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Audio Delay Time Calculator

Calculate a nominal tempo-linked delay interval and an explicit below-100% feedback/decay-threshold model without predicting plugin or signal behavior.

Use this result well

Inputs that matter
Documented BPM and reference note, one straight/dotted/triplet delay value, entered feedback below 100%, and an explicit amplitude decay threshold
Output to expect
Nominal delay interval plus transparent ideal feedback passes above the threshold and the first pass at or below it
How it works
Scale note units from the BPM reference pulse, then solve feedbackⁿ against the entered threshold without labeling the geometric passes audible repeats
  • Test the interval in the exact device/plugin, routing and tempo map; wet/dry level, filtering, saturation, modulation, automation, clocks and compensation remain outside the formula.
  • The threshold is an entered amplitude model, not a psychoacoustic or noise-floor measurement; review the rendered waveform and listen using appropriate hearing controls.

Choose your path

Built around the job you need to finish

Calculate one nominal tempo-linked delay interval and a transparent below-100% feedback/amplitude-threshold boundary without predicting audible repeats, reverb or device behavior.

Guitarist translating a score value to hardware milliseconds

Enter one dotted or triplet delay on a device without reliable note sync.

Copy tempo/reference pulse, choose the delay note and test the returned milliseconds in the actual pedal.

Keeps routing, tone, level, latency and musical acceptance outside the arithmetic.

Mix engineer documenting a feedback hypothesis

Make the repeat-decay convention auditable.

Enter the plugin feedback and an explicit amplitude threshold, then compare the geometric pass boundary with the rendered waveform.

Does not call ideal amplitude passes audible repeats.

Editor working across tempo changes

Avoid one fixed millisecond value across a changing map.

Run each documented tempo segment separately and verify automation/host compensation in the session.

Uses the calculator as a starting record rather than a set-and-forget control.

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Reference & details

How it works

Calculate the reference interval

The documented BPM and its stated reference note define one pulse duration. This avoids assuming every clock or score uses quarter-note BPM.

Reference beat ms = 60,000 / BPM

Scale to one selected delay value

Straight, dotted, and triplet selections use explicit quarter-note units relative to the selected BPM reference note.

Delay ms = reference beat ms × selected quarter units / reference-note quarter units

Expose the feedback threshold model

For feedback below 100%, the ideal returned amplitude after n passes is feedbackⁿ. The calculator reports the first pass at or below the entered amplitude threshold, not an audible-repeat promise.

First boundary pass = ceil(log(threshold ratio) / log(feedback ratio))

Updated: August 2026

Example Scenarios

Calculate the nominal dotted-eighth interval, then test the pedal's clock, feedback, filtering and bypass/latency behavior at safe listening level.

Record the plugin feedback percentage and a chosen amplitude threshold, then compare the geometric pass count with the rendered waveform rather than calling it audible repeats.

Recalculate intervals for each tempo segment and verify automation/device sync because one fixed millisecond value cannot follow a changing map.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using the example label with a different selected note

Record the actual note selection and reference beat together; a dotted eighth is 0.75 quarter-note units, while an eighth is 0.5.

Calling an ideal feedback pass count audible repeats

Treat it as a transparent amplitude-threshold model, then inspect the real rendered waveform and listen at an appropriate level.

FAQ

No. It reports nominal milliseconds and an optional ideal feedback model. Enter and test the value in the actual pedal, hardware, or plugin.

The decay equation requires a feedback ratio below one. At or above 100%, an ideal loop does not decay and real devices may limit, saturate, oscillate, or behave nonlinearly.

It is the ideal feedback-return amplitude percentage used for the displayed pass boundary. It is not a psychoacoustic audibility threshold or noise-floor measurement.

No. Host compensation, preceding-device latency, external clock offset and monitoring paths must be checked in the actual signal chain.

No. The page calculates only a selected grid interval and an ideal delay-feedback boundary. Reverb RT60, early reflections, pre-delay choice and mix acceptance require separate measurement and listening.

About Audio Delay Time Calculator

Enter the documented tempo, BPM reference note, and one straight, dotted, or triplet delay value. Feedback is modeled only as an ideal amplitude ratio against your stated threshold; the page does not calculate reverb, process audio, or know the device's feedback topology.