Methods & worked examples
BPM Note Duration Calculator — Methods & worked examples
How it works
One beat in milliseconds = 60,000 ÷ BPM. Convert the selected beat unit to a quarter-note duration, then use note ms = quarter-note ms × 4 ÷ note denominator. A single dot multiplies duration by 1.5. A 3:2 triplet multiplies it by 2/3, not 1/3.
Worked examples
At 120 BPM with a quarter-note beat, one beat is 500 ms and an eighth note is 250 ms. A dotted eighth is 375 ms; an eighth-note triplet is about 166.667 ms. At 80 BPM with a dotted-quarter beat, each beat is 750 ms, so the quarter is again 500 ms. A 375 ms delay interpreted as a dotted eighth with a quarter-note beat gives 120 BPM.
Scope & limitations
The reverse calculation uses the same beat unit, note and modifier; another interpretation gives another BPM. The Hz column is event repetition frequency, 1,000 ÷ ms, not musical pitch. Time signature alone does not specify the BPM beat unit. This covers fixed tempo, single dots and 3:2 triplets, not swing, tempo changes, performance deviations or device latency. No audio is analyzed.
Method sources
Our original explanations and calculators use the methods above. This site is not affiliated with the cited brands or organizations.