Delay and Reverb Calculator

Tempo-synced delay is a delay effect where the echo timing is mathematically related to the song's tempo (BPM). Instead of setting delay times in milliseconds arbitrarily, they're set to correspond to specific note values (quarter notes, eighth notes, etc.). This ensures that the echoes fall on musically relevant beats or subdivisions, creating rhythmic effects that complement the song rather than conflict with its timing.

Syncing time-based effects to your song's tempo creates more musical results that enhance rather than detract from your production. Tempo-synced effects create a sense of cohesion, improve rhythmic feel, reduce muddiness, and ensure that delays and reverb tails don't clash with the musical elements. Even subtle tempo syncing of reverb pre-delay can dramatically improve clarity while maintaining the spatial characteristics you want.

Dotted notes are 1.5 times the length of the regular note (e.g., a dotted eighth note equals an eighth note plus a sixteenth note). They create a bouncy, rhythmic "gallop" feel often used in rock, pop, and dance music. Triplet notes divide a beat into three equal parts instead of two, creating a swung or jazzy feel. A quarter note triplet means fitting three notes in the space usually taken by two quarter notes. Each creates a distinct rhythmic character when used for delay timing.

Pre-delay is the time between the original sound and the onset of reverb reflections. It mimics the natural delay between a sound and its first reflections in a physical space. Syncing pre-delay to tempo (often using 1/16 or 1/8 note values) serves two purposes: it creates better separation between the dry and wet signals, improving clarity, and it reinforces the song's rhythmic structure. When reverb hits on musically relevant time divisions, it feels more integrated with the song.

Different instruments benefit from different delay timings. For vocals, quarter notes (1/4) or dotted eighth notes (1/8D) often work well, creating space without overwhelming the performance. For rhythm guitars, eighth notes (1/8) or sixteenth notes (1/16) can enhance strumming patterns. For percussion, shorter values like sixteenth or thirty-second notes add subtle depth without muddying transients. Lead instruments often benefit from longer delays (quarter or half notes) for soaring, atmospheric effects.

Delay feedback determines how many repeating echoes occur before fading out. For tempo-synced delays, consider the musical context: sparse arrangements can handle more repeats (higher feedback), while dense arrangements benefit from fewer repeats. For rhythmic eighth or sixteenth note delays, try 15-30% feedback for subtle enhancement. For atmospheric quarter note delays, 30-50% creates lingering echoes. For specific musical effects like dub-style delays, higher feedback settings (60%+) create long decay trails. Always set feedback by ear in the context of your full mix.

Yes, using multiple tempo-synced delays with different timing values can create complex, interesting textures. For example, you might use a quarter note delay on vocals and an eighth note delay on guitar, creating rhythmic interplay between the parts. Or use a ping-pong delay with different timing values for each side (e.g., eighth note left, dotted eighth right). Just be careful not to overcrowd your mix - assign different frequency ranges to different delays using filtering, and consider using them on different instruments rather than stacking multiple delays on one element.

Most modern delay plugins have a tempo sync option that lets you select note values directly (1/4, 1/8, etc.) instead of milliseconds. Enable this option and select the desired note value. For plugins or hardware that only accept millisecond values, use our calculator to convert note values to milliseconds for your specific BPM. For DAWs, ensure the plugin is receiving the correct tempo information from your project settings. For hardware, you may need to manually tap tempo or enter the BPM value, then select note divisions or enter the millisecond values from our calculator.