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BPM Calculator
This tempo calculator and delay time calculator helps you find ms per beat, note durations, and samples per beat at any BPM. Enter BPM or milliseconds to get started. Whether you are dialling in a tempo-synced slapback echo in your DAW, quantising MIDI to a grid, or looking up the Italian tempo marking for a classical score, this BPM calculator covers the complete picture — from whole notes down to thirty-second note triplets (including dotted note and triplet duration variants), across sample rates of 44100 Hz through 96000 Hz. If you don't know the BPM yet, use the tap tempo BPM tool to find it by tapping along to the music, then come back here to compute your delay and note-duration values.
Tempo Input
BPM
ms
Allegro moderato
Core Results
Milliseconds Per Beat
500.00
ms
ms per Bar (4/4)
2000.00 ms
Beats per Second
2.000 Hz
Seconds per Beat
0.500 s
Bars per Minute
30.00
Formula
ms/beat = 60000 / BPM
= 60000 / 120 = 500.00 ms
Note Durations at 120 BPM
| Note | Normal (ms) | Normal (Hz) | Dotted (ms) | Dotted (Hz) | Triplet (ms) | Triplet (Hz) |
|---|
Delay & Reverb Times at 120 BPM
Use these values for tempo-synced delay, reverb pre-delay, and other time-based effects.
| Note Value | Normal (ms) | Dotted (ms) | Triplet (ms) |
|---|
Samples per Note at 120 BPM
Number of audio samples for each note duration across common sample rates.
| Note | 44100 Hz | 48000 Hz | 88200 Hz | 96000 Hz |
|---|
Tempo Marking Reference
Grave
< 40 BPM
Largo
40 – 55 BPM
Adagio
55 – 76 BPM
Andante
76 – 92 BPM
Moderato
92 – 108 BPM
Allegro
108 – 132 BPM
Vivace
132 – 168 BPM
Presto
168 – 200 BPM
Prestissimo
> 200 BPM
How to Use the BPM Calculator
- Set your tempo — Enter a BPM value using the number input or drag the slider. You can also enter milliseconds per beat in the reverse field and the BPM will auto-calculate. If you don't know the BPM yet, use the tap tempo tool to tap along to the track first, then enter the result here.
- Read the results — The calculator instantly shows ms per beat, ms per bar, beats per second (Hz), plus full note duration, delay time, and sample count tables.
- Copy or export — Click "Copy All Values" to copy results to your clipboard, or "Export CSV" to download a spreadsheet-ready file with all tables.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert BPM to milliseconds?
Divide 60,000 by the BPM. For example, 120 BPM = 60000 / 120 = 500 ms per beat. This gives you the duration of one quarter note at that tempo.
What is a dotted note duration?
A dotted note lasts 1.5 times the normal duration. A dotted quarter note at 120 BPM is 500 ms x 1.5 = 750 ms. Dotted notes add half the original value to the note length.
How do triplet durations work?
A triplet fits three notes into the space of two. The duration is 2/3 of the normal value. A triplet quarter note at 120 BPM is 500 ms x 2/3 = 333.33 ms.
Why do producers need delay time calculations?
Tempo-synced delays and reverb pre-delays sound more musical when they match the BPM of the track. Setting delay time to exact note durations (e.g., dotted eighth = 375 ms at 120 BPM) creates rhythmic echoes that reinforce the groove rather than clashing with it.
What are samples per beat used for?
In digital audio workstations, buffer sizes and loop lengths are measured in samples. Knowing the exact number of samples per beat at your project's sample rate (44100, 48000, etc.) helps with precise editing, loop slicing, and programming sample-accurate automation.
What are the standard tempo markings?
Classical tempo markings range from Grave (below 40 BPM) through Largo (40-55), Adagio (55-76), Andante (76-92), Moderato (92-108), Allegro (108-132), Vivace (132-168), Presto (168-200), to Prestissimo (above 200 BPM). These Italian terms give performers a general sense of speed and character.
How do I calculate the BPM to Hz conversion for LFO sync?
Divide the BPM by 60 to convert to Hz. For example, 120 BPM ÷ 60 = 2 Hz — the frequency of one beat per second. This is displayed in the Core Results panel as "Beats per Second." Syncing an LFO or tremolo to quarter-note speed means setting its rate to that Hz value; for eighth notes, double it (4 Hz at 120 BPM). The calculator shows all note-subdivision frequencies in the Note Durations table.
What is the dotted eighth-note delay time used by guitarists?
The dotted eighth-note delay — made famous by U2's The Edge — is one of the most popular tempo-synced delay settings in rock and pop. At 120 BPM the dotted eighth lasts 375 ms (an eighth note is 250 ms × 1.5). This value appears in the Delay & Reverb Times table. Look up "Dotted" in the "8th Note" row for your song's BPM to find the exact millisecond value to dial into your delay pedal or plugin.
How do I find the BPM if I only know the ms per beat?
Use the reverse input field: type the milliseconds-per-beat value and the calculator converts it to BPM automatically using the formula BPM = 60000 / ms. This is useful when a delay plugin reports its current time in milliseconds and you want to know what tempo that corresponds to, or when working back from a groove sample that has a known loop length.