Serum 2 Explained
If you’re on the hunt for the best sound design synth, Serum 2 is definitely worth checking out. In this Serum 2 video course, electronic music wiz Larry Holcombe will show you how to get started with this powerful hybrid synth from Xfer Records. After watching, you’ll understand exactly what each and every parameter does to the sound. From the oscillators, filters, envelopes, and LFOs to the wavetables, sampler, macros, and Mod Matrix, it’s all covered! By the end of this Serum 2 course, you’ll be ready to start using Serum 2 on your next track. These Serum 2 videos are perfect for those just starting out with Serum 2!
Videos
• Introduction & Interface (03:55) - This video introduces the series and outlines the different areas of the interface. This includes the oscillators, filters, and modulators amongst others.
• Oscillator General Controls (10:41) - We discuss the general oscillator controls here, which allow us to pitch our raw sounds in different ways. We also discuss routing the output of oscillators in different ways.
• Wavetables Pt. 1 (13:44) - Next up, we discuss the nature of wavetable synthesis. This is demonstrated using the Wavetable position dial, with which we can move through wavetable position frames. We also discuss the Phase and Unison controls.
• Wavetables Pt. 2 (10:05) - This video is concerned with the Warp modes, where we can introduce timbral changes to our wavetables.
• Multisample (06:42) - Next up, we discuss the use of the Multisample oscillator, which allows Serum 2 to act as a traditional sampler.
• Sampler (11:05) - This video covers the Sampler, showing how to play back simple samples and also chop up loops and play them back using the MIDI keyboard.
• Granular Synthesis (11:53) - We cover granular synthesis next and learn how audio can be chopped into tiny grains and then recombined in different ways to create rich, textural sounds.
• Spectral Synthesis (07:54) - In this video, we demonstrate spectral synthesis, with which we can create sound by analyzing and manipulating a sound?s frequency content.
• Noise & Sub Oscillators (06:51) - Next up, we continue to look at the sub and noise oscillators, both of which can be layered alongside our main oscillators to thicken up patches.
• Filters 1 & 2 (06:05) - In this video, we cover the parameters of the filters and see how their tonal characteristics can be applied to our raw waveforms.
• Mix Page (05:25) - Next up, we cover the mixer controls, where we can balance the oscillators, filters, buses, and main/direct outputs.
• FX Page (07:22) - We cover the Serum FX next, where we can add in a variety of different effects to really bring sounds to life.
• Envelopes (03:02) - This video focuses on the envelopes, where changes can be made over time using Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain, and Release parameters.
• LFOs (09:22) - Next up, discover the LFOs and how they can create periodic modulation of parameters to facilitate effects like vibrato, tremolo, and wah.
• Macros, Velocity & the Mod Matrix (07:52) - Explore the remaining modulators, which allow hands-on control alongside velocity and note modulation. We then continue on to discuss the modulation matrix and its impressive capabilities.
• Voicing & Arpeggiator Pt. 1 (09:33) - Next up, we outline the voicing options within Serum 2 and then continue on to cover many of the Arpeggiator parameters.
• Arpeggiator Pt. 2 (04:31) - This video focuses on the remaining parameters of the Arpeggiator.
• Clip Mode (06:33) - In this video, we demonstrate the clip mode, which allows piano roll-like functionality to be accessed within Serum 2.
• Sound Design Example: Textural Pad (06:07) - Finally, we create a dark, textural pad, demonstrating some of the sonic possibility of Serum 2.