Serum 2 Is Here: Xfer’s Iconic Synth Gets a Major Overhaul
For nearly a decade, Serum has been the go-to wavetable synth for producers across every genre, praised for its intuitive workflow, crisp sound quality, and deep sound design capabilities. Now, Serum 2 takes things to the next level with a major upgrade that expands its synthesis engine, adds powerful new modulation and sequencing tools, and comes packed with a huge library of fresh sounds. This update isn’t just a facelift—it transforms Serum into a multi-engine hybrid synth, introducing multisample, granular, and spectral synthesis alongside its signature wavetables. Add to that a refined wavetable engine with smoother interpolation and new FM and phase distortion warp modes, and Serum 2 is no longer just a wavetable powerhouse—it’s a full-fledged sound design playground. Beyond the synthesis upgrades, Serum 2 includes new presets and wavetables, ensuring that producers have a wealth of inspiring sounds to work with right from the start. The new arpeggiator and clip sequencer bring real-time movement and generative possibilities, while the revamped modulation system and effects section introduce deeper creative control, including convolution reverb and a Bode frequency shifter.
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Pricing and Upgrade Policy
New Oscillator Engines
Serum 2 expands beyond its original wavetable foundation with three new synthesis engines: multisample, granular, and spectral synthesis. The multisample engine brings a new level of realism by allowing users to load and manipulate real instrument recordings, making Serum more than just a wavetable synth. Granular synthesis takes things in the opposite direction, letting you break sounds down into tiny grains and manipulate them in ways that weren’t possible before—perfect for creating shimmering pads, evolving textures, or glitchy, fragmented effects. Spectral synthesis opens up deep sound design possibilities, allowing users to manipulate the frequency content of a sound in precise, creative ways.
With these new engines, Serum 2 becomes a true hybrid synthesizer, capable of blending traditional synthesis techniques with cutting-edge processing. You can now combine wavetables with samples, granular textures, and spectral transformations, unlocking entirely new sonic possibilities. Whether you’re designing lush cinematic atmospheres or punchy electronic leads, these new synthesis options push Serum 2 into a new league of sound design.
Enhanced Wavetable Engine
While the original Serum set the standard for wavetable synthesis, Serum 2 refines it further with smoother interpolation between waveforms, making morphing between different shapes feel more fluid and organic. This means fewer digital artifacts and a more natural, evolving sound when modulating between wavetables. Additionally, new warp modes expand the way you can manipulate waves, introducing true FM synthesis and phase distortion, both of which add new flavors of harmonics and movement to your sound.
These additions make Serum 2 more than just a visual wavetable editor—it’s now a powerhouse for real-time synthesis tricks. FM synthesis unlocks metallic, bell-like tones and aggressive, growling textures, while phase distortion provides punch and grit reminiscent of classic digital synths. Combined with the existing warp functions, these updates make Serum 2 an even more expressive and dynamic instrument.
Advanced Modulation and Effects
Modulation is where Serum has always excelled, and in Serum 2, the LFO system has been completely redesigned to offer more flexibility. New modes for LFO shapes allow for precise, customizable modulations, while the improved drag-and-drop workflow makes it even faster to route and tweak assignments. This update makes Serum’s modulation system feel even more hands-on and performance-oriented, perfect for evolving sound design and expressive automation.
The effects section has also received a major overhaul, with new convolution reverb that lets users apply realistic room simulations, adding depth and space to sounds. Additionally, Serum 2 introduces a Bode frequency shifter, which creates unique, non-harmonic pitch shifts that can add a futuristic or experimental edge to any sound. With expanded routing options, effects in Serum 2 can now be reordered and customized more freely, making it easier to sculpt final sounds entirely within the synth.
Arpeggiator and Clip Sequencer
A long-requested feature, Serum 2 now includes a built-in arpeggiator that adds rhythmic movement to patches without needing an external MIDI sequencer. The arpeggiator offers multiple modes, including classic up/down patterns, randomization, and custom step sequencing, making it a great tool for quickly generating melodic ideas. With real-time parameter control, it can be tweaked on the fly for dynamic and evolving performances.
Another major addition is the clip sequencer, which allows users to program complex rhythmic patterns and automation directly within Serum. This turns the synth into more of a self-contained instrument, giving producers the ability to create evolving sequences and modulations without external automation. These features make Serum 2 even more powerful for generative music, live performances, and hands-on sound experimentation.
Factory Content: A Deep and Versatile Sound Library
Serum 2 doesn’t just bring a more powerful engine—it also delivers a huge expansion of its sound library, ensuring producers have an inspiring selection of presets and wavetables to work with from day one. The update includes over 626 new presets, designed to showcase the full potential of the new synthesis engines. Whether you’re after shimmering ambient pads, deep cinematic textures, razor-sharp basses, or intricate leads, this collection offers a massive range of high-quality sounds, ready to slot into any genre. Each preset is built to take advantage of Serum 2’s refined modulation and effects, offering instant playability with expressive movement straight out of the box.
Beyond the presets, 288 newly designed wavetables further expand Serum’s sonic palette, introducing a variety of harmonically rich, evolving waveforms that pair perfectly with the new FM, phase distortion, and spectral processing features. These additions make it easier than ever to craft unique tones, whether by tweaking factory sounds or diving into deep sound design. Serum 2 also improves workflow by offering better organization and browsing tools, making it effortless to navigate its vast library and find the right sound quickly. Whether you’re looking for quick inspiration or ready to build custom patches from the ground up, Serum 2 provides one of the most versatile and well-rounded factory libraries available in any soft synth today.
Pricing & Compatibility
Serum 2 launches with an introductory discounted price until June 1st, after which it will return to its regular price. In a move that reinforces Xfer Records' reputation for supporting its users, existing Serum 1 owners get the update completely free, making this one of the most generous major version upgrades in the plugin world. This approach ensures that long-time users can benefit from the expanded feature set without additional cost, while new buyers still get a competitive price for one of the most powerful synths on the market.
In terms of compatibility, Serum 2 remains accessible to a wide range of users. It’s available in VST3, AU, and AAX formats, ensuring seamless integration with all major DAWs. For Mac users, it supports macOS High Sierra and later for Intel, while Apple Silicon users will need Big Sur or newer to take full advantage of native M1/M2 performance. On Windows, the plugin runs on Windows 10 and above, keeping things streamlined for modern systems. These requirements ensure that Serum 2 remains optimized for current hardware while continuing to be a go-to synth for producers across different platforms.
Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate links, which means Internet Tattoo may receive a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you.