BPM Delay and Reverb Calculator

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reverb pre delay calculator

Reverb pre-delay and decay synced to BPM

Open the Reverb tab and enter the tempo and the time signature. The tool lists three pre-delays and five decays in milliseconds, each copyable with one press, and labels all of it as a suggestion.

Two ideas: separate the dry attack and close the tail on the grid

Pre-delay is the gap between the dry sound and the start of the reverb. At 0 ms the reverb is born glued to the attack; with more time, the dry attack comes through first and sounds clearer. The tool proposes three starting points based on short note values: tight (1/64), medium (1/32) and spaced (1/16). At 120 BPM they are 31.25 ms, 62.5 ms and 125 ms. At 90 BPM, 41.67 ms, 83.33 ms and 166.67 ms. At 174 BPM, 21.55 ms, 43.1 ms and 86.21 ms. The faster the track, the smaller the values, so the pre-delay follows rhythmic density.
Decay is how long the tail takes to fade. A decay that ends before the next beat keeps the rhythm clear; one that runs past it blends the beats together. That is why the list offers 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, one bar and two bars. At 120 BPM in 4/4 these are 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 ms. In 3/4 one bar lasts 1,500 ms, and so does one in 6/8, because six eighths of 250 ms add up to 1,500.
None of it is a standard. Genres, voices and instruments ask for different things, and a dense mix usually wants a shorter decay than a ballad. Use the numbers as a first setting and refine by ear, because the tool computes time, not taste.

Checked pre-delays and decays

Tight pre-delay at 120 BPM

Input: 120 BPM, 1/64
Expected output: 31.25 ms

500 × 4 ÷ 64.

Spaced pre-delay at 120 BPM

Input: 120 BPM, 1/16
Expected output: 125 ms

500 × 4 ÷ 16.

Medium pre-delay at 90 BPM

Input: 90 BPM, 1/32
Expected output: 83.33 ms

666.67 × 4 ÷ 32.

One bar in 4/4

Input: 120 BPM, 4/4
Expected output: 2000 ms

4 × 500.

One bar in 6/8

Input: 120 BPM, 6/8
Expected output: 1500 ms

6 eighths of 250 ms.

Full tool FAQ

How do I convert BPM to milliseconds?

Divide 60,000 by the BPM to get the length of a quarter note in ms. For other note values, multiply by 4 and divide by the denominator: at 120 BPM, 60,000 ÷ 120 = 500 ms for 1/4, 250 ms for 1/8 and 125 ms for 1/16.

What is the delay time at 120 BPM for 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16?

What are dotted and triplet notes in a delay?

How do I find the delay time for 128 BPM?

How do I convert ms to Hz?

What reverb pre-delay should I use?

How do I sync the reverb decay to the tempo?

How does tap tempo work?

Why would I need samples?

What BPM range does the tool accept?

Frequently asked questions

Does more pre-delay make the reverb better?

Not always. High values separate the dry sound well, but the reverb starts to sound like a loose echo instead of an extension of the sound. The tool sticks to 1/64, 1/32 and 1/16 as starting points, and your ear decides from there.

What are decay and RT60?

Decay, or reverberation time, is how long the tail takes to fall. RT60 measures that time until a 60 dB drop. Plugins vary in how they define it, so use the number as a starting point and check by ear.

Can I use it for both delay and reverb in one project?

Yes, the BPM is shared between the tabs. A common approach is to sync the reverb pre-delay to the same note value as the delay so that both reinforce the same grid.

Next steps

Note

Straight

Dotted

Triplet

1/1

1/2

1/4

1/8

1/16

1/32

1/64

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Open full tool

reverb pre delay calculator

Reverb pre-delay and decay synced to BPM

Open the Reverb tab and enter the tempo and the time signature. The tool lists three pre-delays and five decays in milliseconds, each copyable with one press, and labels all of it as a suggestion.

Two ideas: separate the dry attack and close the tail on the grid

Pre-delay is the gap between the dry sound and the start of the reverb. At 0 ms the reverb is born glued to the attack; with more time, the dry attack comes through first and sounds clearer. The tool proposes three starting points based on short note values: tight (1/64), medium (1/32) and spaced (1/16). At 120 BPM they are 31.25 ms, 62.5 ms and 125 ms. At 90 BPM, 41.67 ms, 83.33 ms and 166.67 ms. At 174 BPM, 21.55 ms, 43.1 ms and 86.21 ms. The faster the track, the smaller the values, so the pre-delay follows rhythmic density.

Decay is how long the tail takes to fade. A decay that ends before the next beat keeps the rhythm clear; one that runs past it blends the beats together. That is why the list offers 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, one bar and two bars. At 120 BPM in 4/4 these are 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 ms. In 3/4 one bar lasts 1,500 ms, and so does one in 6/8, because six eighths of 250 ms add up to 1,500.

None of it is a standard. Genres, voices and instruments ask for different things, and a dense mix usually wants a shorter decay than a ballad. Use the numbers as a first setting and refine by ear, because the tool computes time, not taste.

Checked pre-delays and decays

Tight pre-delay at 120 BPM

Input: 120 BPM, 1/64
Expected output: 31.25 ms

500 × 4 ÷ 64.

Spaced pre-delay at 120 BPM

Input: 120 BPM, 1/16
Expected output: 125 ms

500 × 4 ÷ 16.

Medium pre-delay at 90 BPM

Input: 90 BPM, 1/32
Expected output: 83.33 ms

666.67 × 4 ÷ 32.

One bar in 4/4

Input: 120 BPM, 4/4
Expected output: 2000 ms

4 × 500.

One bar in 6/8

Input: 120 BPM, 6/8
Expected output: 1500 ms

6 eighths of 250 ms.

Full tool FAQ

How do I convert BPM to milliseconds?

What is the delay time at 120 BPM for 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16?

What are dotted and triplet notes in a delay?

How do I find the delay time for 128 BPM?

How do I convert ms to Hz?

What reverb pre-delay should I use?

How do I sync the reverb decay to the tempo?

How does tap tempo work?

Why would I need samples?

What BPM range does the tool accept?

Frequently asked questions

Does more pre-delay make the reverb better?

What are decay and RT60?

Can I use it for both delay and reverb in one project?

Yes, the BPM is shared between the tabs. A common approach is to sync the reverb pre-delay to the same note value as the delay so that both reinforce the same grid.