I imagine this still works (or will be updated to S2 shortly): Serum by Xfer Records | Splice
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This is great. I felt “guilty” for receiving S2 for free, especially because I got S1 cheaper 2nd hand when it was still allowed. Xfer deserves compensation for their hard work!
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Testing a bit… this is a packed synth… if you can call it that still. Hopefully there will be a standalone version. Very good to use with hardware.
Now… Imagine this as a fully fledged, built like a tank hardware synth, with the nicest keybed you can get and well designed physical interface.
Attractive price imho, dont know the real world performance.
Well, I’m disappointed it doesn’t have physical modelling and additive oscillators 
No, but really 
Pricing wise it’s an interesting one. Steve was always adament that Serum 2 would be free, and I respect him for sticking to his word on that one.
I imagine part of the reason Xfer is able to do this is that is that he’s sold the synth for a somewhat high price (comparitively) for a long time, and for the most part resale wasn’t possible. Given it’s maybe the single most popular soft synth on the market (??), there must be a lot of Serum licenses out there. In that regard I feel offering a free update is a nice gesture, though not strictly necessary.
For people like me it’s slightly trickier. Have it, use it, love it and enjoy the update so I’ll tip for sure. That said I’ve not had it that long, so the bill for v1 is still lingering in my mind. Is it an open tip jar or a one time thing do we know?
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I’ve put in a reminder for the end of May to perhaps buy this before the price goes up, (I’ve never really tried the first one) but tbh I’ve got too much good stuff already
That spectral mode looks pretty bonkers though.
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Just to let you know something there’s a lot of sound fonts online but it’s mostly in SF2 Format and SERUM 2 can load SFZ Format not SF2, some company like Amazound which offer an incredible collection of Vintage Equipment can send you SFZ if you ask kindly to the support after buying of course.
A workaround would be to batch convert SF2. I use Chickensys Translator to do it (paid) but the free ConvertWithMoss is just fine.
https://www.mossgrabers.de/Software/ConvertWithMoss/ConvertWithMoss.html
What’s the point of it it let you use a more realistic acoustic layer to you final sound design which can be cool… (piano, violin, brass, guitar, tonal percussions etc…)
I will add some SFZ ressources here regularly so bookmark that if you are after SFZ
Some SFZ useful ressources :
https://sfzinstruments.github.io
https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=526555
The Ultimate Free Sfz Instruments List!
Best SFZ/SF2 instrument sources Open Source, Free, and Commercial (and related misc) As of June 2023 - Ardour
Buy SFZ & Sforzando Sample Libraries - 5% Cashback
SFZ – Pianobook
https://vgtrumpet.com/product/all-sfz-bundle/
Free SFZ Sounds | ARIAEngine.comARIAEngine.com
VSCO 2: Community Edition (CE) - Versilian Studios
Versilian Community Sample Library - Versilian Studios
VCSL Keys - Versilian Studios
Etherealwinds Harp II: CE - Versilian Studios
Virtuosity Drums - Versilian Studios
If you have some ressources on sfz don’t hesitate to share
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Does anyone make any tasteful non-wook music with serum? I remember trying it out and absolutely loving it, but never bought it. Every youtube video ive ever seen of serum is mainstream american EDM, skrillex type stuff. It’s strange because the synth can do incredibly subtle and beautiful ambient pads, but it seems like no one uses it that way.
I think you’ve answered your own question there. It’s definitely versatile and capable of beautiful pads, atmospheres and other stuff that isn’t aggressive screeching bass.
Basically I reckon the world of synth and electronic music youtubers is tilted towards heavier genres like DnB, Techno etc so that’s the content they are putting out. I’ve seen some ambient live streaming stuff but it tends to be performances and “watch me work” content rather than specific sound design tutorials.
First thing I did with Serum 2 demo this morning (I will be upgrading with a decent tip included) was go to the soundscapes section of the presets. Definitely a deep sound design tool here and capable across the spectrum from soft and ambient to harsh and aggressive.
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Who’s gonna load Richard D James photo in spectral engine first?
Or a cat
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It’s a wavetable thing… nothing to do with Serum. I suggest you watch :
Serum 2 still not offering Virtual Analog like Diva or Additive like Pigments…
But now with Multisample it’s less of an issue. For those who want creamy things use analog wavetable (and not digital) and see the wavetable position frame as an already shaped timbre (for 1 wavetable frame it’s like it’s already the result of 2 or 3 oscillators configured) also don’t go crazy with wavetable scanning in terms of “Rate” that’s usually what’s get you in the dubstep hard basses territory or screaming lead… Filters will be important as well.
And another courses that is very interesting is this one :
Which is basically redraw your wavetable to make it less perfect, and creating oscillator pitch drift by very slight modulations (or chaos tools), Thomas explain a lot of very nice stuff in there for people who want to mimic VA (Virtual Analog) with WT (Wavetable)…
Buying Synthwave presets pack can get you there fast because Synthwave seek Vintage sounding and so you will find Warm Bass, Creamy Pads etc… easy peasy
I’m sold on Serum 2. I really love the sounds…
A little taste:
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https://www.youtube.com/live/8hMSmbiXr68?si=0YawhlnMWtvYndDL
Most of his assesment to pigments, you can do on Serum too. Dont know the modal stuff, but filter fm is there, and you can mske really good pads with Fm, the ratio and envelope for the modulator is where you get good results.
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Oh, this is delightful!
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Definitely a cpu hog on some presets.
Not sure what machine this would run smooth
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Its actually a quiete nice sequencer now build in, macro record, note record, and the sequencer can be modulated with LFO, so you can LFO the tuning, or the back and forth as target. If you build presets now, you can hint the usage of the preset now with the included clip. And it seems many designers did just that.
Surprisingly useful presets all over the place. (Didnt like the ones from the default bank, and i didnt buy any sound sets.)
This is really next level, i wish omnsiphere also gets a v3 update, with similar features.
Osciallators can be keyboard split, omnisphere allowed up to 8 layers. (With 4 osciallators per layer.) Which is absolutly dense if you like massive atmospheres.
Now serum is the one stop shop with granular - which i often still did with omnisphere.
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Might pick this one up. I ‘wanted’ Multi/Poly Native but 149 made me hold off (it’ll be 99 in 8 months anyway for a little bit), but 189 for this looks quite tempting.
The only thing holding me back is my memory of Rob Papen Blue, which also has quite a few features… so many that I was lost (partly because Blue’s UI sucks to me). Features are cool and all, but not if I have to spend forever learning it at the expense of making music.
I’m not a fan of demos, so it’s a ‘decide and buy’ kind of thing. Hmm… looks good though, and the UI less clunky than Blue.
Serum 2 is on sale now until june
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