Official Serum 2 thread!

[martiu]

I can't decide whether to get it if I already have Icarus 3 and Infiltrator 2.

get now

[hcv242]

The upgrade is huge. So huge that there is a steep learning curve even for the serum 1 user (not complaining).
Don't know when i will find the energy to dive into serum 2.

[audio/fault]

mh, i was really looking forward to test serum (2 now of course) after work (never tried it before but heard lots of good things). installed the au... and it can't be opened in neither logic (doesn't pass au-validation) nor ableton live (says it's incompatible).
mac mini m2, mac os 15.3.2, logic 11.1.2, live 12.1.10

is this a bug? is it just me? haven't read anything about it here or anywhere else. strange and actually a little disappointing. can't remember a similar issue with another plugin (though I didn't installed a demo in ages, only full versions/updates).

[Korg Supporter]

I can't decide whether to get it if I already have Icarus 3 and Infiltrator 2.

get now

To be fair, a synth and a multieffect for $132 using a student discount is quite a steal.

[Hanz Meyzer]

@Korg Supporter: I think there are some hidden gems in this synth, but I agree that the pricing feels a bit too steep, after all this time and 2025, you know... If you have Icarus 3, maybe you do not need this at all.

[Korg Supporter]

@Korg Supporter: I think there are some hidden gems in this synth, but I agree that the pricing feels a bit too steep, after all this time and 2025, you know... If you have Icarus 3, maybe you do not need this at all.

Fair enough. I already have Omnisphere for out-of-this-world pads and NI Razor for inharmonic sounds. Vital also has inharmonic unison. I love the spectral oscillator in the demo, but I can live without it.

[SLiC]

@Korg Supporter: I think there are some hidden gems in this synth, but I agree that the pricing feels a bit too steep, after all this time and 2025, you know... If you have Icarus 3, maybe you do not need this at all.

Icarus updates are quite expensive, its almost 90 bucks to update from 2 to 3 (so I will be stuck on 2 forever!) Serum updates (even major versions) are free for life...so its a good investment.

[DJErmac]

I'm already fully in love with that synth.
And I've never been a Serum 1 fanboy though (like some of you, I always had that "metallic" sensation too).

The level of detail in the sound is insane. Some presets are mindblowing (some guitars for example). Sound quality is probably the best I know. Congrats and thanks for this !

One downside : CPU usage is major on some presets. Most of the time it's OK.

The only synths that comes close are Avenger or Nexus, that I also love btw. No other can compete.
I've just listened to some Zebralette 3 sound demos, and it sounds like they're coming from a video game console or something old. I'm afraid the awaited Zebra3 simply won't be in the same league at all.
One synth probably lost. But one freakin' amazing to explore !!

[martiu]

Massive X have the same high quality sound but Serum 2 is more versatile now and with better workflow

[Hanz Meyzer]

Since everybody waited for my judgement, here is it finally. Didn't try this too long, maybe you could tell me other "hidden" features in this new version or correct me where I am wrong? Anyway here it is:

There are a lot well-thought detail, maybe even unique features added here, which other developers could learn from:

- Mix amount for any kind of filter, YAY
- PZ SVF custom design filter, YAY
- two times waveform modifiers / warps, YAY
- Detail unison settings, YAY
- Noise “pitch”, like a dj filter, YAY
- I am not sure, but is it actually possible to create a feedback loop, like OSC1 RM2, and OSC2 RM1? YAY
- OSCs are modulation sources, YAY

Not so good yet, in my very personal view:

- Noise only sample based, section should be called “simple sampler” - NAY
- Mixer view seems to bring no additional features on the table, only a very basic, streamlined view, why not add for all the dual-OSC warp-modes an additional slider? For example “ring mod 1x2” - NAY
- Modulation can be understood only from the modulator, not from the target, NAY
- Spectral mode too much CPU, NAY
- Should be more ENVs and LFOs, NAY
- Mac / PC pinch-to-zoom and other gestures are not used at all, e.g. for zooming in the envs, NAY

Other:

- Some UX workflow and also design feels a bit aged or so
- I don’t care for a DAW inside a synth… Maybe good for selling presets though.
- Noob judgment: Filter drive sounds not good at all, even useless?
- Why so much focus on fx? In a synth? Bad practise, waste of development time IMHO. Better practise: Provide multi outputs. Maybe provide an fx-less version for a lower price

[gelly-vapor]

My first encounter with Serum 2, using a tenor sax sample in the new spectral oscillator, cross-modulating oscillators, creating some dangerous noises.

GREAT !!!

[gelly-vapor]

My first encounter with Serum 2, using a tenor sax sample in the new spectral oscillator, cross-modulating oscillators, creating some dangerous noises.

GREAT !!!

[DJErmac]

Massive X have the same high quality sound but Serum 2 is more versatile now and with better workflow

No offense, but... the day when I breed woolly mammoths, MassiveX will have the same sound quality as Serum2.

[HcDoom]

Played with it a bit, very nice, top update! But CPU hit is pretty hard on some (most) presets which is weird.

[Michael L]

Can you load Alchemy sound banks?