- Publisher: Xfer Records
- Product: Serum 2
- Version: 2.0.23
- Format: VST3, AU, AAX
- Requirements: Windows 10 or higher, macOS High Sierra or higher
For over a decade, Serum has dominated the wavetable synth landscape. With its powerful sound and visual workflow, it became an industry standard. The free release of Serum 2 is a monumental update that transforms this classic synth into a multi-engine powerhouse, expanding its sonic capabilities in every direction.
Pushing Boundaries: New Synthesis Engines
While the original Serum was a master of wavetable synthesis, Serum 2 breaks new ground by becoming a truly versatile instrument. The most significant changes are the additions of a Granular Oscillator, which slices and dices audio into complex textures; a Spectral Oscillator, which allows for real-time harmonic resynthesis; and a Multi-sample Oscillator, which lets you load instruments in the SFZ format. The update also adds a third primary oscillator, giving you even more layers to build truly massive sounds.
A Hands-On Guide to Rhythmic Granular Synthesis
My favorite part of the update is the granular engine. While it’s fantastic for pads, I found a really cool way to use it for rhythmic sounds that are BPM-locked with my track. You can get a much more organic sound by right-clicking the Density control and enabling the BPM sync option, which makes the Length control function as a decay. The real magic happens when you use the Random Offset control. Every time a new grain is triggered, it starts from a slightly different place in the sample, resulting in a unique, organic feel. I even layered this with a vinyl noise sample to get a really unique texture. You can find more great tips and tutorials for Serum 2 by checking out our content.
Designing a Futuristic Bass
The new Spectral Oscillator and Chaos LFOs are a perfect combination for designing bass patches that sound alive and constantly in motion. A great starting point is to use the Spectral Oscillator to generate a simple sine or triangle wave, then use a Chaos LFO to subtly modulate the wavetable position. This creates a very organic, slightly unstable timbre that never sounds exactly the same on each note. You can then route a second Chaos LFO to the filter cutoff to add even more non-linear movement. The result is a bass that is both powerful and dynamic, with a character that feels truly unique to your song.
Cinematic Sound Design: Creating a Massive Drone
The new granular oscillator and convolution reverb are a match made in heaven for cinematic sound design. You can start with a simple, static sound source, like a reversed cymbal or a sustained vocal note, and load it into the granular oscillator. By setting the Grain Size to a very large value and turning up the Position Rand control, you can create a huge, swirling soundscape that is constantly evolving. Next, send this signal to the new convolution reverb in the effects section. By loading an exotic impulse response—perhaps from an anechoic chamber or a cathedral—you can give your drone a massive sense of space and movement. The result is an epic, otherworldly sound that’s perfect for movie trailers or atmospheric intros.
Enhancing Your Creative Flow
Serum 2 isn’t just about new sounds—it’s about a better, more efficient workflow. The modulation system has been significantly enhanced, with the number of assignable macros doubling from four to eight. The LFOs now include new “path” and “chaos” modes that can generate unique, evolving patterns. The effects section has been completely overhauled, featuring a new mixer and flexible routing options, including a signal splitter. New effects like a convolution reverb and a Bode frequency shifter have also been added to the arsenal. You can get all the official details on these updates from the official Xfer Records website.
The New Effects Engine and Bode Frequency Shifter
The effects section in Serum 2 is no longer a simple insert chain. The new mixer, with its flexible drag-and-drop routing and signal splitter, allows for true parallel processing. You can now send the same signal to multiple effects simultaneously and blend their outputs. This is incredibly powerful for sound design. For example, you could send a synth bass through a Saturator for aggression and also through a Compressor for punch, then mix the two signals for a powerful final sound.
The new Bode Frequency Shifter is another game-changer. Unlike a traditional pitch shifter, which preserves the harmonic relationships between notes, a frequency shifter shifts all frequencies by a fixed amount. This creates a metallic, atonal sound that can range from subtle detuning to aggressive, sci-fi ring modulation. It’s fantastic for designing otherworldly sound effects, strange leads, or adding a dissonant texture to a pad. You can even use it in combination with the new routing to create a stereo effect by shifting the left and right channels by slightly different amounts and blending them with the original signal.
The Multi-sample Oscillator for Realism and Hybrid Sounds
The new multi-sample oscillator is perfect for producers who want to blend classic synthesis with realistic, acoustic sounds. You can load a multi-sampled piano or bass guitar in SFZ format and layer it with a synthetic wavetable. This is an excellent way to add a realistic attack to a synthetic pad or to create a hybrid bass that has the weight and feel of a real instrument. The key is to use the flexible modulation system to your advantage—for instance, modulating the filter of the synthetic layer with the velocity of your keyboard to make it more expressive.
Bringing It All Together: A Hybrid Patch Example
The true power of Serum 2 comes from combining its new features into a single, cohesive patch. Imagine building a soundscape that starts with a granular oscillator loading a field recording of wind chimes, while a spectral oscillator adds a sub-layer one octave below for tonal weight. You can then use a Chaos LFO to modulate the granular oscillator’s position and another to subtly affect the spectral oscillator’s timbre, making the sound feel constantly alive. For the effects, you can use the new signal splitter to send the granular layer through the Bode Frequency Shifter for a shimmering, alien texture, while the spectral layer is sent through a Distortion effect for added grit. Finally, both signals are mixed and sent to the new convolution reverb with a huge, cathedral-style impulse response. The result is a complex, evolving sound that is part organic, part synthetic, and full of unique character.
Is Serum 2 Worth the Update?
Xfer Records has delivered a staggering update that truly justifies the hype. Serum 2 is a free upgrade for all existing owners, which is an unprecedented move for a plugin of this caliber. While some complex patches may be more CPU-intensive, the new features far outweigh any potential drawbacks. For new users, Serum 2, at its current price of $249, represents an exceptional value, especially considering the added synthesis engines and workflow enhancements. As a producer, I can wholeheartedly recommend this update.