I am working on it
Official Serum 2 thread!
- KVRist
- 472 posts since 26 Jun, 2024
- KVRist
- 387 posts since 4 Apr, 2021
Is the CPU problem solved?
I demoed Serum2 earlier and it was really difficult to use (I could sometimes run 1 instance of Serum2 fine, but adding second Serum2 started to be a bit too heavy).
I am using the latest FL Studio if that matters.
I don’t use any physical instruments at the moment nor record vocals (maybe later). Could I do some optimization in Fl Studio to make Serum2 run better?
I really like the layout and some presets of Serum2 (and the fact that there are HUGE amount of tutorials out and presets to get). But the CPU seems to be problem :/
I demoed Serum2 earlier and it was really difficult to use (I could sometimes run 1 instance of Serum2 fine, but adding second Serum2 started to be a bit too heavy).
I am using the latest FL Studio if that matters.
I don’t use any physical instruments at the moment nor record vocals (maybe later). Could I do some optimization in Fl Studio to make Serum2 run better?
I really like the layout and some presets of Serum2 (and the fact that there are HUGE amount of tutorials out and presets to get). But the CPU seems to be problem :/
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- KVRian
- 814 posts since 19 Mar, 2001 from berlin / germany
i‘ve heared a lot about cpu problems with serum2 but can honestly say it‘s totally fine on my mac mini m2 with logic and live. can‘t compare with serum1 as i just bought it recently.Bartone wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 8:12 am Is the CPU problem solved?
I demoed Serum2 earlier and it was really difficult to use (I could sometimes run 1 instance of Serum2 fine, but adding second Serum2 started to be a bit too heavy).
I am using the latest FL Studio if that matters.
I don’t use any physical instruments at the moment nor record vocals (maybe later). Could I do some optimization in Fl Studio to make Serum2 run better?
I really like the layout and some presets of Serum2 (and the fact that there are HUGE amount of tutorials out and presets to get). But the CPU seems to be problem :/
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- KVRAF
- 5530 posts since 26 Apr, 2007 from Noosphere
Are you talking about CPU usage on presets? Many presets are made completely unprofessionally - to many parts are in use to get a result, that can be achieved with 60-70% less modules and LFOs. How much CPU it takes just when you are playing the init preset? This is how you need to evaluate a synth. Make sure your PC (?) uses the "performance mode".Bartone wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 8:12 am Is the CPU problem solved?
I demoed Serum2 earlier and it was really difficult to use (I could sometimes run 1 instance of Serum2 fine, but adding second Serum2 started to be a bit too heavy).
I am using the latest FL Studio if that matters.
I don’t use any physical instruments at the moment nor record vocals (maybe later). Could I do some optimization in Fl Studio to make Serum2 run better?
I really like the layout and some presets of Serum2 (and the fact that there are HUGE amount of tutorials out and presets to get). But the CPU seems to be problem :/
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- KVRian
- 540 posts since 1 Jan, 2021
YMMV, but using the granular and/or spectral engine with lots of grains and voices easily maxes out my M4 pro machine.audio/fault wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 9:07 am i‘ve heared a lot about cpu problems with serum2 but can honestly say it‘s totally fine on my mac mini m2 with logic and live. can‘t compare with serum1 as i just bought it recently.
Most of the time it’s relatively easy to get around that, so it’s not a deal breaker for me. But I certainly hope some optimizations will deliver performance on par with Pigments or other (granular) synths at least.
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- KVRian
- 540 posts since 1 Jan, 2021
There are a few xfer forum threads with examples, KY Dream keys might be one of those punishing factory presets, I believe:MrJubbly wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 2:17 pm Are there any examples of some Serum 2 factory presets which certain users are finding to be particularly taxing on their CPU?
https://xferrecords.com/forums/serum/cp ... nformation
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- KVRian
- 862 posts since 30 May, 2019
Ah yes. I can see that example as being a problem preset for many people. Definitely more resource hungry than most plugins sounds. That preset seems to average around 25% CPU when playing a medium speed arpeggio sequence. Which is quite a bit higher than I'm used to in most other plugins.nanostream wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 2:49 pmThere are a few xfer forum threads with examples, KY Dream keys might be one of those punishing factory presets, I believe:MrJubbly wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 2:17 pm Are there any examples of some Serum 2 factory presets which certain users are finding to be particularly taxing on their CPU?
https://xferrecords.com/forums/serum/cp ... nformation
Hopefully, there are ways to mitigate some Serum 2 processes for such use cases.
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- KVRist
- 237 posts since 17 Jun, 2002
As it is now, you can change the quality in Global settings to "Good".MrJubbly wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 3:03 pmHopefully, there are ways to mitigate some Serum 2 processes for such use cases.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 1407 posts since 1 Jul, 2023
Ways around the CPU issues that I'm using- Lower polyphony, shorter releases, using hyperdimension or chorus instead of unison, quality setting on "good" except when rendering, not using the arp, bouncing out spectral sounds and reimporting them into the sampler engine, being cautious when using the S2 filters (especially the SVF which is awesome but really thrashes my cpu), lower grain count with granular. It's disappointing that the spectral engine is so taxing because it's brilliant but rendering out stuff works for now.
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Andrei Marchenko Andrei Marchenko https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=312360
- KVRian
- 866 posts since 12 Sep, 2013
Folks, is it me only or after 2.0.18 update we got the same old poppy & clicky fella on start of the sound? I have just checked my bass presets that I did on previous version of Serum 2 and kind of surprised. I'm on MacOS using VST3 version of the plugin 
- KVRian
- 1118 posts since 31 Aug, 2001 from Los Angeles, CA
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 1407 posts since 1 Jul, 2023
On the start of what sound in particular?Andrei Marchenko wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 9:46 pm Folks, is it me only or after 2.0.18 update we got the same old poppy & clicky fella on start of the sound? I have just checked my bass presets that I did on previous version of Serum 2 and kind of surprised. I'm on MacOS using VST3 version of the plugin![]()
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- KVRist
- 50 posts since 18 Feb, 2016
That's useful when you only use the init presetIgro wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 11:19 am Are you talking about CPU usage on presets? Many presets are made completely unprofessionally - to many parts are in use to get a result, that can be achieved with 60-70% less modules and LFOs. How much CPU it takes just when you are playing the init preset? This is how you need to evaluate a synth. Make sure your PC (?) uses the "performance mode".

