🎶

BPM to Hz Converter

Convert tempo in beats per minute to frequency in Hz using f = BPM / 60. The killer feature: a full subdivision table giving delay times (ms) and frequencies (Hz) for every note value — 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, plus dotted and triplet variants — perfect for syncing delays, LFOs, and reverb pre-delay to your project tempo.

Input

BPM
20120300
Current tempo: 120.00 BPM (slider range 20–300; type for wider)
Common Tempos by Genre / Marking

Result

Beat Frequency (f = BPM / 60)
Hz
Beat Period (1/4 note)
Beat Period (seconds)
Beat Freq (precise)
Bar duration (4/4)
Formulas
f (Hz) = BPM / 60
T (ms) = 60,000 / BPM   (quarter-note period)

Note Subdivision & Delay Time Chart

Note Straight Dotted (× 1.5) Triplet (× 2/3)
TimeFreq TimeFreq TimeFreq
Times are delay times (ms or s). Frequencies are the LFO rate that completes one cycle per subdivision.

Tempo Markings & Genre Reference

Italian MarkingBPM RangeTypical Use / Genre
Larghissimo< 24Extremely slow — funeral marches, ambient drone
Grave25 – 45Very slow, serious
Largo40 – 60Broad, slow — many ballads, classical adagios
Larghetto60 – 66Rather broadly
Adagio66 – 76Slow and stately — R&B ballads, downtempo
Andante76 – 108Walking pace — hip-hop, reggae, smooth jazz
Moderato108 – 120Moderate — pop, rock, modern pop ballads
Allegro120 – 156Fast — rock, EDM, house (118–135), techno (120–150)
Vivace156 – 168Lively — UK garage, footwork, jungle
Presto168 – 200Very fast — drum & bass (165–185), hard dance
Prestissimo> 200Extremely fast — speedcore, splittercore

About BPM, Tempo Sync & Delay

BPM (beats per minute) is the standard unit for musical tempo. Hz (hertz) is the standard unit for frequency in seconds. The conversion is direct: f (Hz) = BPM / 60. A 120 BPM track has a beat frequency of 2 Hz — two beats every second. The reciprocal gives the beat period: T (ms) = 60,000 / BPM, so 120 BPM = 500 ms per beat.

Why this matters: tempo-synced delays

Setting a delay to a "musical" subdivision (1/8 dotted = 375 ms at 120 BPM, 1/16 = 125 ms) makes the delay sit IN the groove rather than fighting it. The subdivision table on this page gives you those numbers for any tempo. Type your BPM, copy the delay value, paste into your DAW. Many modern DAWs sync delays automatically — but external pedals and outboard often need explicit millisecond values.

LFO rates as frequencies

An LFO (low-frequency oscillator) that completes one cycle per bar at 120 BPM runs at 0.5 Hz. Per beat: 2 Hz. Per 1/8 note: 4 Hz. Per 1/16 note: 8 Hz. Tempo-synced LFOs on a tremolo, filter sweep, or pan modulation use these frequencies to ride the groove. This tool gives you the exact Hz value for each subdivision.

Reverb pre-delay

Pre-delay (the gap between dry signal and start of reverb tail) is often set to a subdivision — 1/8 or 1/16 — to make the reverb feel "in the pocket." At 120 BPM, that's 250 ms or 125 ms respectively. Producers often pick triplet variants (e.g., 1/8 triplet = 166.7 ms) for a less rigid feel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert BPM to Hz?
Divide BPM by 60. For example, 120 BPM ÷ 60 = 2 Hz. 60 BPM = 1 Hz (one beat per second). 180 BPM = 3 Hz. This is the same calculation you'd use for any "per minute" → "per second" conversion.
What's the delay time for a 1/8 note at 120 BPM?
A quarter note at 120 BPM is 500 ms. An 1/8 note is half of that: 250 ms. A 1/16 is 125 ms. A 1/8 dotted is 375 ms (250 × 1.5). A 1/8 triplet is 166.667 ms (250 × 2/3). Use the subdivision table on this page for any tempo and any subdivision.
What's the difference between dotted and triplet?
A dotted note is 1.5× the base duration — a dotted 1/8 = 1/8 + 1/16 = 3/16. Used in shuffle grooves, swing, and many ballads. A triplet divides a beat into three equal parts — a 1/8 triplet means 3 notes fit where 2 normally would. Triplets feel "rolling" or "loping"; dotted notes feel "swung" or "syncopated."
What BPM is "Allegro"?
Allegro spans roughly 120–156 BPM. It's the most common pop and dance tempo range — house typically sits 118–135, techno 120–150, modern pop 100–140. Slower marks include Andante (76–108, hip-hop range) and Moderato (108–120). Faster marks include Vivace (156–176) and Presto (168–200, drum & bass territory).
Why use Hz instead of BPM for LFOs?
Many synths and effects express LFO rate in Hz, not BPM. To sync an LFO to your tempo, you need to convert: at 120 BPM, a 1/4-note LFO runs at 2 Hz; a 1/8 at 4 Hz; a 1 cycle-per-bar LFO at 0.5 Hz. Modulating a filter with a beat-synced LFO produces the classic "auto-wah" or "trance gate" sound.
Can I enter fractional BPM like 87.5?
Yes — the input accepts any positive number with decimal precision. Fractional BPM is common in remixes, where you might pitch a track up by a tiny percentage. 87.5 BPM ↔ 1.458 Hz ↔ 685.71 ms per beat.