Ping-Pong Delay
Ping-pong delay bounces each echo between left and right channels, creating wide stereo movement. Use this guide to find the right BPM-synced delay time, set feedback correctly, and hear famous ping-pong delay sounds.
What Is Ping-Pong Delay?
Ping-Pong Delay
Each repeat alternates between left and right channels. The result is a wide, moving stereo effect that pans across the speaker field with each echo.
Standard Mono Delay
Each repeat plays in the same stereo position (usually center or slightly offset). Repeats stack without stereo movement.
Ping-pong delay is most effective on sounds you want to place wide in the mix: lead vocals, guitar solos, synth leads, and melodic percussion. The alternating channel placement creates stereo width without muddying the center of the mix.
Ping-Pong Delay Formula
60,000 / BPM Slow, wide bouncing
30,000 / BPM Tighter, rhythmic
45,000 / BPM Syncopated, musical
At 128 BPM: quarter note = 468.8ms, eighth note = 234.4ms, dotted eighth = 351.6ms. Most ping-pong delay plugins have a BPM sync button so you can select the note value instead of entering ms manually.
Ping-Pong Delay BPM Chart
Quarter note (slow wide bounce), eighth note (tight rhythmic), and dotted eighth note (syncopated) delay times for common BPMs.
| BPM | Quarter (ms) | Eighth (ms) | Dotted 8th (ms) | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 1000 | 500 | 750 | Slow hip-hop / downtempo |
| 70 | 857.1 | 428.6 | 642.9 | Soul / R&B |
| 75 | 800 | 400 | 600 | Trip-hop |
| 80 | 750 | 375 | 562.5 | Hip-hop / lo-fi |
| 85 | 705.9 | 352.9 | 529.4 | Classic hip-hop |
| 90 | 666.7 | 333.3 | 500 | Hip-hop / boom bap |
| 95 | 631.6 | 315.8 | 473.7 | Deep house |
| 100 | 600 | 300 | 450 | House |
| 105 | 571.4 | 285.7 | 428.6 | House / disco |
| 110 | 545.5 | 272.7 | 409.1 | Deep house |
| 115 | 521.7 | 260.9 | 391.3 | House |
| 120 | 500 | 250 | 375 | House / pop |
| 125 | 480 | 240 | 360 | Tech house |
| 128 | 468.8 | 234.4 | 351.6 | Trance / house |
| 130 | 461.5 | 230.8 | 346.2 | Trance / EDM |
| 135 | 444.4 | 222.2 | 333.3 | Trance / progressive |
| 140 | 428.6 | 214.3 | 321.4 | Trance / dubstep |
| 145 | 413.8 | 206.9 | 310.3 | Hard trance |
| 150 | 400 | 200 | 300 | Hard trance / UK hardcore |
| 160 | 375 | 187.5 | 281.3 | Drum and bass |
| 170 | 352.9 | 176.5 | 264.7 | Drum and bass |
| 174 | 344.8 | 172.4 | 258.6 | Standard DnB |
| 180 | 333.3 | 166.7 | 250 | Fast DnB / jungle |
Need a BPM not listed? Use the BPM Delay Calculator for any tempo.
Ping-Pong Feedback Settings
Single Bounce
One or two repeats. Adds width without obvious echo trails. Good for tight vocal and lead guitar in busy mixes.
Natural Trails
2-4 repeats with natural decay. The sweet spot for most lead sounds. Adds depth without overwhelming the source signal.
Ambient Trails
Long, spacious decay. Good for pads, ambient, and cinematic sounds where long trails are part of the texture.
Build Effect
Very long trails, near self-oscillation. Use for dramatic build-ups and transitions. Automate down after the fill to avoid mix buildup.
When to Use Ping-Pong Delay
Lead vocals
Adds stereo width and spatial depth to lead vocals without the smear of reverb. Short ping-pong (8th or 16th note) keeps lyrics intelligible while filling the sides.
Guitar solos
Creates the classic "floating" lead guitar sound heard in classic rock, blues, and indie. Dotted 8th note ping-pong is the most musical choice at most tempos.
Synth leads and arpeggios
BPM-synced ping-pong on a synth lead creates the illusion of a wider arrangement. The alternating left/right pattern is particularly effective on sustained notes.
Percussion and hi-hats
Short 16th note ping-pong on hi-hats or shakers creates stereo movement in house, techno, and dance music without adding too much decay to tight grooves.
Ambient pads
Long quarter or half-note ping-pong on pads creates expansive stereo movement. Works especially well in ambient, cinematic, and atmospheric production.
Special FX and transitions
Ping-pong delay with rising feedback is a powerful fill and transition effect. Automate feedback from 0% to 80% over 4 bars for a dramatic build.
Ping-Pong vs Other Delay Types
| Delay Type | Stereo Spread | Best For | Typical Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ping-Pong | L-R alternating | Leads, vocals, synths, guitar | 8th or dotted 8th |
| Slapback | Mono / center | Vocals, guitar, snare | 40-200ms, 0% feedback |
| Dotted Eighth | Mono or wide | Guitar solos, lead melody | 45,000 / BPM ms |
| Tape Echo | Mono with wow/flutter | Lo-fi, vintage, psychedelic | Variable, not BPM-synced |
| Multi-tap | Varied placement | Complex rhythmic patterns | Multiple synced points |
Famous Ping-Pong Delay Examples
Geoff Emerick's orchestral swells and tape delays helped create the dreamlike stereo space. Ping-pong style bouncing was a key EMI Studios technique.
David Gilmour's guitar solo uses long bouncing delays with careful stereo placement. The ping-pong effect creates the signature floating, expansive quality.
The Edge uses ping-pong style bouncing delay on the intro guitar. The alternating stereo pattern fills the wide open mix without clogging the center.
The vocoder and synth lines use bouncing stereo delays throughout. The ping-pong placement keeps the filtered layers from competing while maintaining width.
The vocal and instrument effects use bouncing delay to fill the sparse mix. Short ping-pong at hip-hop tempos creates width without cluttering the groove.
How to Set Up Ping-Pong Delay in Your DAW
Ableton Live
- 1. Use Ping Pong Delay device
- 2. Enable Sync mode, select note value
- 3. Set Feedback to 20-40%
- 4. Adjust Dry/Wet to taste (20-40%)
- 5. High-pass the feedback return at 200Hz
FL Studio
- 1. Load Delay 3 on a mixer track
- 2. Enable stereo mode (ping-pong icon)
- 3. Set Left channel delay, Right = auto-offset
- 4. Use the Tempo Sync option for note values
- 5. Set Feedback and mix knob to taste
Logic Pro
- 1. Use Stereo Delay plug-in
- 2. Link channels, set Note Sync
- 3. Pan Left delay fully L, Right fully R
- 4. Set Feedback 20-40% per side
- 5. High-pass the output at 150-200Hz
Pro Tips for Ping-Pong Delay
High-pass the return
Filter out frequencies below 150-200Hz on the delay return. This prevents low-end buildup from each repeat and keeps the mix punchy.
Use a send track
Route your delay to a separate send/return track instead of inserting directly on the source. This lets you process and EQ the repeats independently.
Offset the timing
Some plugins let you set slightly different timing on L and R (e.g. 8th note L / dotted 8th note R). The asymmetry creates a more organic, less robotic ping-pong effect.
Automate feedback for builds
Automate feedback from 20% to 70% over the last 4 bars of a section for a dramatic build. Then cut the delay send at the drop for a clean moment of impact.
Combine with reverb
Ping-pong delay before reverb creates a wide, lush space. Route the delay return into a short room reverb to glue the repeats and make them feel more natural.
Check in mono
Ping-pong delay collapses to a simple delay in mono. Make sure the mono version still sounds musical, especially if your track will be played on phone speakers or in clubs with a mono sound system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ping-pong delay?
Ping-pong delay is a stereo delay effect where each repeat alternates between the left and right audio channels, like a ping-pong ball bouncing between two walls. This creates wide stereo movement and spatial depth that a mono delay cannot achieve.
What delay time should I use for ping-pong delay?
Sync your ping-pong delay to your track's BPM. Quarter note (60,000 / BPM) gives slow, wide bouncing. Eighth note (30,000 / BPM) is tighter and more rhythmic. Dotted eighth note (45,000 / BPM) is syncopated and works especially well on guitar and lead synths.
What feedback setting should I use?
For most lead vocal and instrument applications, 20-40% feedback gives 2-4 natural repeats. For ambient and pad sounds, 50-70% creates longer trails. Avoid going above 80% in most situations as the repeats can build up and muddy your mix. Use a high-pass filter on the return to prevent low-end accumulation.
What is the difference between ping-pong and stereo delay?
Stereo delay can mean any delay that uses both channels, including a simple dual-mono setup where both sides play the same repeats. Ping-pong delay specifically alternates each repeat between left and right, creating active stereo movement. A stereo delay where both L and R play at the same time does not create the ping-pong bouncing effect.
BeatKey Tools Suite
Calculate Your Ping-Pong Delay Time
Enter your BPM in the delay calculator to get the exact millisecond value for quarter, eighth, dotted eighth, and every other note value. Copy directly to your DAW.