuffle, swing and triplet-based grooves.
Tap Tempo is convenient while playing, but exact millisecond values are particularly useful when programming presets or preparing sounds before a performance.
Using BPM to MS in Music Production
BPM-to-millisecond conversion is useful far beyond guitar delay. Anywhere a processor uses milliseconds, musical timing can provide a useful starting point.
Delay & Echo
Keep repeats rhythmically connected to the track.
Reverb Pre-Delay
Relate the space before the reverb tail to the tempo.
Modulation
Synchronize rhythmic movement with the pulse.
Gates
Create tempo-related rhythmic gating effects.
Automation
Build repeating filter, volume or effect movements.
Loops & Rhythmic FX
Match repeating effects to musical durations.
Common Delay Time Values
Different rhythmic divisions create very different musical results. These are some of the most useful starting points.
Quarter note
Clear repeat directly on the beat.
Eighth note
Faster rhythmic movement.
Sixteenth note
Tight and rapid repeats.
Dotted eighth
Interlocking rhythmic delay patterns.
Eighth triplet
Natural for shuffle and triplet feels.
Dotted quarter
Longer and more spacious echoes.
BPM to MS Calculator FAQ
How do you convert BPM to milliseconds?
Divide 60,000 by the BPM. At 120 BPM, one quarter note equals 500 milliseconds.
What is 120 BPM in milliseconds?
A quarter note is 500 ms, an eighth note 250 ms and a sixteenth note 125 ms.
How do I calculate a dotted eighth delay?
At 120 BPM the quarter note is 500 ms, making the dotted eighth 375 ms.
Can I use this for guitar delay pedals?
Yes. Any pedal or processor that accepts millisecond values can use these calculations.
Can BPM to MS be used for reverb?
Yes. Tempo-based values are useful starting points for reverb pre-delay and other time settings.
Does delay need to match the BPM exactly?
No. Exact timing is a useful reference, but small deviations can sometimes sound better in the mix.
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