Official Serum 2 thread!

[AlQuzMar]

Do you have performance comparison data? I don’t. So we just don’t know.

Yes. I posted some in this thread and elsewhere. And I've done other testing as well. Serum 2 performs 1.5x-3x worse on my Zen 1 Threadripper for the same presets as Serum 1, for presets which don't use unison. (Serum 2 has some kind of unison optimization that Serum 1 doesn't.) On my M1 Pro Mac, Serum 2 uses about the same or slightly less CPU for the same presets as Serum 1.

This sucks big time. I'll just stick with Serum 1 then.

[pierb]

Now on Ryzen 5800x f.ex. a bass patch called "Kitchen Sink" hits good 50 per cent of real time CPU use with a single voice, so on my old system that would likely be hitting the limits.

Same preset, barely leaves a mark on a M4. 128@48k.

They didn't even get an AMD to test on until after they shipped. It's not a testament to Apple, but to rushing it out the door.

Even if they had optimized it for AMD that 5800X is a 5 year old CPU. Too often people with old CPUs have unrealistic expectations.

Serum 2 (like Diva in its time) was made for future CPUs. Back when Diva was released you were lucky if you could play a chord at divine quality.

BTW Serum 2 has a setting to lower the quality.

[adl]

I remember back in the days when NI Massive came out it was killing literally every CPU. They even implemented another mode after the release, which was lighter on CPU (at the cost of sonics). But as time passed nobody cared anymore about that, cause CPUs became more and more powerful. That being said it's different compared to Serum 2 where they seem to haven't tested it enough with AMD CPUs (which is just an oversight from the devs).

[tumface]

This sucks big time. I'll just stick with Serum 1 then.

Serum 2 is totally fine. I'm using it on both of my systems.

[JO512]

I am really finding the 'smooth' parameter on filters like the new MG Ladder to be really useful. If you have an arp or something like that and have the resonance up a little and some fast envelope modulation of the filter, it can be interesting to change the 'smooth' parameter. Turned up, things are less articulated. Turn it down, things get sharper and more articulated. Another fun parameter to add some movement to things!

[nusound mind]

This sucks big time. I'll just stick with Serum 1 then.

lol! if you have serum 1 you have serum 2, why don't you test it yourself rather than relying on online world of mouth?

While I'm here, is there any estimate on an update? Serum 2 works fine for me atm, I'm just curious.

[AlQuzMar]

This sucks big time. I'll just stick with Serum 1 then.

lol! if you have serum 1 you have serum 2, why don't you test it yourself rather than relying on online world of mouth?

While I'm here, is there any estimate on an update? Serum 2 works fine for me atm, I'm just curious.

This chain of quotes actually goes back to me testing Serum 2 out and seeing that it can hog a lot of CPU time, at least on certain patches. I think it's the wisest to use Serum 2 only if Serum 1 doesn't suffice.

[dionenoid]

I think it's the wisest to use Serum 2 only if Serum 1 doesn't suffice.

Which would be weird since Serum 2 uses less cpu than Serum 1 when using the same presets.

[SirKen]

Now on Ryzen 5800x f.ex. a bass patch called "Kitchen Sink" hits good 50 per cent of real time CPU use with a single voice, so on my old system that would likely be hitting the limits.

Same preset, barely leaves a mark on a M4. 128@48k.

They didn't even get an AMD to test on until after they shipped. It's not a testament to Apple, but to rushing it out the door.

Even if they had optimized it for AMD that 5800X is a 5 year old CPU. Too often people with old CPUs have unrealistic expectations.

Serum 2 (like Diva in its time) was made for future CPUs. Back when Diva was released you were lucky if you could play a chord at divine quality.

BTW Serum 2 has a setting to lower the quality.

This is not fashion clothing, we don't compare CPUs by production year but by core frequency and/or benchmarks.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/single-thread/

[Vortifex]

Okay, I finally had a look after upgrading my system. Now on Ryzen 5800x f.ex. a bass patch called "Kitchen Sink" hits good 50 per cent of real time CPU use with a single voice, so on my old system that would likely be hitting the limits. I'm on 512@48k so not even that tight latency there.

Same preset, barely leaves a mark on a M4. 128@48k.

They didn't even get an AMD to test on until after they shipped. It's not a testament to Apple, but to rushing it out the door.

That same Kitchen Sink patch uses 20% on my Ryzen 7 9700X. The synth overall definitely seems more CPU intensive than its predecessor, but then that's what I'd expect.

[nusound mind]

This sucks big time. I'll just stick with Serum 1 then.

lol! if you have serum 1 you have serum 2, why don't you test it yourself rather than relying on online world of mouth?

While I'm here, is there any estimate on an update? Serum 2 works fine for me atm, I'm just curious.

This chain of quotes actually goes back to me testing Serum 2 out and seeing that it can hog a lot of CPU time, at least on certain patches. I think it's the wisest to use Serum 2 only if Serum 1 doesn't suffice.

Fair enough, I apologize for being presumptive there.

The cpu hit can be mitigated in most cases on my setup, if you get a chance I'd highly recommend tinkering w/ it a bit, it's a really nice synth.

[nusound mind]

I'll say for the third and final time this thread that on my older Ryzen chip Serum 2 works much as expected and i use it more than any other synth currently with zero cpu issues whatsoever. Some of you seem inordinately invested in your narrative. Click a single page back and you will have greater context. This has turned far more scandalous sounding than warranted. It's weirding me out a bit tbh

Not that i wouldn't welcome some optimizing myself, mind you, generally speaking

[DrGonzo]

Today I put Serum 2 on my old i7 laptop and now I understand what people are complaining about. Holy hell... this thing really fries older CPUs.

[Bartone]

I don’t understand the angry towards people who have problems with Serum2 with their computers. It is not the user fault if the synth needs too much power - it is the developer made the synth not the user. Not everyone can just buy a new computer to run Serum2 smoothly:D

What I say is: if you don’t have problems with Serum2 that is good! But it does not mean the situation is same for everyone and the people should just be silent no! It is important to share the problems and maybe share ideas how to fix the problem/help people not just say angry “be silent since I don’t have problem you don’t have problem”

[jules99]

When Serum 1 came out, it also was quite a CPU hog for many in its first few years. When you played multi-voiced pads with it, few standard laptops were up to the challenge. It's the same now. Either people forgot or just weren't around back then. It'll be fine soon.