Tillie Doyle
Serum by Xfer Records is a powerful digital synthesiser with a range of features. It has a Pan knob that can be used to send your sound to the left or the right, and a Level knob for standard volume control. The Pan knob adjusts the cutoff differently between the left and right channels, creating stereo width. Serum also has a built-in compressor in the FX section, which can be used to make presets sound thicker. While Serum is one of the most versatile soft synths available, it is also one of the most complex, with endless wavetables and thousands of features.
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What You'll Learn
Using the Pan knob to send sound left or right
The Pan knob is a standard feature in Serum that allows you to send your sound to the left or right channels, creating stereo width. This is a basic function that is essential for panning individual voices. To do this, you must first duplicate the same waveform in both OSC A and OSC B. Go to the 'Menu' and select 'Resample to OSC B', then repeat this process but select 'Copy OSC B>A'. Now that you have the same waveform in both OSCs, you can create a stereo sound by panning each OSC right and left respectively.
The Pan knob is located in the noise module, which is a built-in sampler in Serum. This module offers a range of unique presets, from subtle crackling noises to low-end resonating sounds. The Pan knob is also located in the main module of Serum, where you will synthesise your own unique sounds. This module also includes the Level knob, which is a standard volume control, and the Octave knob, which allows you to get the bass range right.
The Pan knob is also present in the filter module, where it determines the stereo spread (left or right) of the curve. In this module, the Drive and Fat knobs boost the gain of the curve, while the Mix knob determines the percentage of the curve applied to the oscillators. The filter module offers a range of filter types, including Comb, Formant, and Ring Mod filters, as well as the ability to customise your own filter curves.
It is important to note that the Pan knob is different from the Pan Spread knob, which allows for random or pseudo-random panning. To achieve this, you can connect one of your LFOs with Chaos and use the slider to adjust the level of chaos. Then, simply drag and drop the LFO to a pan knob.
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Adjusting the stereo width to 0 to avoid stereo spread
Serum is a powerful and popular digital synthesiser with a vast array of features. One such feature is the ability to adjust the stereo width.
When using unison in Serum, the default setting spreads the width to 100%. This can be an issue when you want to avoid stereo spread. To resolve this, you can adjust the stereo width to 0.
Here's how to do it: Go to 'Global' in the menu, then select 'Unison'. Here, you will find the 'Width' setting, which is set to 100% by default. Simply turn this down to 0, and you will have no stereo spread.
It is worth noting that some effects in Serum are inherently stereo, so even with the width set to 0, you may still experience some stereo spread. To completely eliminate stereo spread, you may need to mute the effects or remove the spread from individual presets.
Additionally, you can achieve a mono signal by reducing the number of voices playing in your wave tables. This can be done by going to the bottom right corner and changing the total number of voices.
By following these steps, you can effectively avoid stereo spread and achieve a mono sound when desired.
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Utilising the LFO section to create custom LFO shapes
Serum is a powerful digital synthesiser with a detailed LFO section that allows users to create any LFO shape they desire. LFO stands for Low-Frequency Oscillators, which are modulation tools used to create movement in sound. They are not audible but create a rhythmic pulse that adds flavour to music, such as phasing, modulating flanges, tremolo, and vibrato.
To create custom LFO shapes, the LFO mode must be set to 'Trigger' or 'Envelope'. This ensures that the LFO starts from the beginning of the cycle each time a note is played. Users can also set loop points within the LFO cycle by right-clicking on a node and selecting 'Set Loopback Point Here'. This creates a continuous loop at the selected point.
To create sharp snaps, hold the 'Alt' key while creating shapes, forcing the LFO anchor points to snap to the grid. Holding 'Shift' and 'Alt' while dragging notes will create exact grid increments, resulting in an arpeggiated sound. Users can also copy one LFO to another by holding 'Alt' and clicking and dragging the LFO tab onto another.
Additionally, Serum has a hidden LFO called 'Chaos', which can be found in the 'MATRIX' tab under 'Sources'. Chaos 1 and Chaos 2 are randomised by different algorithms, and their settings can be adjusted in the 'GLOBAL' tab. Users can also customise the response of any envelope or LFO in the 'Curve' area of the 'MATRIX' tab, allowing for modifications in direction and amount.
The LFO section in Serum offers a high level of customisation, enabling users to create unique and complex sounds.
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Combining OSC A and OSC B waveforms for stereo sound
Serum is a powerful digital synthesiser with endless wavetables and thousands of features. It is a versatile soft synth with two main oscillators, OSC A and OSC B, which can be combined in many interesting ways to create stereo sound.
Firstly, you can create the same waveform in both OSC A and OSC B. Go to the 'Menu' and select 'Resample to OSC B'. Then, go to 'Menu' again and select 'Copy OSC B->A'. Now, to create the stereo sound, pan each OSC right and left respectively, and slightly change one of the waveforms. Alternatively, you can go to 'Menu' and select 'Resample to OSC A+B (Stereo)'. You will still need to pan the OSCs, but one of the waveforms is already slightly changed automatically.
Another way to create stereo sound is by turning up the unison (# of voices) and making sure the 'Random Phase' is turned up. However, this can sometimes lead to an unstable sound and undesirable auto-panning.
Serum also has a detailed LFO section, which allows you to create any LFO shape you can think of. The LFO mode can be set to 'Trigger' or 'Envelope', which will make the LFO start from the beginning of the cycle whenever a note is played. You can also set loop points within the LFO cycle if the LFO mode is set to 'Envelope'. To do this, right-click on one of the nodes and select 'Set Loopback Point here'.
Additionally, Serum has a 'Wave to FFT' function, which can transform any waveform into sine waves. This function generates an "additive synthesis" version of the waveform, allowing you to adjust the respective partial tones and further edit the waveform.
Serum also has a Noise oscillator, which uses noise samples to create noise. This can be used to layer interesting audio, like vocals, bird sounds, or anything else, over your original sound. Serum also has two filters that can be used in combination to create awesome sounds. The main filter is located on the right-hand section of the OSC page next to the oscillators, while the second filter is included in the FX page as an effect insert. The pan knob adjusts the cutoff differently between the left and right channels, creating stereo width.
Finally, to stop the panning in Serum, you can turn the 'Unison Width' in the Global tab to 0 to get no stereo spread.
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Applying compression for thicker-sounding presets
Serum is a powerful digital synthesiser with endless wavetables and thousands of features. Its built-in compressor (in the FX section) is a great tool to make your presets sound thicker. Here are some tips for applying compression to achieve thicker-sounding presets:
Utilise the Multiband Compressor
The multiband compressor in Serum is a powerful tool to enhance the fullness of your sound. By selecting 'Multiband' on the compressor, you activate the OTT compressor, which delivers a distinctively compressed sound. However, the OTT mode can sometimes introduce unwanted artefacts and overly loud reverb tails. To mitigate this, adjust the attack and release settings. Turning the attack all the way down and setting the release all the way up results in a smoother, less extremely compressed sound. Alternatively, if you prefer an extremely compressed sound, you can turn the release all the way down.
Experiment with Sidechain Compression
Sidechain compression is a technique that can create rhythmic modulation in your presets. This involves using audio inputs to modulate parameters based on an external audio source. By experimenting with sidechain compression, you can add unique dynamics and movement to your presets, making them sound thicker and more engaging.
Explore Layering Techniques
Layering is a powerful way to create complex and thick-sounding presets in Serum. By stacking multiple sounds on top of each other, you can craft unique textures and timbres. Simply add another oscillator to your sound and adjust its settings to create a harmonically rich and complementary sound. Layering allows you to design sounds that stand out and have a significant presence in your mix.
Combine Multiple Instances of Serum
Using multiple instances of Serum simultaneously can lead to rich, layered, and thick-sounding presets. By utilising different wavetables, filter types, and the unison mode across multiple instances, you can create complex and varied sounds. Additionally, you can employ panning and volume automation to further enhance the stereo image and make your presets sound expansive and thick.
Master the LFO Section
Serum's detailed LFO section allows you to create any LFO shape you desire. Low-Frequency Oscillators (LFOs) can control a parameter of sound over time by oscillating the value at a low frequency. By using the right LFO shape and applying the appropriate amount of LFO, you can achieve perfect-sounding presets. Explore the various LFO shapes available in Serum, such as sine, square, and sawtooth, and experiment with different settings to find the right balance for your desired thickness.
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Frequently asked questions
Go to the matrix and connect one of your LFOs with Chaos. Use the slider to determine how chaotic you want it to be. Then drag and drop the LFO to a pan knob.
Set the Unison Width to 0 to get no stereo spread.
The Pan knob can be used to send your sound to the left or the right.
Turn up the unison (# of voices) and make sure the ‘Random Phase’ is turned up.
The MIX knob acts as a dry/wet for the filter.
