How to Use the Delay Time Calculator
If the delay time is wrong, the echoes trip over the beat. But if it's right, they push the track along. Here's how to set it.
1. Enter your BPM
Find the tempo in your DAW's transport bar and type it in. Anything from 20 to 300 BPM works, including decimals, so 128.5 stays 128.5. Not sure of the tempo? Use the Tap Tempo BPM Calculator to find it.
2. Choose a note and a feel
Each row is a note length and each column is a feel. Straight sits right on the grid, dotted lands in the gaps between beats, and triplet gives the repeats a shuffle.
3. Copy the value
Click any number in the table to copy it. You don't have to retype it, so you can't get a digit wrong.
4. Paste and adjust
Put the value into your delay's time field, then set the feedback and mix to taste. If the echoes start cluttering the vocal, switch to a shorter note.
Delay Time Calculator FAQ
How do I work out delay time from BPM?
Divide 60,000 by your BPM to get a quarter note in milliseconds. An eighth is half that, and a sixteenth is half again. For a dotted note, multiply by 1.5. For a triplet, multiply by 2/3. At 140 BPM, a quarter note is 428.57 ms, an eighth is 214.29 ms and a dotted eighth is 321.43 ms.
What's the difference between straight, dotted and triplet delays?
Straight echoes repeat the subdivisions you're already playing. Dotted echoes fall off the beat and fill the space around the original notes, which is why so many guitarists leave a dotted eighth running. Triplet echoes split each beat into three, so even a straight groove picks up some swing.
What delay time should I use for vocals, guitars and drums?
These are good places to start:
- Vocals: 1/4 or 1/8 adds depth without blurring the lyrics.
- Guitars and arpeggios: a dotted 1/8 gives a rhythmic, chasing echo.
- Snares and percussion: 1/16 or 1/16 triplet gives short, lively repeats.
- Pads and vocal throws: 1/2 or a whole note gives long tails.
Can I use it to set reverb pre-delay?
Yes. Pre-delay is the short gap before the reverb comes in. A 1/32 or 1/64 note at your tempo is a good starting point (for 1/64, halve the 1/32 value). The dry vocal is heard clearly before the reverb arrives, and because the gap matches the tempo, the reverb stays in time with the beat.
Does it cost anything?
No. It's free and runs in your browser, so there's nothing to download. Keep it open in a tab next to your DAW.
Enjoy!