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.
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
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.
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.