Xfer Records SERUM vs. U-he Zebra2

[zerocrossing]

I can see the appeal in Serum. I own Zebra2 and really enjoy using it for quick sound design, but if i felt like resampling some of my other synthesizers, could do this very easily with serum. I'm not too concerned about the filter quality since i could use something like Cytomics The Drop right after it.

Sure, but then you only have a single filter which is very different than a filter per voice.

[zerocrossing]

Serum has great GUI and "updated" workflow
Zebra's got more modules and great flexibility.

Serum has this OSC function wave warp. (unfortunately some functions there sound kinda bad atm even in 4x oversampling mode)
Zebra has 2 spectral effect (OSCFX) slots per osc + self hardsync + PWM at the same time.

They also have quite different (subjective) sound quality.
I prefer Zebra but Serum ain't bad at all.

IMO, Zebra has better sounding filters.
Serum OTOH seems to have more quality effects.

Although I'm enjoying the Serum demo, there's no doubt in my mind that Zebra can't be compared and it's a clear winner for me.
Would love to see an updated wave/wavetable editor in Zebra asap!
Zebra3... where are you??!

I'm right there with you, but I'd be a bit more strong and say that I feel Zebra definitely sounds significantly better. Serum has some great features and a slamm'n UI, but it seems like while those features are eating up CPU like there's no tomorrow, they not producing a sound that stands up to the competition. Add to that the fact that it seems a bit "alpha release" to me, with the long patch change time and spiky CPU usage... I have to say I'm disappointed. I'll keep an eye out for future releases, but I'm going to pass on it for now.

[EvilDragon]

But, Zebra is not a wavetable synth

It sure is. That, and so much more.

[2ZrgE]

As a Zebra (and all other U-he synths) owner, I guess there is not much need for me to buy Serum.

But I must admit that I'm really tempted by it's attractive GUI (and the intro price).

So I'll just wait until Oct 31 to see how's the support and update policy from Steve.

[Ingonator]

IMO it makes more sense to compare Serum to DUNE 2 as the basicsynth engine seems to be comparable. In combination with the free Audio Term tool for creating custom wavetables DUNE 2 could be very powerful (maybe ever more than Serum).

DUNE 2 uses much less CPU, has an arp + step sequencer (that could be also used for modulation) and 4 dedicated MSEGs (not sure how far the LFOs in Serum are usualble as MSEGS as the LFO shape could be edited). For doing "Multisaw" sounds DUNE 2 does not actually need an Unison (which is the reason why this feature uses much less CPU) and the Multisaw feature works for all waveforms and synthess modes (VA, wavetable, FM). It has a very special Unison where each voice could be a totally different patch.
Additionally to the wavetable mode DUNE 2 also includes a dedicated VA mode a FM mode with 3 Sine operators (+ 2 algorithms and Feedback).


There is also Synthmaster 2.6 where it is possible to create custom wavetables directly in the synth (up to 16 custom single cycle waveforms with interpolation) and besides that it got lots of features not included with Serum (and several other synths) like e.g. 2D enveleopes taht are very useful in combination with the vector oscillator module.


If we exclude custom wavetables there could be some more synth to compare like e.g. Waldorf Largo.
It icludes a big amount of wavtables and the quality f those is very good IMO.
Largo includes tons of features including a dual multimode filter. It is possible to do FM, Osc Sync and Ringmodulation with the oscilators. All 3 oscillator could do FM wit ha selectable FM source which includes all 3 Oscs as sources and also the noise source. Using a LFO for FM would result in vibrato while the maximum speed of the LFOs is in the audible range.
The enveleopes (there are 4 of them) have 5 different modes where one has two Decay and Sustain stages and additionally you could set the Attack level.
It also inlcudes a programmable Arpeggiator which currently is not included with Serum.
LFO3 could be switched to Step mode (up to 16 steps with fixed step length) for step modulation purposes,
I found that the average CPU use of Largo is very low compared to Serum whch increases a bit when you use all 4 layers in Largo (which is not possible in Serum, and would also not be really possible mostly due to the CPU use).


The sound engine of the Blofeld hardware synth is mostly similar to LArgo bu additionally also include the PPG filter mode, sample import and also custom waveables (again the free Audi Term tool could export wavetables in a compatible format but there is also another free wavetable editor).


I also got other wavetable synths but those are maybe more difficult to compare, especially as some like e.g. PPG Wave 3.V have a limited feature set (which is not always bad).
PPG Wavegenerator while it has lots of features cpmared to Serum misses e.g. a multimode filter and a bigger amount of FXs. With teh built-in wavetable editoor you could only create waveforms wit hthe built-in editor (freehand and/or with partials). Anyway the free Audio Term is compatible and there you could also create wavetables based on WAV files for it.

[djanthonyw]

I think Dune 2 Sounds better. I did not like Dune 1, but I do plan on picking v2 up sometimes soon.

[suthnear]

I can see the appeal in Serum. I own Zebra2 and really enjoy using it for quick sound design, but if i felt like resampling some of my other synthesizers, could do this very easily with serum. I'm not too concerned about the filter quality since i could use something like Cytomics The Drop right after it.

Sure, but then you only have a single filter which is very different than a filter per voice.

Andrew Simper provided the DSP for Serum's filters according to its About page

[Numanoid]

Serum VS Curve 2

What would you prefer?

[aMUSEd]

I can see the appeal in Serum. I own Zebra2 and really enjoy using it for quick sound design, but if i felt like resampling some of my other synthesizers, could do this very easily with serum. I'm not too concerned about the filter quality since i could use something like Cytomics The Drop right after it.

Sure, but then you only have a single filter which is very different than a filter per voice.

Andrew Simper provided the DSP for Serum's filters according to its About page

Yeah but not the same dsp that is in The Drop, or even D-Cam.

[KBSoundSmith]

Once you dig into Serum and really take advantage of its features (and I mean sitting with the manual and getting into the tiny details), it is stunning. I'm getting some truly beautiful sounds out of it. But it does have some features that will need to be more fully developed, particularly in regard to modulation.

Zebra uses wavetables as well (and frankly, it's quite good at it), but it does not compete head to head to Serum on that specific aspect. That is what I would say about Zebra in general--it does about everything really well and for most people, will be the only synth they honestly will really need. But, if there is a particular synthesis method you are really drawn to, Zebra won't compete with a specialized synth head to head. FM8 will produce better FM sounds than Zebra. Serum will offer better wavetable sounds than Zebra. Diva will offer better analogue sounds than Zebra. Pick X specialized synth compared to Zebra, and it will do it better.

But, that "better" is marginal (100% specialized compared to 85 - 95% of Zebra). You have to decide if the small margin of improvement for specific things is worth the asking price over what is already covered by Zebra.

For me personally, I'm not an FM-crazed synth user, so Zebra is more than adequate for all (or at least most) of my FM needs. But I really enjoy designing my own waveforms and wavetables, and Serum, for me personally, was totally worth the extra money to more fully explore a synthesis method that I really enjoy using an interface designed uniquely around this synthesis method.

[Numanoid]

But, Zebra is not a wavetable synth

It sure is. That, and so much more.

There are indeed many "stealthy" wavetable synths

[Sampleconstruct]

Zebra does not resynthesize samples, Serum does via drag&drop in very good quality and the resulting wavetables can be edited with a plethora of useful tools to totally create new sounds from the imported source files. Zebra does not play back samples, Serum does in it's Noise Oscillator which can also be used as a modulator for FM synthesis, Zebra's modulation system is more advanced, it has Modmappers, Serum hasn't. Some of Serums's filters sound superb, especially the comb section very well competes with Zebra's combs.

Both synths can do FM, the FM section in Zebra is really limited concerning the carrier waveforms. Both synths also do additive synthesis, neither of them wins here in any way, drawing harmonics in the bin editor in Serum is similar to Spectral's way of creating waveforms actually.

[Numanoid]

Zebra can do additive, subtractive, FM and wavetable synthesis. It is indeed a workhorse of a synth

[Sampleconstruct]

Zebra can do additive, subtractive, FM and wavetable synthesis. It is indeed a workhorse of a synth

Yes, we all know that, what's the smiley and the silly nose for?

[Numanoid]

Yes, we all know that, what's the smiley and the silly nose for?

Zebra being a Workhorse of course, you got no sense of humour?