Delay Time Calculator

1Understanding Delay Effects

Delay is one of the most versatile effects in audio production. At its core, delay creates copies of the input signal played back after a specified time interval. This simple concept generates everything from subtle thickening to dramatic rhythmic patterns.

The delay time—measured in milliseconds—determines the character of the effect. Very short delays (under 30ms) create comb filtering and thickening. Medium delays (30-100ms) produce slapback and doubling. Longer delays create distinct echoes and rhythmic patterns.

Our delay time calculator converts BPM to milliseconds for any note value, enabling you to dial in tempo-synced delays that reinforce rather than fight your track's rhythm.

2Tempo-Synced Delays

Tempo-synced delays create echoes that align with your song's rhythmic grid. Instead of arbitrary millisecond values, you specify musical note values—quarter notes, eighth notes, etc.—and the delay time derives from your project tempo.

Synced delays reinforce groove. Echoes falling on beats feel musical and intentional; random timing creates clutter and confusion. Professional productions overwhelmingly use tempo-synced delays for this reason.

The fundamental calculation is simple: Quarter note (ms) = 60,000 ÷ BPM. At 120 BPM, a quarter note equals 500ms. All other note values derive from this—eighth notes are half (250ms), sixteenth notes are quarter (125ms), and so on.

3Note Value Relationships

Note values follow binary division. Each step halves the previous: whole note, half note, quarter note, eighth, sixteenth, thirty-second. Understanding this hierarchy helps you predict delay character before calculating exact values.

Longer delays (quarter notes and up) create distinct, separate echoes. You hear the original, then the repeat as a clearly distinct event. These work for dramatic effects and spacious arrangements.

Shorter delays (sixteenths and faster) blur into the original sound. Instead of distinct echoes, they create thickening, movement, and rhythmic texture. The individual repeats aren't perceived separately but contribute to overall feel.

4Dotted & Triplet Values

Dotted notes add half again to the base value. A dotted eighth note equals an eighth plus a sixteenth—1.5× the eighth note duration. Dotted rhythms create a distinctive swing or galloping feel.

The dotted eighth note delay is perhaps the most popular delay setting in modern music. It creates echoes that fall between the main beats, generating forward momentum and complexity without cluttering the downbeats.

Triplet delays divide the base value into three equal parts. Triplet eighth notes fit three notes where two normal eighths would go, creating swing and shuffle feels. Triplet delays excel in soul, R&B, and jazz-influenced production.

5Vocal Delay Techniques

Vocal delays add depth, width, and rhythmic interest. The classic approach uses eighth or dotted eighth delays panned opposite the dry vocal, creating stereo movement that enhances presence without masking lyrics.

Slapback delay (75-150ms) thickens vocals without obvious echo. This technique, pioneered in early rock and roll, adds fullness and vintage character. Short enough to feel like room ambience, long enough to provide separation.

Throw delays on specific words or phrases add drama and emphasis. Automating delay sends to catch particular moments creates dynamic interest—imagine the last word of a line trailing off into rhythmic echoes.

6Instrument Applications

Guitar delay defines many genres. U2's dotted eighth delays, rockabilly slapback, ambient guitar swells—delay shapes electric guitar more than almost any other instrument. Calculate your times, then experiment with feedback and filtering.

Synth and keyboard delays create movement and space. Pads benefit from longer delays that extend harmonics. Lead synths might use shorter, rhythmic delays that interact with sequenced patterns.

Percussive delays require careful timing. Snare echoes should reinforce groove, not create flamming. Hi-hat delays can add shuffle and swing. Calculate precisely, then adjust by ear if needed.

7Creative Delay Uses

Ping-pong delay alternates echoes between left and right channels. Using stereo delay with calculated times creates precise rhythmic bouncing that moves across the stereo field. Automate pan positions for evolving patterns.

Delay throws—momentary delay sends—punctuate specific moments. Send the last syllable of a vocal phrase to a tempo-synced delay for dramatic trailing echoes that fill space without constant processing.

Feedback manipulation creates building, swelling delays. Start with calculated tempo-sync, then increase feedback until echoes pile up. Automate feedback for passages that grow from simple echoes to cascading washes.

8Tips & Best Practices

Always start with tempo-synced values from the calculator. Random millisecond settings rarely work as well as properly calculated musical values. You can adjust by ear afterward, but begin with math.

Filter your delays. High-pass filtering removes low-frequency buildup that creates mud. Low-pass filtering creates the darker, more vintage echo character of tape delays. Both help delays sit in the mix.

Use pre-delay on reverbs too. Our calculator helps set reverb pre-delay to musical values, keeping early reflections rhythmically aligned with your track. This technique improves clarity in dense mixes.

Consider multiple delays at different note values. A short slapback combined with longer rhythmic delay creates complex, interesting echo patterns. Layer thoughtfully—too many delays create chaos.