Pre-Delay Calculator

Formula

To calculate the Pre-Delay Time (PD):

\[ PD = \frac{60}{BPM \times PPQ} \]

Where:

\(PD\) is the Pre-Delay Time (milliseconds)
\(BPM\) is the Tempo of the Song (beats per minute)
\(PPQ\) is the Pulses per Quarter Note

What is Pre-Delay?

Pre-Delay is a term used in audio processing, specifically in reverb effects, to refer to the time gap between the original sound and the onset of reverberation. It is used to create a sense of depth and space in the sound, making it seem as though the sound is coming from a larger room or hall. The longer the pre-delay, the larger the perceived space. It is an essential parameter in music production and live sound engineering.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Tempo of the Song (\(BPM\)) = 120 beats per minute
Pulses per Quarter Note (\(PPQ\)) = 24

Using the formula:

\[ PD = \frac{60}{120 \times 24} \times 1000 \approx 2.08 \text{ milliseconds} \]

The pre-delay time is approximately 2.08 milliseconds.