Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Simple rules to sonic chaos: the “three-oscillator problem” & Rob Hordijk’s “Benjolin”
In this video, I talk about the “Three-Body Problem” and created an analogous Pure Data patch, where three oscillators frequency-modulate each other. Just as in the physics problem, this cross-modulation network creates unpredictable, chaotic patterns. This emergent complexity from simple rules perhaps connects to ideas of motivic development in music, how great artistic works can grown from simple and small ideas.
👉 Subscribe for more explorations in synthesis, sound design, and experimental music:youtube.com/user/SimonHutc/?sub_confirmation=1
0:00 Intro
0:31 The "Three-Body Problem"
1:24 Defining Chaos
1:53 One Oscillator
2:35 Two Oscillators
3:59 Three Oscillaros
4:58 Rob Hordijk's "Benjolin"
7:54 Chaos and Aesthetics
💬 *Join the Discussion!* Have questions or want to share your own projects? Drop a comment below – I love hearing from you all!
Pricing for the After Later Audio Benjolin V2: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/8-12626-329160-9759?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fafter-later-benjolin-v2.html
* Official Website - simonhutchinson.com
* bandcamp (lots of free music!): simonhutchinson.bandcamp.com/follow_me
* Sign up for my mailing list: eepurl.com/hVs7bT
* Grab my old gear on Reverb (affiliate link): tidd.ly/48iMpdH
* Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/simonhutchinson
_My voiceover recording gear_ (affiliate links):
Aston Microphones Origin (Reverb): tidd.ly/4aiVSnj
dbx 286s Channel Strip
* Reverb: tidd.ly/4as22Bm
* Perfect Circtuit: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/8-12626-329160-9759?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fdbx-286s.html
(I sometimes provide affiliate links for products that I use and enjoy. If you end up buying something through these external links, it helps to support the channel, while the price for you remains the same.)
#PureData #ModularSynth #Benjolin #SoundDesign #ExperimentalMusic #GenerativeMusic #DIYAudio #ChaosTheory #FM #Eurorack
Simple rules to sonic chaos: the “three-oscillator problem” & Rob Hordijk’s “Benjolin”
In this video, I talk about the “Three-Body Problem” and created an analogous Pure Data patch, where three oscillators frequency-modulate each other. Just as in the physics problem, this cross-modulation network creates unpredictable, chaotic patterns. This emergent complexity from simple rules perhaps connects to ideas of motivic development in music, how great artistic works can grown from simple and small ideas.
👉 Subscribe for more explorations in synthesis, sound design, and experimental music:youtube.com/user/SimonHutc/?sub_confirmation=1
0:00 Intro
0:31 The "Three-Body Problem"
1:24 Defining Chaos
1:53 One Oscillator
2:35 Two Oscillators
3:59 Three Oscillaros
4:58 Rob Hordijk's "Benjolin"
7:54 Chaos and Aesthetics
💬 *Join the Discussion!* Have questions or want to share your own projects? Drop a comment below – I love hearing from you all!
Pricing for the After Later Audio Benjolin V2: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/8-12626-329160-9759?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fafter-later-benjolin-v2.html
* Official Website - simonhutchinson.com
* bandcamp (lots of free music!): simonhutchinson.bandcamp.com/follow_me
* Sign up for my mailing list: eepurl.com/hVs7bT
* Grab my old gear on Reverb (affiliate link): tidd.ly/48iMpdH
* Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/simonhutchinson
_My voiceover recording gear_ (affiliate links):
Aston Microphones Origin (Reverb): tidd.ly/4aiVSnj
dbx 286s Channel Strip
* Reverb: tidd.ly/4as22Bm
* Perfect Circtuit: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/8-12626-329160-9759?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fdbx-286s.html
(I sometimes provide affiliate links for products that I use and enjoy. If you end up buying something through these external links, it helps to support the channel, while the price for you remains the same.)
#PureData #ModularSynth #Benjolin #SoundDesign #ExperimentalMusic #GenerativeMusic #DIYAudio #ChaosTheory #FM #Eurorack
