Xfer Serum 2 Review & Insights

Many of you were probably completely surprised yesterday when, after a long wait, Xfer Serum 2 was finally released! As a member of the beta tester group and also as a sound designer who contributed some factory presets for Serum 2, just like I did with Serum 1, I’d like to give you a personal review. Due to being part of the beta testers, I have already spent time with Xfer Serum 2 for a few months, designing sounds. So, I don’t see this as a traditional review, more of a mix of testing and introducing features that I personally really like.

And don’t forget, the update is free for all owners of Serum 1. That alone is just awesome considering the range of features, improvements and the sound quality Serum 2 offers. So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy reading.

Before I go into some of the new features in more detail, let me also say that I won’t be able to go into detail about all of the new features and improvements because there are so many. There are especially many small details in the workflow, handling of wavetable functions, the new mixer, clip & arp, etc.
The manual alone is over 350 pages long. I also have to mention that it’s really well written with lots of details and explanations about the functions, as well as general topics. A big thumbs up goes to John from the Xfer team who wrote the manual. If you use Serum 2 intensively or will use it in your everyday production, I highly recommend reading the manual. It can only be an advantage to know and understand your to-go synth inside and out.

So let`s get started with the best new features!

#01 EXTENDED OSCILLATOR LAYOUT

The newly expanded oscillator layout offers much more than meets the eye. At first glance, you’ll notice that there are now three primary oscillators. This significantly expands your sound design possibilities. But the closer you look and discover the oscillators, the more you realize the sheer extent of the new possibilities. In addition to the improved wavetable mode, there are now oscillator modes for single and multi-samples, granular, and spectral synthesizes. There are also new details, such as the ability to set and modulate coarse tuning on the sub-oscillator. This allows, for example, pitch modulation to be applied more precisely to all oscillators. The noise oscillator has also been expanded with new modes for typical noise colors: white, pink, brown, and Geiger—inspired by the typical clicking sound of a Geiger counter.

#02 IMPROVED WAVETABLE OSCILLATORS

The heart of Serum is, of course, the set of three wavetable oscillators. These have now been made even more powerful with numerous refinements. Perhaps the biggest feature is the two available warp mode slots instead of just one. This means that when it comes to creating complex to completely crazy sounds through modulation, there are virtually no limits. Especially with the more flexible modulation in general – but more about this later.

There are also a variety of new warp modes like Distortion, Filter, PD, FM, AM, RM, and more. Particularly interesting is PD (phase distortion) with the “PD (self)” mode, where the oscillator modulates itself instead of being modulated by, for example, the sub-oscillator. This is rare in synthesizers. In general, many of the new warp modes are small, special highlights that open up new possibilities.

Furthermore, you can now edit the stack and detune settings for each oscillator in even greater detail. Another detailed improvement is “smooth interpolation,” which allows you to morph through the wavetable even more smoothly, with fewer audible transitions than the wavetable itself actually provides.

By the way, there are also a lot of new analog and digital wavetables in the update included.

#03 MODULATION REFINED

A workflow detail that I already found great in Serum 1 was the ability to change the modulation (e.g., LFO 1 to wavetable position) from linear to curved, for more finely dosed modulation. Now in Serum 2, you can edit the modulation curve completely freely, similar to what you’re used to with LFOs. This alone opens up new possibilities, especially for sound tinkerers, that are rarely available elsewhere. As a theoretical example, you can also create threshold curves so that the target modulation only kicks in in certain scenarios and more.

In addition, you can now basically modulate everything with everything. Even – as a very practical example – use the voice count as a modulation source to control the volume of an oscillator, depending on how many notes are being played. This ensures that the volume remains the same, regardless of whether it’s a single note or a full chord. There are no real limits to creativity when it comes to modulation in Serum 2.

#04 SINGLE & MULTISAMPLE OSCILLATOR

Visually, the new multi-sample oscillator mode may be rather unspectacular, but it opens up entirely new worlds of sound. It uses the open SFZ format, which is also supported by many other tools and, as a major advantage, is easily editable by anyone.

Whether SFZ multisamples of retro analog synths, piano instruments, or anything else, Xfer Serum 2 can now also be a sampler. Paired with modulation, filters, and effects, it will likely soon be better than any DAW’s internal sampler for many. As an additional oscillator mode, it is now also possible to load and use single samples. With looping, crossfades, snap-to-beat, auto-slicing, and more, it’s simply amazing what new possibilities this offers in the typically pleasant Serum workflow.

It’s also important to note that both sample modes also work with the warp modes. From FM to phase distortion using Osc A, for example, there’s so much creative freedom.

#05 SPECTRAL OSCILLATOR

Spectral synthesis is usually only known from plugins specifically designed for it, but now it’s in Serum 2. This oscillator mode offers arguably the most possibilities for unique sound design.

It’s compact from a workflow perspective, yet still extremely powerful with many detailed features. Just like in Sample mode, both Warp mode slots can be used for even more extreme sound design. Spectral Oscillator mode is a new wonder weapon, especially for cinematic pads and complex textures.

Simply browse through the factory samples or load your own and experiment with scan and warp modes – it’ll be worth it.

#06 GRANULAR OSCILLATOR

After the spectral mode, the granular is another top-notch addition for cinematic sounds and special sound experiments. Like spectral, it’s otherwise only known from dedicated plugins. With its new mix of different oscillator modes, Serum 2 now offers a complete all-in-one solution.

Even other granular synths or effect plugins don’t often offer the enormous range of modulation options or extra warp modes that Serum 2 does. You should definitely try it out – for pad sounds with plenty of atmosphere and a special character that most synthesizers simply can’t offer, the oscillator mode is literally a granular gold mine.

#07 LFO MADNESS – CHAOS & MORE

One of my personal favorite features, although there are so many I wouldn’t want to be without. Even if that might sound a bit biased. But as I said, if you’ve spent a fair amount of time with Xfer Serum 2 over the past few months, there are some things you won’t want to be without. Only when you use things extensively and often do you discover new possibilities and, with them, new ideas.

That’s why the new LFO modes are a real highlight for me. Be it the two chaos modes “Lorenz” and “Rossler,” which are particularly useful for non-linear modulation. Keyword “analog feel” as long as you use them subtly for certain parameters. The new S&H modes also offer a lot of scope for modular-like sounds. But the “Path” mode in particular is simply insane. From complex paths as modulation sources (in the X and Y directions) to simple symbols drawn as paths – completely unfamiliar modulation – in a good way.

#08 FX RACK UPDATE

The FX rack has also been significantly upgraded. To match the new mixer, there are now FX chains for main and bus 1/2. Entire FX chains can now also be saved. The core of the redesigned FX section, however, are the new effects, detailed improvements to existing FX, and new tools like the splitters. Especially in conjunction with the splitter modules, the FX rack now offers truly complex options, from mid-side to multiband FX chains. A tremendous addition that also significantly improves workflow. In comparison to the previous FX modules, for example, there is now a new HQ mode for the delay, which is now active by default. The distortion module now has the option of stacking the “overdrive” circuit within the module for very harsh sound modifications. The filter effect also offers all the new filter types.

#09 NEW & IMPROVED FX EFFECTS

Two new effects and a revised effect truly open up new worlds of sound. Firstly, the reverb now has five modes. “Basin,” “Nitrous,” and “Vintage” are the three new modes. The latter is self-explanatory and is a pleasant addition to the already familiar “Plate” and “Hall.” With “Nitrous,” you get a very distinctive reverb, which is nevertheless flexible thanks to its sub-modes.

An additional new module is the “Bode” – a frequency shifter with delay, and I think it’s incredibly great. It offers so much scope for analog sounds, especially. Of course, it’s also great for many other things.

And then there’s “Convolve” – an impulse response effect. It’s primarily used for reverbs, of course, but also for other sound-shaping actions, such as using IRs from cabinets and other things. This effect can give even a fairly basic sound a certain, sometimes unique, extra edge. Because of this extra sound facet that Convolve can create quickly and easily, I often find myself putting it on every designed sound – at least to briefly listen to whether it fits.

#10 NEW FILTERS

And of course, there are also new filters included in Xfer Serum 2. Many (at least if you read some forums) had hoped for far more filters since it had long been known that Dave Gamble had been involved in the development of Serum 2 for some time now. Still, one has to be honest: Serum 1 already had a very large and unique collection of filter models. The new filters include several analog-based models such as Wasp, a new ladder filter, EMS, and others such as the diffuser, which others will probably recognize from a certain FX plugin. The “PZ SVF” filter, while not an emulation of well-known hardware filters, is unique in its own way. You can essentially draw several different filter curves – and then morph, modulate, etc. through them. A tool for extravagant sound experiments. Personally, I’ve always preferred the “German LP” as a “to-go” filter mode, but I’m really impressed by the new “MG Ladder”, “Acid Ladder” and especially “EMS Ladder”.

And by the way, there are now two filters! It might sound like just another simple spec, but it opens up a lot of possibilities for even more precise sound trimming, or even creating versatile sounds through layers with specific filter settings.

#11 MIXER & NEW ROUTINGS

The new mixer offers a compact overview of the five sound generator filter channels (since there are now two filters), as well as the new additional Bus 1 & 2. This allows for complex routings and further refinement of the sound design. For example, OSCs A & B go to Filter 1, which in turn runs into the Main FX chain, while OSC C goes to Filter 2, which bypasses the Main FX chain and runs to Bus 1 with other effects. And the Noise OSC then goes directly to Bus 2 without any effects. Also very useful for building multi-layer presets.

#12 MORE VOICE CONTROL

Another less obvious detail is the new voice control. You can now define variations for panning, detune, cutoff, envs, and more for 8 voices. This means that each new voice has a slight or significant deviation. It’s essentially similar to what you’d expect from old analog synthesizers, where emulations today often have a “voice dispersion” menu or adjustment screws. Additionally, some presets are available purely for voice control, and of course, you can save your own. This makes it even easier to make a wavetable synth—which used to have a reputation for sounding cold, stiff, and digital—sound like a rich analog synth from the ’80s, with all the little organic, random things that often define an analog sound.

#13 SPLITER FX

The new Splitter FX modules are almost game-changers. Why? With them, you can split the frequency spectrum either “Low/High,” “Low/Med/High,” or “Mid/Sides,” and then add individual effects or an entire effects chain to the respective split channel.

For example, a chain specifically tuned for subs for the low band only to optimally position the bass, while other or additional effects work in the high band to optimally shape the sound with effects like chorus and delay.

In short, you can build such complex effects chains with them (especially with the new mixer with Bus 1 & 2 layout) that your creativity is really only limited by your processor and its processing power.

#14 XFER SERUM 2 IS CPU HUNGRY BUT…

Speaking of processor performance and consumption, it’s a difficult topic. As far as I’ve seen and read, Serum 2 is actually lighter in terms of CPU load in plain elements, but because the quality of many elements (oscillators, filters, etc.) has increased at the same time, it’s essentially the same or sometimes slightly more – in terms of CPU hunger just by the higher level of sound quality. It’s also understandable that special effects like Convolve or oscillator modes like Spectal & Granular require more CPU than Wavetable.

Maybe keep in mind, especially with the new factory presets, many weren’t built with the primary goal of “easy on the CPU,” but rather with the goal of “showing what Serum 2 can do,” certainly often involving a certain degree of creative freedom from the sound designers, which got driven by the newly expanded horizon of sound design options in Xfer Serum 2, leading to more CPU heavy patches – but awesome sounds. But who could blame them when they suddenly have so many new possibilities? So, depending on the preset, Serum 2 may be a bit CPU-hungry in some cases, but I think there will certainly be some room for optimization over time. Also, don’t forget that 7-9 years ago, when Serum 1 was still quite new, it was also considered CPU-hungry. Today, with the significant performance improvements of today’s CPUs, Serum 1 is practically lean in terms of CPU consumption. It will certainly feel similar in a few years. At least I feel this way. 7 years ago I could only run 1-2 instances of u-he Diva on medium quality settings, in order to not burn my CPU. Today I can run 20 instances.

#15 IMPROVED BROWSER AND PREVIEW CLIPS

The browser has also received several updates. New search functions and a very practical preview function. If presets are linked to a MIDI clip (which has also been selected as a preview source), you can preview them using, for example, a suitable MIDI sequence. This may make it more difficult for others to create Serum presets, but at the same time, it offers users the opportunity to show how the sound would work best directly in the preset.

Generally, it has to be said that the Xfer Serum 2 factory is truly premium. So many top-class artists have contributed wavetable sample presets – including many sub-presets for things like LFO, FX Rack, and more. This creates a very diverse and inspiring “ready-to-go” library and a paradise for users to design their own sounds.

#16 SCALE, ARP & MIDI CLIP ENGINE

The brand-new clip engine offers another improvement that offers plenty of scope for creative approaches. In short, the clip engine allows you to create and play MIDI clips directly in Serum, including automating certain parameters like velocity, macros, and more. You can also create a set of MIDI clips with the piano roll and play them alternately depending on the note being played. This allows you to create very complex multi-layer presets. It’s a bit like a mini DAW within Serum. This can certainly be a huge advantage, especially for presets, if you add a suitable MIDI sequence for each sound so that the user has a direct impression of how the sound sounds, or could sound.

The newly added arpeggiator is another plus. Many people probably missed something like this in Serum 1 in the past. Even though you could create arp sounds via the LFO, a dedicated arpeggiator is worlds better. Especially when used in conjunction with MIDI clips, a lot is possible.

Xfer Serum 2 now also offers a scale function for setting the notes in the piano roll to the desired key and scale for the MIDI clip engine. You can also adjust the swing value. This offers many improvements in playability and new freedom for creative sound experiments.

#17 ADDITIONAL WALKTHROUGH VIDEOS

In summary, if you just look at the highlights of the new features and improvements to existing ones, it’s simply a blast. Where, in my opinion, the approach of Xfer & Steve Duda should also be seen more: Serum was never really marketed excessively; since release, there have been regular updates with a lot of user feedback. These days, it’s almost rare, unfortunately, that developers really listen to their users. And especially with the scope of the update, other developers would certainly have charged at least a moderate upgrade price, or almost the full price again. Xfer, on the other hand, stated from the outset that it would be free for all Serum 1 users. You can also leave a tip with the update, which I personally think is really good. That way, no one “has to” pay anything, because some may simply not be able to. But those who can or want to support Xfer and thereby give something back for the truly massive update.

Be it the sheer number of features, improvements, sound quality, or the pool of presets and wavetables from many top sound designers, Xfer Serum 2 is simply a must-have. The optimal (depending on the CPU) workhorse, covering so many facets of wavetables, multisamples, granular, etc., makes it future-proof for sound design and everyday music production. It’s not for nothing that Serum, in its first iteration, is probably the most widely used software synthesizer, without much marketing or the like – because it has simply won over users with its layout, quality, and possibilities. Serum 2 continues this seamlessly.

So if you don’t have Serum yet – get it. If you need a synth that can do a lot and doesn’t have to cover a very specific facet or style, Xfer Serum 2 is the tool you need.

Perhaps one final point: Serum generally offers an advantage that very few synths can claim: no other synth is used as often in tutorials, be they on learning platforms or especially YouTube – thus, it’s absolutely practical and always immediately applicable. And there are many great content creators and artists who show a lot with Serum, sharing ideas and knowledge because Serum is their go-to tool. There are also links above to a few fresh walkthrough videos that are guaranteed to help you discover the new features of Serum 2 even better.

By the way, I’ll definitely be releasing one or two sound banks in the next few months, so feel free to follow me on Instagram and YouTube so you don’t miss them. And of course, feel free to check out my sounds for Serum 1 in the meantime.

Cheers, Martin

Summary & Verdict

The best synth on the market just got even better. The superb-sounding wavetable monster is boosted with granular, spectral, and sampler capabilities, and many other new inspiring and expressive features. And it’s a free update for all existing Serum 1 owners.

Summarized: Xfer Serum 2 is top-notch in many ways.
This is the one synth everyone should have!

OVERALL RATING: 100%

More info: xferrecords.com
Regular price: 249 $ (until 1st june only 189 $)