AUDIO
BPM to ms Converter
Convert beats per minute to milliseconds for every note subdivision.
TEMPO TIMING
Note durations at BPM
| Note | Milliseconds | |
|---|---|---|
BPM to milliseconds guide
Tempo to milliseconds is the conversion behind every timed thing in games and music: delay times, animation keyframes, beat-synced effects, and audio scheduling. This converter turns any BPM into millisecond values for every standard note subdivision — from whole notes to 32nd-note triplets.
It runs instantly in your browser, and the formula is right there if you ever need to do it by hand.
The one formula behind it all
Everything derives from a single relationship: a whole note at 120 BPM lasts exactly 2,000 ms (2 seconds), because 120 BPM means two beats per second, and a whole note spans four beats.
The formula: ms = 60000 ÷ BPM for a quarter note. Every other subdivision is a multiplier of that: an eighth is half (÷2), a 16th is a quarter (÷4), a dotted quarter is 1.5×, and a triplet is ⅔ of the base value.
Where game developers use this
- Beat-synced animations — timing a pulse or flash to the music track.
- Delay/reverb effects in audio middleware (FMOD, Wwise) — set delay times in ms matching the track BPM.
- Rhythm game hit windows — converting BPM to the ms window in which a tap counts.
- Procedural audio — scheduling notes or loops at exact musical intervals.
- UI transitions — syncing subtle UI motion to the soundtrack for polish.
Tip: For rhythm games, remember: at 120 BPM a beat is exactly 500 ms — a handy mental reference for designing hit windows.
Triplets, dotted notes, and the awkward ones
Triplets divide a beat into three equal parts, so an eighth-note triplet at 120 BPM is 500 ÷ 3 × 2 ≈ 333 ms. Dotted notes add half the base value: a dotted eighth is an eighth plus half an eighth (1.5×). The converter includes both — they are the ones people always forget.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert BPM to milliseconds?
For a quarter note: 60000 ÷ BPM. At 120 BPM that is 500 ms. Every other subdivision is a multiple of that value.
What is the ms of a beat at 128 BPM?
60000 ÷ 128 = 468.75 ms per quarter-note beat — the classic techno/DnB tempo.
What is a triplet in ms?
A triplet divides a beat into three. A quarter-note triplet at 120 BPM is 333.33 ms; an eighth-note triplet is 166.67 ms.
Why do game audio tools need ms values?
Audio middleware (FMOD, Wwise) and many audio APIs schedule effects in milliseconds, not beats — so you convert the musical tempo to ms for delays, gating, and sync.
What is a dotted note?
A dotted note lasts 1.5× its base value (the dot adds half). A dotted eighth at 120 BPM is 250 × 1.5 = 375 ms.
Privacy note: tempo calculations happen in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.