Is Xfer Records’ Serum 2 still the most powerful software synth you can buy?

$199 introductory price for new licences ($249 from 1st June)Free update for existing usersxferrecords.comSerum’s diverse sonic palette and exceptionally bold sound character have made it the go-to software synth for artists and producers in a huge scope of musical styles, including EDM, Pop, and Hip-Hop for over a decade. A star-studded lineup of users includes the likes of Skrillex and Deadmau5, and Serum’s sound has dominated the electronic music landscape.

READ MORE: Can any other synth match Arturia Pigments 6’s astonishing sonic diversity?Alongside a sound ranging from irresistible to utterly noxious, Serum endears itself to its user base through the way it allows you to dive so deeply and directly into sound design in an inadvertent and unassuming way.The revolutionary design bred some steady competition in the form of Kilohearts Phase Plant, UVI Falcon, Vital, Arturia Pigments, and many others. So, naturally, I’d like to know if Serum 2, even with all its upgrades, stands up to the other prominent software synths of today.



What’s new in the Oscillator section?The first thing you’ll notice when you open Serum 2, to your delight, is that it now features a third main oscillator, and each of these sound generators has five different modes – Wavetable, Multisample, Sample, Granular, and Spectral. To put things into perspective, the closest competitor, Pigments 6, has only two sound-generating engines, and although it provides a different scope of synthesis tools, there is still an advantage to having three sound layers rather than two.Over the years, Serum has become the holy grail of wavetable synths, so you’ll be thrilled to find that Xfer Records has improved features such as the wavetable editor and wavetable creation workflow, which is now more flexible.

The wavetable editor gives you quick access to all three oscillators, letting you edit harmonics, control waveform morphing behaviour over time, and even use formulaic data to save and recall wavetables. Furthermore, the ability to smooth interpolation while moving between wavetable frames allows for the creation of more organic sounds. Many features like this are hidden within right-click menus, so be sure to explore.

If you’re new to Serum, you might wonder why it doesn’t offer multiple layers of timbres like other synths. However, because the three main oscillators are such versatile sound generators with extensive modulation capabilities, it’s important to see and work with them as you would a layer on a multitimbral synth. The reason for this is that stacked layers of Serum’s synthesis engine would have staggeringly high system requirements.

Being that Serum 2 is already incredibly processor-intensive, it’s fair to say this is the best way forward.Besides the Granular and Wavetable sound sources, Serum 2 also gives you a bank of samples and the ability to use them as single or multisample patches. If you consider the impressive modulation and effects processing capabilities, Serum 2 becomes a formidable sampling instrument, whether you use the included sound content or dip into your personal stash.

However, by far one of the most exciting additions in the oscillator section is the new Spectral synthesis mode. Here, you can use a selection of tonal and non-tonal samples or Serum’s wavetables to create spectral sound sources. What’s more, you can also import samples of your own, or images in PNG format.

Once you know your way around the various oscillator types, the fun truly begins. As you browse through the patch library, you’ll notice how the patches are composed from multiple sound sources, and this is the essence of Serum’s sound design workflow. You’ll discover Granular and Spectral layers magically complementing one another to create mysterious, detailed soundscapes.

Meanwhile, when you add the noise and sub-oscillator, Serum becomes a complete drum synthesis tool.It’s important to note that the more you start to explore the excitingly animated oscillators, the more strain you put on your CPU. If you thought an Apple Silicon running 8 GB of RAM was enough to handle Serum 2, think again! I’d recommend at least 16 GB RAM, which is four times the amount listed in the System Requirements on Splice.

We can only hope that an update will make it more resource friendly in future.Serum 2 wavetable editor. Image: PressHow do I use Serum’s new arpeggiator and clip sequencer?With four envelopes and six LFOs, there’s amazing potential for creating animated sounds, especially when you add the modulation matrix and eight macro controls.

However, Serum has always been lacking in the sequencing department, so this is something the update needed to address. While the new arpeggiator and clip sequencer perform different functions, they have structural similarities in terms of their respective workflows.Both sections are capable of launching clips, a concept that should be familiar to Ableton Live users.

Each of the 12 clips in each section can be accessed with the respective ARP or CLIP keyboards and saved individually or globally as an ARP or CLIP bank. When combined with the various pattern and transpose modes, as well as the playback and retrigger functions, Serum’s arpeggiator is a flexible performance tool capable of creating far more than just retro-styled arp patterns.The clip sequencer, on the other hand, is a complete piano roll editor, complete with real-time MIDI recording and comprehensive MPE editing.

This offers an integrated composition platform as powerful as any software synth; from MIDI controller messages to note possibilities, you have all the functionality needed to create expressive performances within Serum, whether you prefer to sequence them or play them manually.As you browse through the preset library, you’ll notice that each patch has its own stylistic clip and a unique macro modulation set-up across the eight macros. This gives you an ideal starting point for understanding how to approach each sound from a performance perspective, and also how to get under the hood as you hone your sound design skills.

Expressive sound creation capabilities are more impressive than ever, with extended modulation and effects processing options. The new Mod section now offers more advanced envelopes with BPM sync and more complex LFO routing, with Dual X/Y outputs and grid sizes for the X and Y axes. In the effects section, there are exciting new modules, like the Bode frequency shifter, the Convolve convolution processor with IR import, and Splitter modules that allow you to process different frequency ranges, or even mid and side information separately.

Serum 2 clip sequencer. Image: PressIs Serum 2 still worth the hype?As a software instrument, Serum has a distinctive sonic identity and a monstrous reputation in music production circles that has bred a cult following as a result. This has a fair amount of sway on potential buyers as they are buying into a brand to get “that sound” rather than objectively comparing the user experience and sound with competing options.

When one looks at the endless range of soft synths available, one could argue that Serum 2 is priced a little steep for new users. If you’re a complete beginner, $249 is pretty staggering, and if you’re a keen sound designer, you might wonder why Pigments and Phase Plant are only $199.While the market may have moved on since Serum’s introduction in 2014, there’s no denying that it’s still very much a relevant part of the musical landscape, even though it might not be as groundbreaking as it once was.

The task will be upon Steve Duda and the Xfer team to ensure that future updates are not only timely and keep up with the Joneses, but also add value for both new and current users.Key featuresSynthesizer plugin (VST, AU, and AAX)SFZ compatibilityIntuitive sound design workflow, now with undo/redo system3 main oscillators with 5 modes (Wavetable, Multisample, Sample, Granular, and Spectral)626 presets288 wavetablesMixer with 2 aux effects buses and main processing busWealth of effectsBest-in-class clip sequencer and arpeggiatorExtensive modulation matrix and warping capabilitiesThe post Is Xfer Records’ Serum 2 still the most powerful software synth you can buy? appeared first on MusicTech..