Delay & Reverb Time Calculator
Calculate precise millisecond values for your delays and reverb pre-delays.
| Division | Milliseconds | |
|---|---|---|
| 1/64 | 31.25 ms | |
| 1/32 | 62.50 ms | |
| 1/32 Dotted | 93.75 ms | |
| 1/32 Triplet | 41.67 ms | |
| 1/16 | 125.00 ms | |
| 1/16 Dotted | 187.50 ms | |
| 1/16 Triplet | 83.33 ms | |
| 1/8 | 250.00 ms | |
| 1/8 Dotted | 375.00 ms | |
| 1/8 Triplet | 166.67 ms | |
| 1/4 | 500.00 ms | |
| 1/4 Dotted | 750.00 ms | |
| 1/4 Triplet | 333.33 ms | |
| 1/2 | 1000.00 ms | |
| 1 Bar | 2000.00 ms |
Key Takeaways
- Delay time and reverb pre-delay can be accurately calculated from BPM using tempo-synced note divisions.
- A quarter note delay is calculated with the formula: 60,000 ÷ BPM.
- Dotted note delays create rhythmic movement, while triplet delays add a swung feel.
- Short delays (30–80 ms) are ideal for slapback effects and vocal thickening.
- Reverb pre-delay helps separate the dry signal from the reverb tail, improving clarity and depth.
- For most vocals, a pre-delay between 20–60 ms provides a natural and intelligible sound.
- Tempo-synced delay and pre-delay settings help effects stay locked to the groove of the song.
- The calculator works with guitar pedals, plugins, DAWs, digital mixers, and hardware effects units.
- Dotted eighth delays are a popular choice for ambient, rock, and lead guitar sounds.
- Use BPM-based calculations as a starting point, then fine-tune by ear for the best musical result.
Delay Time & Reverb Pre-Delay Calculator, Instant Tempo‑Synced Effects
Stop guessing delay and reverb settings. Enter your song's BPM below, choose a note value, and get the exact millisecond value to enter into your delay pedal, reverb plugin, or DAW.
Delay calculator: Quarter note, dotted eighth, triplet, slapback, ping‑pong.
Pre‑delay calculator: Match reverb tail to the groove, keeps vocals and drums clear.
Use this with hardware pedals, outboard gear, or any plugin without a sync button. For the full BPM‑to‑milliseconds formula and advanced production workflows (compressor release, LFO sync)
Delay Time Presets by Genre (Unique to This Page)
Use these starting points. Adjust ±5 ms by ear.
| Genre | Typical BPM | Recommended Delay | Millisecond Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock ballad | 70 | Quarter note | 857 ms |
| Pop vocal slapback | 120 | 1/32 note | 31 ms |
| House / Techno | 126 | Dotted eighth | 357 ms |
| Hip‑hop (vocal) | 85 | Eighth triplet | 235 ms |
| Ambient / Cinematic | 100 | Half note dotted | 1800 ms |
| Metal (lead guitar) | 180 | Eighth note | 167 ms |
Why these work: Shorter delays (30‑80 ms) thicken without obvious repeat. Dotted eighth creates movement. Triplets add a swung feel.
Reverb Pre‑Delay Presets by Genre
Pre‑delay separates the dry sound from the reverb tail. Too short = muddy. Too long = disconnected.
| Genre | BPM Range | Recommended Pre‑delay | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pop vocal | 100‑130 | 1/32 note (25‑40 ms) | Keeps intelligibility |
| Rock snare | 90‑120 | 1/16 note (62‑83 ms) | Adds depth without smear |
| House kick | 120‑130 | 1/64 note (11‑15 ms) | Tight room feel |
| Orchestral | 70‑90 | 1/8 note (166‑214 ms) | Large hall, slow attack |
| Lo‑fi piano | 70‑90 | 1/4 note (333‑428 ms) | Dreamy, detached |
How to Set Up Common Delay Rhythms
1. Slapback Delay (Rockabilly, Country, Rock Vocals)
Sound: One short, thick repeat (40‑120 ms).
How to calculate: Use a 1/32 or 1/16 note at your tempo.
Example at 120 BPM: 1/32 = 31 ms, 1/16 = 62 ms. Start at 62 ms.
Settings: Feedback at 10‑20%, mix 30‑50%.
2. Dotted Eighth Delay (Edge‑style, Ambient)
Sound: Repeats gallop between the beats.
How to get it: Enter BPM, select “dotted eighth”.
Example at 120 BPM: 375 ms.
Settings: Feedback 40‑50%, mix 30%, dry signal prominent.
3. Ping‑Pong Delay (Stereo Widen)
Sound: Delay bounces left‑right.
Two ways:
a) Use a quarter note on left and dotted quarter on right (calculate both from BPM).
b) Use a single dotted eighth with ping‑pong mode on your pedal/plugin.
Example: At 110 BPM, left = 545 ms (quarter), right = 818 ms (dotted quarter).
4. Triplet Delay (Shuffle Feel)
Sound: Three repeats per beat, swung.
How to get it: Select “eighth triplet”.
Example at 90 BPM: 20,000 ÷ 90 = 222 ms.
Best for: R&B, lo‑fi hip‑hop, soul leads.
Use a metronome to hear how triplet repeats interact with the beat.
Reverb Pre‑Delay, When to Short vs Long
| Pre‑delay length | Effect | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| < 20 ms | Reverb blends with dry signal, adds density | Drums, thick pads |
| 20‑60 ms | Clear separation, vocal still forward | Pop vocals, snare |
| 60‑120 ms | Obvious space, instrument sits back | Guitars, ambient |
| > 120 ms | Slap‑echo like, almost a delay | Special effects, cinematic |
Rule of thumb: Use the calculator to get a 1/32 or 1/16 pre‑delay. Then add 5‑10 ms if you want a larger room.
Common Problems & Solutions (Troubleshooting)
My delay doesn't lock to the beat even with the right ms
Check your plugin's sync mode: Turn off “tempo sync” if you entered manual ms. Some plugins ignore manual entry when sync is on.
Check sample rate: At 44.1 kHz, 1 ms ≈ 44 samples. Very short delays (under 20 ms) may be rounded. Use samples instead.
Check latency (PDC): Heavy plugins can shift timing. Bypass other effects and test.
My reverb sounds muddy even with pre‑delay
Increase pre‑delay to 1/8 or 1/4 note. Sometimes a shorter pre‑delay works against a dense mix.
Also reduce decay time, long tails fight the next beat.
My dotted eighth sounds like a straight eighth
Verify your pedal/plugin actually supports dotted values. Some cheap delays only do straight subdivisions. Use the calculator to get the number, enter it manually as milliseconds.
Hardware Pedal Quick Reference
For guitarists using Boss DD‑series, Strymon, TC Electronic, etc.
| Pedal Brand | Manual ms entry? | Tap tempo input? | Dotted eighth preset? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boss DD‑7/8 | Yes (knob) | External footswitch | No, use ms calc |
| Strymon Timeline | Yes (display) | Built‑in | Yes (preset) |
| TC Flashback | Yes (Toneprint) | Built‑in | Yes (Toneprint) |
| MXR Carbon Copy | No (knob only) | No | Estimate by ear |
If your pedal has no ms display: Use our calculator, then match the sound to a reference recording. A 375 ms dotted eighth feels like “the repeat lands just after the next beat.”