BPM to Milliseconds Calculator
Convert BPM to milliseconds for delay, reverb and LFO timing. Get straight, dotted and triplet note lengths for any tempo, with the simple 60000/BPM formula shown.
Updated 2026-06-14 · Free · No sign-up · Runs privately in your browser
| Note | Straight (ms) | Dotted (ms) | Triplet (ms) |
|---|
Show the formula & steps
How the BPM to Milliseconds Calculator Works
Producers and audio engineers constantly need to lock effects to the beat. This calculator converts a tempo in beats per minute (BPM) into precise note lengths in milliseconds, so you can set tempo-synced delay, reverb pre-delay, gate and LFO times by hand. Enter your tempo, pick a note value, and read the straight, dotted and triplet results instantly.
The Formula
The whole conversion rests on one fact: one minute is 60,000 milliseconds. So the length of a single beat (a quarter note in 4/4 time) is:
Quarter note (ms) = 60,000 ÷ BPM
Every other note value is a simple fraction of a quarter note:
Note length = quarter-note length × note factor
where the factor is 4 for a whole note, 2 for a half, 1 for a quarter, 0.5 for an eighth, 0.25 for a sixteenth, and so on. Two rhythmic variants are common:
Dotted note = straight × 1.5
Triplet note = straight × 2/3
To turn a millisecond value into a frequency for an LFO, use Hz = 1,000 ÷ ms.
Worked Example
At a tempo of 120 BPM:
- Quarter note = 60,000 ÷ 120 = 500 ms
- Eighth note = 500 × 0.5 = 250 ms
- Dotted eighth = 250 × 1.5 = 375 ms
- Eighth triplet = 250 × 2/3 ≈ 167 ms
- LFO rate for the quarter note = 1,000 ÷ 500 = 2 Hz
Note Lengths at Common Tempos
| Note value | 90 BPM | 120 BPM | 140 BPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole (1) | 2,667 ms | 2,000 ms | 1,714 ms |
| Half (1/2) | 1,333 ms | 1,000 ms | 857 ms |
| Quarter (1/4) | 667 ms | 500 ms | 429 ms |
| Eighth (1/8) | 333 ms | 250 ms | 214 ms |
| Sixteenth (1/16) | 167 ms | 125 ms | 107 ms |
Why Tempo-Synced Timing Matters
Setting delay and modulation times by ear is hit-or-miss. Locking them to the tempo keeps echoes, tremolo and filter sweeps musically in time with the track. A dotted eighth delay is the classic ambient-guitar and synth-pop sound, while triplet values add a swung, rolling feel. Once you know the millisecond value, type it straight into any delay or LFO that does not offer host tempo sync.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert BPM to milliseconds?+
Divide 60,000 by the tempo to get the length of one quarter note in milliseconds. At 120 BPM a quarter note is 60,000 ÷ 120 = 500 ms. Multiply or divide that value to get other note lengths.
What is the delay time for 120 BPM?+
At 120 BPM a quarter-note delay is 500 ms, an eighth note is 250 ms and a sixteenth note is 125 ms. A dotted eighth, popular for rhythmic delays, is 250 × 1.5 = 375 ms.
How do I calculate a dotted or triplet note length?+
Take the straight note length and multiply by 1.5 for a dotted note, or by two-thirds (about 0.667) for a triplet. A straight eighth of 250 ms becomes a 375 ms dotted eighth or a 167 ms eighth triplet.
How do I convert milliseconds to a frequency in Hz?+
Divide 1,000 by the time in milliseconds. A 500 ms quarter note equals 1,000 ÷ 500 = 2 Hz, which is useful for setting an LFO rate that is locked to the song tempo.
Why is 60000 used in the formula?+
BPM means beats per minute and one minute is 60,000 milliseconds (60 seconds × 1,000). Dividing 60,000 by the beats per minute gives the milliseconds per beat, which equals one quarter note in common 4/4 time.