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What's New in Serum 2? Everything You Need to Know

In the software equivalent of a long-awaited album drop, Steve Duda and the Xfer Records team have finally released Serum 2. After months of producers obsessing over leaked screenshots and demo videos, we've gotten our hands on the latest version of what has become the quintessential wavetable synth for electronic music production.

Serum 2 synthesizer UI

The Wavetable Revolution Continues

The most obvious upgrade hits you right away: Serum's iconic dual wavetable oscillators now come as a trio. This third oscillator multiples the sonic possibilities, but that's just the beginning of what Xfer Serum has evolved into. Each oscillator now functions as five different sound sources. The classic wavetable mode shares space with multi-sample, standard sample, granular, and spectral engines.

The granular oscillator practically begs you to feed it audio files of all kinds. We tossed everything from field recordings to classic breaks into it, instantly creating textures that would make experimental producers envious. The spectral mode, meanwhile, deconstructs sound in ways that previously required specialized software and advanced technical knowledge.

Enhanced Sound Design Tools

The familiar wavetable oscillators haven't been ignored either. The wavetable editor features improved resolution with manipulation options that transform simple waveforms into complex sound sources. The improved wavetable import function includes AI cleanup tools, which are invaluable when you're trying to convert unusual recordings into playable wavetables.


Existing users will immediately appreciate the dedicated sub-oscillator with its own wavetable capabilities. This single addition will have bass music producers rushing to update their sound design approach and presets.

Modulation System Overhaul

The modulation system has received the kind of thoughtful expansion that suggests Steve Duda has been reading producer wishlists. Eight macros instead of four effectively double your sound design possibilities overnight. Six LFOs now feature path and chaos modes that generate evolving modulation patterns that sound organic and unpredictable.

The filter section now includes circuit models that would impress even hardware enthusiasts. The "MG Dirty" filter's unique "pain" parameter (which according to the release notes simulates how close a lighter gets to the circuit board) creates filter types that distort and transform sounds in previously impossible ways.

Built-in Sequencer Changes Everything

Perhaps the most revolutionary addition is the clip view, essentially a sequencer living inside your synth. This mini-DAW enables you to program phrases, automate parameters, and sketch out ideas without ever leaving Serum. For electronic producers who begin with sound design before composition, this feature completely transforms the creative workflow.


The long-awaited arpeggiator offers 12 pattern slots with extensive control over velocity and playback options. Combined with the sequencer, it transforms static presets into evolving compositions, perfect for those moments when inspiration needs a technological nudge.
Serum 2 Effects

Professional-Grade Effects Processing

The effects section has been completely rebuilt, now offering parallel processing paths that feel like legitimate alternatives to dedicated effects plugins. The Bode frequency shifter immediately found itself heavily automated in our dubstep experiments, while the convolution processor with its library of impulse responses added spaces and textures that make sounds feel richer and more dimensional.

Serum 2 presets

COOL NEW Presets

No synth review would be complete without discussing the factory presets, and Serum 2 ships with an impressive collection. The presets packs are organized by genre and sound type, making it easy to find everything from atmospheric pads to aggressive bass sounds. What stands out is how these presets actually demonstrate the new features rather than recycling techniques from the original.


For preset designers, the additional features in the latest version open entirely new categories of sounds that weren't previously possible. The high quality of the audio output is immediately noticeable, especially when using the new filter types and expanded modulation possibilities.

A Worthy Successor

Serum 2 represents the kind of major update that justifies years of anticipation. For existing users, the new features provide ample reason to upgrade, while newcomers get to start with what will likely become the new standard in wavetable synthesis.


What's most impressive about this latest version is how it expands without becoming overwhelming. Yes, there's significantly more under the hood, but the UI maintains that approachable elegance that made the original so successful. The filter cutoff and other essential controls remain accessible, while deeper options are thoughtfully organized.

Xfer Records has created something that feels less like a plugin and more like an instrument, one that acknowledges both electronic music's past and its future. Whether you're creating experimental sound art or crafting club bangers, Serum 2 is the rare soft synth that delivers on its considerable hype and cements its status as the premier wavetable synthesizer in music production.


For more on Serum 2, check out our YouTube video: