Two oscillators at nearly equal frequencies produce audible beats whose rate equals the frequency difference

When two oscillators run at slightly different frequencies (e.g., 440 Hz and 441 Hz), the phase relationship between them slowly cycles through all values — from perfectly in phase (constructive interference, maximum amplitude) to perfectly out of phase (destructive interference, near silence). This periodic amplitude fluctuation is heard as beats. The beat rate equals the absolute frequency difference in Hz; 440 vs. 441 Hz produces 1 beat per second. Beats are used for tuning (zero beats = perfect unison), for chorus/detune effects, and for rhythmic animation of timbres in additive synthesis.

Examples

Two cycle~ objects at 220 Hz and 222 Hz produce 2 beats per second. When perfectly in phase, amplitude doubles (up to ±2 without normalization); in anti-phase, amplitude cancels toward 0.

Assessment

Predict the beat rate when two oscillators are tuned to 523.25 Hz and 527.25 Hz. How would you hear this in a patch, and what would you check to verify it is correct?