Eleven Years in the Making: Serum 2 is HERE (and it's FREE!)
Okay, synth heads, listen up! After what felt like a lifetime – eleven years, to be exact – Xfer Records just dropped Serum 2, a massive free update to their legendary wavetable synth. Honestly, who saw that coming? A completely free, game-changing update? It’s practically unheard of!
What's Actually *New* in Serum 2?
This isn't just a few tweaks under the hood; this is a total overhaul. They’ve completely redesigned the oscillator section. Now, alongside the already amazing wavetable oscillator (which got some serious upgrades itself – new warp modes, phase distortion, dual warp functions…the works!), we’ve got multisample, granular, and spectral oscillators. This opens up a whole new world of sonic possibilities. Think incredibly realistic instrument emulations, totally wild experimental textures, and even real-time harmonic resynthesis – seriously, this thing is a beast.
But it doesn’t stop there. The effects section has been revamped with super flexible routing, making sound design even more intuitive. And then there’s the rhythmic goodness: a powerful new arpeggiator and a killer clip sequencer. Plus, the LFO engine’s gotten a major boost with more shapes and four extra macro controls. It's like they took everything you loved about Serum and supercharged it.
Oh, and did I mention the presets? 626 new presets and 288 fresh wavetables are included. That's a whole lot of new sounds to explore. I’m already diving in!
A Free Upgrade? Seriously?
The best part? If you already own Serum, this is a completely free upgrade. I know, right? It's insane. Xfer Records really outdid themselves with this one, showing incredible commitment to their users. This kind of thing just doesn't happen in the software world.
So, How Much Does it Cost (if you DON'T already own it)?
For those of you who haven't yet experienced the Serum magic, it's available at an introductory price of $189 (the regular price is $249) until June 1st, 2025. It works with VST3, AU, and AAX formats on both macOS and Windows. And if you’re still on the fence, they’ve got a 15-minute demo available. Go check it out!
The Bottom Line: A Synth Revolution
Serum 2 isn't just an update; it's a total game-changer. The powerful new features, combined with the completely free upgrade for existing users, solidify Serum's place as one of the top synths on the market. Seriously, if you're a sound designer, you need to check this out. Head over to the Xfer Records website to download the demo or upgrade – you won’t regret it!
