Table of Contents
- Core Differences: Serum 1 vs. Serum 2
- Enhanced Wavetable Engine
- Expanded Oscillator Types
- Advanced Modulation and Routing
- Enhanced Effects and Processing
- Integrated Sequencer and Arpeggiator
- Arpeggiator
- Clip Sequencer
- Highlight: Global Scale and Swing Functions
- Global Scale Function
- Swing Function
- Visual Overview: Synth Hacker’s Guide
- In-Depth Overview: Virtual Riot’s Walkthrough
- Should You Upgrade?
- Direct Comparison: Serum 1 vs Serum 2 (Table)
- Final Thoughts
Serum 1 Vs Serum 2 : Here’s Everything You Need to Know
For years, Xfer Records’ Serum has been THE GO TO in the world of wavetable synthesis, renowned for its pristine sound quality and intuitive interface from beginners to pros.
With the release of Serum 2, the synthesizer has evolved into a more versatile and powerful tool for sound designers and producers.
This article explores the advancements in Serum 2, comparing them to its predecessor, Serum 1, to help you determine if upgrading is the right choice for you.
Core Differences: Serum 1 vs. Serum 2
1. Enhanced Wavetable Engine
- Serum 1 set the standard for high-resolution wavetable synthesis. Serum 2 builds upon this foundation with:Smooth Interpolation Mode: Allows for near-infinite frame positions within wavetables, enabling seamless transitions between waveforms without the need for manual morphing.New Warp Modes: Introduces additional warping capabilities, including filtering, frequency modulation (FM), phase distortion (PD), ring modulation, and various distortions, offering a broader spectrum of sound manipulation.
👉🏻Why It Matters: These enhancements provide sound designers with more precise control over harmonic content, resulting in dynamic and expressive patches.
2.Expanded Oscillator Types
Beyond the traditional wavetable oscillator, Serum 2 introduces:
Multisample Oscillator: Enables replication of real instruments and sounds, with Serum 2 shipping with an extensive library of instruments recorded worldwide, including orchestras, choirs, pianos, and guitars. Users can also import their own multisample recordings using the SFZ file format.
Sample Oscillator: Offers capabilities such as looping with snap loop detection, flexible loop modulation, ‘tape stop’ effects, sample slicing with real-time score extraction, and various FM/PD/distortion types, allowing for intricate sample manipulation.
Granular Oscillator: Provides granular synthesis capabilities, enabling the creation of complex textures and evolving soundscapes by manipulating audio at the microscopic level.
Spectral Oscillator: Allows for the import of samples, wavetables, or even PNG picture files, transforming them into spectral oscillator files with visual representations. Users can manipulate the spectrum, including various warp modes, and utilize a spectral filter to draw custom filter shapes, facilitating audio-level sound crafting.
👉🏻Why It Matters: These additions significantly expand Serum 2’s sonic palette, allowing for the creation of more diverse and intricate sounds.
3.Advanced Modulation and Routing
Serum 2 enhances modulation and routing capabilities with:
New LFO Modes: Includes ‘Path’ mode, where users can draw a path on an XY pad for the modulator to follow, and two ‘Chaos’ modes, offering complex modulation patterns.
Sample & Hold Generator: Introduces a sample and hold generator for creating random or stepped modulation effects.
Additional Macro Controls: Provides four additional macro controls, totaling eight, for more nuanced parameter manipulation.
Overhauled Mixing Workflow: Features a new mixing section with dedicated channels for each oscillator, filter, bus, and main section, allowing for more flexible sound mixing and effect routing.
👉🏻 Why It Matters: These enhancements offer deeper modulation possibilities and a more streamlined workflow, facilitating more creative sound design processes.
4.Enhanced Effects and Processing
Serum 2 introduces new effects modules, including:
Bode (Phase Shifting): Adds phase-shifting capabilities for creating unique timbral variations.
Convolve (Convolution Reverb): Offers convolution reverb with ready-to-use impulse responses (IRs) and the ability to load custom IRs, providing more realistic and diverse reverb effects.
M/S and L/H Splitters: Allows for mid/side and low/high splitting of signals, enabling more precise control over the stereo field and frequency spectrum during processing.
👉🏻Why It Matters: These new effects and processing tools enable in-the-box sound design without the need for additional plugins, streamlining the production workflow.
5.Integrated Sequencer and Arpeggiator
Serum 2 introduces two standout features that significantly enhance its sequencing capabilities: the Arpeggiator and the Clip Sequencer. These tools empower producers to craft dynamic patterns and intricate sequences directly within the synthesizer, streamlining the creative process.
1.Arpeggiator
The Arpeggiator in Serum 2 allows users to transform simple chords into rhythmic patterns effortlessly. Key features include:
Pattern Customization: Users can define note order, octave range, gate length, and swing to create unique arpeggiated sequences.
Pattern Memory Slots: The Arpeggiator offers multiple memory slots for storing different patterns, enabling quick transitions between sequences during live performances or while arranging various song sections.
👉🏻Why It Matters: These enhancements make the Arpeggiator a versatile tool for both novices and seasoned producers seeking to add complexity to their compositions.
2 Clip Sequence
The Clip Sequencer functions as an in-synth piano roll, enabling users to design custom note sequences and craft entire melodic lines or chord progressions that play back upon key press. Its notable features include:
Advanced Sequencing: Users can set trigger conditions, repeats, and probability settings to generate evolving or generative patterns.
Pattern Storage: Similar to the Arpeggiator, the Clip Sequencer supports saving multiple patterns and real-time swapping between them.
MIDI Import: Users can import MIDI files directly into the sequencer, allowing integration of existing riffs or patterns for further manipulation within Serum 2.
👉🏻Why It Matters: This functionality transforms Serum 2 into a comprehensive tool for idea generation, facilitating rapid experimentation without relying solely on a DAW’s piano roll.
Highlight
Serum 2 introduces Global Scale and Swing functions in its Keyboard section, enhancing musicality and rhythm.
Global Scale Function
This feature allows users to constrain the synthesizer’s output to specific musical scales and keys. By selecting a desired scale, Serum 2 ensures that all notes played or sequenced align harmoniously within that scale, simplifying the process of staying in key and fostering creativity without the concern of dissonant notes.
Swing Function
The Swing function introduces a rhythmic groove by adjusting the timing of notes, creating a more humanized and less mechanical feel. By altering the spacing between notes, swing adds a subtle or pronounced shuffle to sequences, enhancing the musicality of patterns.
These features collectively enhance Serum 2’s versatility, allowing for more expressive and musically coherent sound design.
For a visual overview of Serum 2’s new features, check out this comprehensive guide by OG Sound Designer & Youtube Creator Synth Hacker :
Product Demos
For those seeking in-depth tutorials and insights on Serum, SynthHacker has launched a dedicated YouTube channel focusing exclusively on this powerful synthesizer. Make sure to keep an eye on that as well : https://www.youtube.com/@SynthHackerSerum
For an in-depth overview of Serum 2’s features, renowned Music Producer, DJ & Sound Designer Virtual Riot has provided a comprehensive walkthrough in his recent video:
Product Demos
Should You Upgrade?
Well, of course.
If you already own Serum 1 and love its workflow, Serum 2 is a worthy upgrade, especially if you:
✅ Work with highly expressive sounds and MPE-enabled controllers
✅ Want enhanced wavetables and spectral morphing for deeper sound design
✅ Need better CPU optimization and workflow refinements
✅ Enjoy in-the-box processing with new built-in effects
PLUS, Serum 2 is now available as a free upgrade for existing Serum 1 users, so why wouldn’t not?
Direct Comparison : Serum 1 Vs Serum 2
| Feature | Serum 1 | Serum 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Oscillators | 2 | 3 |
| Oscillator Types | Wavetable | Wavetable, Granular, Spectral, Multi-sample |
| Macro Controls | 4 | 8 |
| Granular Synthesis | Not Available | Available |
| Spectral Oscillator | Not Available | Available |
| Arpeggiator | Not Integrated | Integrated |
| Effects Rack | Basic with Limited Effects | Advanced with Expanded Effects and Flexible Routing |
| Factory Library | Limited Presets and Wavetables | Over 626 Presets and 288 Wavetables |
| CPU Optimization | Standard Performance | Improved Performance with Optimized CPU Usage |
More Details here : https://xferrecords.com/products/serum-2
Final Thoughts :
Serum 2 isn’t just an incremental update—it’s a game-changer for electronic music producers, sound designers, and anyone looking for next-level wavetable synthesis.
With expanded modulation, better performance, new effects, and deeper synthesis capabilities, Serum 2 is set to redefine sound design once again.
Are you excited for Serum 2? Let us know in the comments!