Blippoo Box Legacy Brings Rob Hordijk's Chaotic Masterpiece Back to Life

The legendary Blippoo Box has returned. Biyiblip recently introduced the Blippoo Box Legacy, a faithful reissue of the unique synthesizer originally designed by the late Rob Hordijk. First units were sold at the Dutch Modular Fest in Rotterdam, bringing this beloved instrument back into the hands of experimental musicians worldwide.

A Brief History of Chaos

Rob Hordijk, a Dutch synth designer who passed away in 2022, was known for pushing the boundaries of electronic music instruments. Although he had contemplated chaotic synthesizers since the 1980s, it wasn't until 2003 that he began developing the Blippoo Box. After four years of development, Hordijk introduced this whimsically named instrument to the world.

The Blippoo Box was born from a unique philosophy. Instead of circuit bending existing electronics, Hordijk created an instrument that was "bent by design" from the ground up. His goal was to build a synthesizer where complex, unpredictable behavior was a fundamental feature, not a modification.

Well-Tempered Chaos

At its core, the Blippoo Box operates according to chaos theory principles. This isn't randomness—it's deterministic chaos, where fixed rules create patterns so sensitive to initial conditions that long-term behavior becomes practically unpredictable. The result is what Hordijk called "well-tempered chaos."

The instrument constantly seeks "balanced states" called attractors. Within these states, it generates patterns that, while never perfectly repeating, have roughly predictable sonic characteristics. A tiny knob adjustment can push the system across a threshold, causing it to settle into an entirely different sound.

This design fundamentally changes how you interact with the instrument. Rather than total control, you enter into a dialogue with a system that has its own agency. You learn to guide, influence, and react to the Blippoo Box's chaotic nature.

The Rungler Circuit

The secret sauce is Hordijk's signature "Rungler" circuit—an 8-bit shift register that generates intricate, chaotic modulations. The Blippoo Box features two oscillators that cross-modulate each other, with their outputs processed through the Rungler circuits to create stepped voltage patterns.

These patterns feed back into the oscillators' frequency controls, creating powerful self-modulating loops. The result is constantly evolving tempos, stuttering rhythms, and melodies that shift and transform in unpredictable ways.

The other key component is the Twin Peak resonator—a dual-peak resonant bandpass filter known for its complexity and distinctive timbre. When the chaotic core excites this filter, the Blippoo Box produces its signature bubbling, gurgling, and "talking" textures.

Technical Specifications

The Blippoo Box Legacy measures 240 × 160 × 80 mm and weighs 1.2 kg. It runs on 12V DC power (centre-positive), with a USB adapter cable provided that converts 5V to 12V. The instrument is available in two versions: one with 3.5mm jacks and another with 4mm banana connectors for modular integration.

Key features include:

• Two source oscillators with wide frequency range (subsonic to audio)
• Twin Peak resonator with manual and CV control
• Dual Rungler circuits for chaotic modulation
• Sample & Hold circuit with selectable source
• CV inputs for frequency and resonance control
• Multiple CV outputs (oscillators, Runglers, S&H)
• Audio input for external processing

Availability

The Blippoo Box Legacy is currently in production. Interested musicians can contact Biyiblip directly at biyiblip@gmail.com for more information about availability and ordering.