Xfer Serum 2

We take a look at the flagship synth from Xfer, Serum.

This is a review of Xfer Serum with a focus on how it will help electronic music producers.

Jump to:

• Introduction to Serum 2
• Getting Started with Serum
• Notable Features
• Presets Available for Serum
• Alternatives Available To Serum
• Who Uses This Plugin?
• Serum 2 Review Summary
• Where To Buy Xfer Serum 2

Introduction to Serum 2

Serum. You've probably heard everyone talking about it. Producers rave about it and YouTube tutorials cover so much of it. Half the bangers in your playlists have its fingerprints all over them. So expectations run pretty high when you first install Xfer Records' flagship wavetable synth.

Getting Started with Serum

Serum's been around a while now, but it still feels futuristic. It has a slick modern interface and embraces wavetable synthesis. It can offer up a big juicy sound where needed and is most definitely a creative playground that almost dares you to get weird. If you make electronic music and you're looking to level up your sound design, this one deserves your attention.

When you load up Serum you can quite easily see that everything looks crisp and clean and there doesn't seem to need endless menu diving. The knobs are big enough that you actually want to grab them and when you hover your mouse there are help pop ups showing you what to do.

The first patch you try might be a wubby bass or a dirty lead. Even the stock presets feel polished and modern and are bright, punchy and ready to mix. I'd say it's easy to get hooked in the first five minutes.

Notable Features

• Wavetable editing - I really like this feature as you can draw your own waves or import audio. Feel free to muck about until something monstrous appears as mistakes often become happy accidents. The best kind. Even non-sound files can be imported and edited (use a jpg for example and it will import random waves.)
• Filter Styles - The filters add personality in a way many synths only dream of.
• FX Rack - Various types like a savage distortion or reverb. A compressor that turns weak sounds into heavy leads and you can put them in any order you like.

The synth plays nicely along side midi input for CC automation or use with software such as Scaler 3 to create chords and patterns for more interest.

Presets Available for Serum

Serum ships with a bunch of great presets covering basses, leads, pads, plucks, and some weird experimental stuff. There are plenty to finish tracks right away.

Beyond this, the wider world has lot of sound banks for Serum. Paid. Free. Niche. Trendy. Meme-worthy. Every genre under the sun. Because Serum has become a standard, people never stopped creating for it.

So if you're not fully into sound design yet then use the presets to start. Learn as you tweak and fake it till you make it. Combine with plugins offering great EQ such as Stagecraft Parity EQ for added sound manipulation.

Alternatives Available To Serum

Other synths are fighting for space in plugin folders.

• Massive by Native Instruments is another big player for gritty bass although the interface feels older now. There is a new version of Massive called Massive X which might become a contender in this field.
• Spectrasonics Omnisphere 3 is a sonic synth with an endless library of sounds. Ideal for film scoring or big soundscapes although some may find it a bit heavy when you just want quick results.

Serum stands out because it sits right in the sweet spot. Easy enough for beginners to make cool noises straight away but is deep enough for pros to sculpt sounds that feel one-of-a-kind. Massive and Omnisphere are brilliant in their own lanes but Serum has a more all round feel.

Who Uses This Plugin?

Name a producer and chances are they've touched Serum. Skrillex. Marshmello. Deadmau5. Virtual Riot. Dillon Francis. REZZ. Pretty much every EDM festival headliner has at least one patch built in it.

Hearing it in the wild is easy. Any club night or any gaming soundtrack will have Serum input somewhere - even some TikTok bangers. Serum has become part of the electronic music language.