Free Tool
Delay & Reverb Calculator
Type your track's BPM (or tap it in) and get the exact millisecond values for every note length — straight, dotted and triplet — plus ready-to-use reverb pre-delay and decay settings. Click any value to copy it straight into your DAW.
| Note | Straight | Dotted | Triplet | LFO |
|---|
Reverb settings for this tempo
How to use these delay times
Set your delay plugin to "time" mode (not sync) and paste the millisecond value: 1/4 notes give classic echoes, dotted 1/8 is the timeless lead/vocal delay, and triplets add swing. For slap-back, use the 1/32 or 1/64 value.
Why time your reverb to the tempo?
A decay that ends on the beat keeps the mix clean — the tail gets out of the way before the next hit. Use the pre-delay to keep the dry transient punchy, and pick the decay that matches the size you want: tight room for drums, standard for vocals, big hall for pads.
How to calculate delay and reverb times from BPM
- Enter your project tempo in BPM (or tap it in if you are unsure).
- Read the note-value table: quarter, eighth, sixteenth, plus dotted and triplet variants in milliseconds.
- Type the millisecond value into your delay plugin for perfectly synced echoes.
- For reverb, a common starting point is a pre-delay from the table (e.g. a 1/64 or 1/32 value) and a decay that ends before the next musical phrase.
Domande frequenti
Why sync delay times to BPM?
A delay tuned to a note value repeats in time with the track, so echoes reinforce the groove instead of smearing it. Off-grid delays quickly make a mix feel messy.
What are dotted and triplet delays?
A dotted value is 1.5× the straight note — it creates the classic bouncing echo used in a lot of hip-hop and pop. Triplets divide the beat into three, giving a rolling feel.
How do I choose a reverb pre-delay?
Short pre-delays (10–30 ms) glue the reverb to the source; longer ones keep the dry hit clear before the tail blooms. Sync it to a small note value for a tight, musical space — more in our reverb and delay basics guide.