Random Tempo-Synced Delay Preset Generator

Select standard straight and dotted note divisions and calculate their tempo-synced delay times.

Description

Select straight or dotted quarter-note multiples and calculate their tempo-synced delay times in milliseconds.

A tempo-synced delay sets the interval between echoes as a fraction or multiple of a musical beat. A device may represent that interval by note divisions or by milliseconds; translating between them requires a tempo convention.^[1]

This tool treats beatsPerMinute as quarter-note beats per minute. It draws from [0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4] quarter-note multiples and returns quarterNoteMultiples with delayMilliseconds inside result.presets. Here preset means a timing suggestion, not a complete effect configuration.

When to use Random Tempo-Synced Delay Preset Generator

Use it to explore a few rhythmic delay timings at a known quarter-note tempo or prepare music-production timing exercises.

How to use Random Tempo-Synced Delay Preset Generator and understand its results

Enter finite beatsPerMinute of at least 1 and integer count from 1 through 32.
Run the generator and read result.presets, matching each quarterNoteMultiples value with delayMilliseconds.
Enter the timing into the intended delay device and choose feedback, mix, and other effect settings separately. Run again for another selection.

selected multiple = divisions[floor(8 × randomDraw)]; delay ms = 60000 × multiple / BPM

Each preset consumes one draw. The selected divisions are sampled with replacement.

Quarter-note multiples	Note-value interpretation
0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4	Sixteenth, eighth, quarter, half, whole
0.75, 1.5, 3	Dotted eighth, dotted quarter, dotted half

json

{
  "input": {
    "beatsPerMinute": 120,
    "count": 3
  },
  "randomDraw": 0.25,
  "output": {
    "result": {
      "presets": [
        {
          "quarterNoteMultiples": 0.75,
          "delayMilliseconds": 375
        },
        {
          "quarterNoteMultiples": 0.75,
          "delayMilliseconds": 375
        },
        {
          "quarterNoteMultiples": 0.75,
          "delayMilliseconds": 375
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Draw zero selects 0.25, while a draw just below one selects 4. Doubling BPM halves every corresponding delay time. Count one is valid; BPM below the exposed minimum, count above 32, and invalid draws fail.

Limitations and assumptions

The default source is Math.random; no seed input or cryptographic entropy guarantee is provided. Repeated runs may select the same result, and the distribution depends on the random source.

No triplet divisions, time-signature inference, swing, feedback, wet/dry mix, hardware range check, or tempo-change automation is provided. If your beat unit is not a quarter note, convert the tempo convention before using the timings.

Alternative or Complementary methods

Use the deterministic note-value delay calculator for a chosen division. A BPM-to-milliseconds conversion gives one beat duration without selecting a division.

References

Ableton Live Reference Manual: Delay — Ableton

Similar or alternative tools

Delay Time Synced to Note Value
Calculate milliseconds for a specified positive quarter-note multiple.
BPM to Milliseconds
Calculate the duration of a beat at a supplied tempo.