BPM to Hz Calculator
Convert beats per minute (BPM) to frequency in hertz (Hz). Useful for LFO sync, sidechain frequency matching, and oscillator tuning.
How to use this tool
- Enter bpm in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your frequency and the full breakdown beneath it.
Convert tempo (BPM) to frequency in Hz for LFO sync and oscillator matching.
⚠ This tool provides general estimates for education only and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures may not reflect your situation — verify with a qualified professional.
Formula
Frequency (Hz) = BPM ÷ 60
Beat duration (ms) = 60 000 ÷ BPM
Bar duration in 4/4 (ms) = Beat duration × 4
How it works
This calculator converts a musical tempo from beats per minute into frequency in hertz by dividing by 60 (the number of seconds in a minute), since 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second. It also returns the single-beat and full-bar (4/4) durations in milliseconds. These values are commonly used to set LFO rates, sidechain filter frequencies, and oscillator speeds so that rhythmic modulations lock to the song's tempo.
Worked example
- BPM = 120.
- Frequency: 120 ÷ 60 = 2 Hz.
- Beat duration: 60 000 ÷ 120 = 500 ms.
- Bar duration (4/4): 500 × 4 = 2 000 ms.
120 BPM = 2 Hz; beat = 500 ms; bar = 2 000 ms.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing BPM-to-Hz for LFO rate with pitch frequency in Hz; 120 BPM = 2 Hz as a cycle rate, not a musical note.
- Using the quarter-note Hz value when the LFO should sync to an eighth note or bar duration.
- Forgetting that Hz expresses cycles per second, so a 0.5 Hz LFO at 30 BPM completes one full sweep every 2 seconds.
Key terms
- Hertz (Hz)
- The unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second. A 2 Hz LFO completes two full cycles every second.
- LFO (Low-Frequency Oscillator)
- A signal generator in synthesizers and effects that modulates parameters (pitch, filter, volume) at sub-audio rates, typically below 20 Hz.
- Beat duration
- The time in milliseconds that one quarter-note beat occupies at a given tempo.
- Bar (measure)
- A unit of musical time; in 4/4 time it contains four quarter-note beats. Its duration in ms is four times the beat duration.
- Tempo sync
- Locking an effect's rate (delay, LFO, sidechain) to the song's BPM so modulations feel rhythmically intentional.
Frequently asked questions
- What is 120 BPM in Hz?
- 120 BPM = 2 Hz (120 ÷ 60). The LFO rate is 2 cycles per second.