π₯ BPM Calculator
Tap tempo, delay times, and song duration from BPM.
Tap at least 4 times in rhythm
Tap tempo
How to Use This Calculator
Three tabs handle the most common BPM tasks. Tap Tempo determines BPM by measuring the gaps between your taps. Delay Times converts any BPM to millisecond values for every note division from whole note down to triplet sixteenth. Song Duration calculates total running time from bar count, BPM, and time signature.
On Tap Tempo, click the TAP button (or press Space) at least 4 times in rhythm with a song, a click track, or your own pulse. The BPM average updates with each tap and settles within 6 to 8 taps.
On Delay Times, type your BPM and read the ms values for all note divisions. The dotted eighth is the most popular choice for single-repeat echo effects in rock and pop production.
On Song Duration, enter BPM, the number of bars, and the time signature. This is useful for film composers hitting cues or for producers checking whether a loop arrangement fits a target length.
Enter the delay ms value from this calculator into your delay plugin's time field. If the plugin has a "sync to tempo" mode, use the note division name instead (dotted eighth, quarter, etc.).
BPM and Delay Time Formula
A quarter note is one beat. At 120 BPM there are 2 beats per second, so a quarter note lasts 60,000 / 120 = 500 ms. An eighth note is half that: 250 ms. A dotted eighth is 75% of a quarter note (375 ms at 120 BPM), which is the value The Edge famously uses on his guitar delay. When you enter these values into a delay plugin set to manual mode, the echo repeats land exactly on the beat grid of your track.
Real-World Examples
When You Need This
Guitarists and keyboardists who use delay pedals or plugins need tempo-synced delay times to make echo effects sound musical rather than random. Set the dotted eighth value from this calculator into your delay plugin and a four-on-the-floor kick drum will line up perfectly with your echo trails. Without matching the delay to the tempo, fast repeats clash with the rhythm and make the mix feel busy and unfocused.
Producers working in loop-based DAWs frequently need to know whether an arrangement hits a specific duration for a sync license or a set time constraint. If a supervisor asks for a 90-second version of a track at 128 BPM in 4/4, you need 48 bars. Use the Song Duration tab to verify before you start editing, not after. This also helps when matching a loop to a video scene: check how many bars fit between two edit points and lock your arrangement to that number.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate song duration from BPM?
Duration = total_beats Γ· BPM Γ 60 seconds. Example: 4/4 song, 100 bars at 120 BPM = 400 beats Γ· 120 Γ 60 = 200 seconds = 3 min 20 sec.
How do I calculate delay time from BPM?
Quarter note delay (ms) = 60,000 Γ· BPM. Eighth note = 30,000 Γ· BPM. Dotted eighth = 45,000 Γ· BPM (Γ1.5). Triplet eighth = 20,000 Γ· BPM (Γβ ).
What is the dotted eighth delay for slap echo?
The dotted eighth delay (60000/BPM Γ 0.75) is popular for the "slap echo" effect commonly heard on U2 recordings by The Edge. At 120 BPM: 60000/120 Γ 0.75 = 375ms.
What BPM is a given time signature?
4/4 has 4 quarter-note beats per bar. 6/8 has 6 eighth-note beats (or 2 compound beats). 3/4 has 3 quarter-note beats. The BPM refers to quarter-note beats by convention.
What is tap tempo?
Tap tempo lets you determine BPM by tapping a button in rhythm with a song. The app measures the time between taps and calculates the average BPM. Tap at least 4 times for accuracy.