Serum 1 vs Serum 2: What Changed and Should You Upgrade?
48 minutes ago
11 min read
The short answer in the Serum 1 vs Serum 2 comparison is that Serum 1 owners get Serum 2 free, and their old presets still work. Your existing projects keep using Serum 1 until you replace each plug-in instance yourself, so installing the update does not change an unfinished track. Serum 2 adds multisample, sample, granular, and spectral oscillators, along with more routing and built-in pattern tools. This guide explains what changed, what remains compatible, and how to move over without causing trouble in old projects.
Table of contents
Serum 1 vs Serum 2 at a glance
Serum 2 is the better version for most new work because it adds far more tools without leaving your Serum 1 presets behind. Its three main oscillator slots can use five engine types, while Serum 1 mainly works as a wavetable synth. You also get two filters, eight macros, an arpeggiator, a clip sequencer, and a separate mixer. Our original Serum 2 overview gives you more background on the release.
The upgrade is easier to manage than many big plug-in updates. Serum 1 presets appear in the Serum 2 browser, but Serum 2 presets cannot go back because the old synth does not have the new oscillators and routing. You can keep both plug-ins installed, so older sessions can continue using Serum 1 while new tracks use Serum 2. Keep Serum 1 on your computer until you have checked every project that still needs it.
How much does the Serum 2 upgrade cost?
The Serum 2 upgrade is free if you own Serum 1 through Xfer, a reseller, or Splice Rent-to-Own. Xfer says Splice customers keep their existing payment terms and get access to both versions without paying more. Sign in to your Xfer account and look in the registered products area for the installer. Xfer’s official upgrade FAQ confirms these rules.
A new Serum 2 license costs $249 on Xfer’s website as of October 30, 2026. At $249, Serum 2 costs more than several popular wavetable synths. Vital Basic is free, so this is not a close price comparison. Our Serum 2 vs Vital comparison explains what Serum 2 adds and whether those extra oscillator types are worth paying for.
What changed from Serum 1 to Serum 2?
Serum 2 is still a wavetable synth, but it can now play samples, use granular synthesis, and work with spectral sound. Its three oscillator slots support Wavetable, Multisample, Sample, Granular, and Spectral modes. Wavetable mode also adds smoother movement between frames, two warp stages, and more FM, filtering, phase-distortion, ring-modulation, and distortion choices. If these terms are new to you, our wavetable synthesis guide explains how wavetable frames and position modulation work.
The Multisample oscillator plays recorded instruments across different key ranges and can import SFZ files. Sample mode adds slicing, loop detection, playback-rate control, and score extraction, while Granular mode breaks audio into small grains for shifting textures. Spectral mode rebuilds a sound from its frequency content, so you can change its timing and frequencies separately. In a normal session, these modes can save you from loading a separate sampler beside Serum.
Serum 2 also gives you more ways to mix and change those oscillators. It has two filters, ten LFOs, eight macros, a larger modulation matrix, and a mixer with separate oscillator channels, buses, splitters, and flexible effect routing. There are 13 effect modules, including convolution reverb, new algorithmic reverbs, frequency shifting, and a new overdrive mode. You can send several oscillators to one auxiliary bus instead of placing the same effect on each source.
The arpeggiator and clip sequencer can store note patterns inside a preset. Both tools have 12 slots, and you can draw patterns or bring them in through MIDI. A Serum 2 preset can therefore hold part of the musical phrase as well as the sound itself. The browser has more to manage because a preset may now include oscillators, routing, effects, and note patterns together.
Do Serum 1 presets and banks work in Serum 2?
Yes, Serum 1 presets work in Serum 2 and should appear in its newer preset browser. Ratings from Serum 1 move across when you open Serum 2 for the first time, and the original wavetables and noise files come with the new installation. Third-party Serum 1 banks use the same route into the newer synth. Our Serum 2 preset installation guide explains how to use the browser and import your libraries.
Preset support only goes forward from Serum 1 to Serum 2. A Serum 2 preset cannot open in Serum 1 because the old plug-in does not have the granular, sample, multisample, or spectral oscillators. Serum 1 also lacks the new mixer, effect buses, sequencer, and larger modulation system. Check which version a preset pack needs before you buy it.
Xfer says Serum 1 presets work in Serum 2, but you should still compare important sounds before replacing them in a finished track. Early updates fixed some unusual problems with old modulation settings, and compatible loading does not promise a perfectly identical render in every case. First bounce a short reference from Serum 1, then open the same preset in Serum 2 and compare its level, timing, modulation, and automation. This small check matters when the sound already has a fixed place in your mix.
How to move presets, wavetables, and projects to Serum 2
The safest method is to install Serum 2 beside Serum 1 and move your projects one at a time. Download the correct installer from the registered products area of your Xfer account, install it, and ask your DAW to scan for new plug-ins. Serum 2 needs a host that supports 64-bit VST3, AU, or AAX. Once it appears correctly, these five Serum 2 sound-design tips can help you learn the newer tools.
Open Serum 2 once before moving or sorting any files because its first launch imports your Serum 1 preset ratings. Check that your old banks appear, then choose Open Serum 2 Presets Folder from the main menu whenever you need to find the right folder. The manual places Xfer preset data under `/Library/Audio/Presets/Xfer Records/` on macOS and `/Documents/Xfer/` on Windows, although OneDrive can change the Windows location. Using the menu command is safer than guessing where the folder is.
Old DAW projects do not change to Serum 2 by themselves, which helps protect their sound and automation. Make a copy of the project, save any edited Serum 1 patch, add Serum 2, and load the matching preset before removing the old instance. Match the gain, compare both versions, and copy any automation or routing that your DAW did not keep. Save a bounced reference and the original project until you have used the replacement in another full session.
Confirm Serum 2 appears in your DAW before moving files.
Open Serum 2 once to import Serum 1 ratings.
Check your old banks in the Serum 2 browser.
Use Import Preset Pack for packaged libraries.
Import custom wavetables again if they do not appear.
Replace DAW instances only in copied projects.
Also check
Does Serum 2 use more CPU than Serum 1?
Serum 2 should use the same or less CPU when it plays an equivalent Serum 1 patch, according to Xfer. That claim covers like-for-like sounds, not new presets filled with granular processing, convolution, extra oscillators, and complex effect routing. Those extra tools can need more processing power. Reports of heavy Serum 2 presets do not necessarily disagree with Xfer’s more limited comparison.
We have not run a standard CPU test for this article, so the most useful result will come from your own computer and DAW. Open the same Serum 1 preset in both versions, match the voice count and quality settings, and play the same MIDI clip while watching the track’s CPU meter. Try several sounds because a long pad can behave differently from a short bass patch. Our advanced Serum 2 tips can help you find modulation and effects that may be adding to the load.
Serum 2’s mixer can also save some processing when you use it carefully. Several oscillators can share one auxiliary bus instead of running a separate copy of the same effect, which the manual describes as a more CPU-friendly method. Freezing or bouncing a demanding preset is still useful when a project becomes crowded. Serum 2 gives you more ways to build a sound, but your computer still has a limit.
Why should you keep Serum 1 installed?
Keep Serum 1 installed so unfinished projects can open exactly as you saved them. Both versions can live on the same computer, and an old session continues to call Serum 1 until you replace that instance yourself. Moving one project at a time is safer than removing Serum 1 on the day you install the update. It also helps when you exchange projects with someone who has not installed Serum 2.
Serum 1 is now at end-of-life, which means Xfer does not plan to add new features or fixes. It may still work well today, but it is not the best place to build a new preset library that you want to use for years. Our Serum 2.1 coverage shows that current development has already moved to Serum 2. Later operating system and DAW updates give you another reason to move active projects gradually.
You can keep using Serum 1 when a stable project depends on it, your computer cannot run Serum 2, or a deadline leaves no time for careful checks. Finish or archive that project before replacing its instrument instances. Start new work in Serum 2 when your system supports it because that is the version still receiving updates. Keep copies of both installers and back up your projects.
What do presets made for Serum 2 add?
Presets made for Serum 2 can use tools that an older Serum 1 bank does not contain. A sound designer can use granular or spectral oscillators, send sources through separate mixer buses, and save arpeggiator or clip-sequencer patterns inside the preset. Your old presets remain useful, but they cannot show everything the newer synth can do. Serum 2-native packs give you ready-made examples of its new oscillators, routing, and pattern tools.
Our Parallel Dimension, Vanilla 33, and Dream Horizon packs can help you build a library made for Serum 2. The smaller Dream Horizon three-preset set gives you a narrower choice. The Serum Presets Multiverse Bundle puts a wider selection of Serum sounds into one purchase.
These newer packs will not open in Serum 1, so install and activate Serum 2 before buying them. Use Serum 2’s Import Preset Pack command for a packaged library, or open the preset folder from the main menu when you need to place files yourself. Leave purchased packs in their original folders so they remain easier to update and back up. Try a few sounds at your project tempo before you build an arrangement around their sequenced movement.
Is Serum 2 worth $249 for a new buyer?
Serum 2 can be worth $249 if its extra oscillators will replace several separate instruments in your normal work. The multisample, sample, granular, and spectral modes are the main reasons to choose it over a cheaper synth that only covers wavetable sounds. Its buses and built-in sequencers also help when you want one preset to hold more of a musical part. Xfer includes more than 626 presets and 288 wavetables, and you can try a 15-minute demo from the official Serum 2 page.
The price is harder to defend if you only make basic wavetable patches or already own a good multi-engine synth. Vital remains a strong lower-cost choice for producers who like clear visual modulation, as our Serum 2 vs Vital guide explains. Arturia Pigments is another choice if you want several types of synthesis with a different way of working, while Pigments Play offers a simpler introduction. Try each synth in your usual DAW rather than choosing from the feature list alone.
Serum 2 works on Windows 10 or newer, macOS High Sierra or newer with an Intel Mac, and Big Sur or newer with Apple Silicon. Xfer currently lists 64-bit VST3, AU, and AAX formats, but it does not list VST2. Check your DAW and old projects if your studio still depends on VST2 plug-ins. New buyers should also allow time to learn the mixer and extra oscillators because those tools are where much of the value sits.
Our verdict
Serum 1 owners should install the free Serum 2 upgrade, but they should keep Serum 1 for unfinished projects until every replacement has been checked.
Pros
Free for Serum 1 owners
Old presets still work
Five oscillator types
More routing and pattern tools
Both versions can stay installed
Cons
Serum 2 presets will not open in Serum 1
Projects must be moved manually
New features can need more CPU
No VST2 version listed
Which version should you use?
If you own Serum 1, install Serum 2 because the upgrade is free and your old preset library still works. Keep Serum 1 beside it for unfinished tracks, then replace project instances one at a time after saving patches and bounced references. Start new sessions in Serum 2 unless your DAW or operating system cannot run it. This approach protects old work while moving your active sounds to the supported version.
If you are buying your first Serum license, base the $249 choice on the extra oscillators rather than the familiar name. Serum 2 makes most sense when you plan to use multisamples, granular sound, spectral processing, deeper routing, and internal note patterns regularly. A cheaper synth may be enough if you only need standard wavetable sounds. Once you choose Serum 2, presets made for the new version can show you how those added tools work inside complete sounds.
Build your Serum 2 preset library
The Serum Presets Multiverse Bundle gives you a wider choice of sounds for the current Serum version. It is a useful next step when your old Serum 1 library does not cover the newer sound engines.
More information
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Serum 2 free if I own Serum 1?
Yes. Xfer gives Serum 2 free to people who bought Serum 1 directly, through a reseller, or through Splice Rent-to-Own. The installer should appear in your Xfer account.
How much does Serum 2 cost for a new user?
Serum 2 costs $249 from Xfer Records as of October 30, 2026.
Will my Serum 1 presets work in Serum 2?
Yes. Serum 1 presets and third-party banks should appear in the Serum 2 browser. Your ratings move over on the first launch, and the old wavetables and noise files come with Serum 2.
Can I open Serum 2 presets in Serum 1?
No. Serum 1 does not have the extra oscillators, mixer buses, sequencers, and processing used by Serum 2 presets. Install Serum 2 before buying packs made for the newer version.
Will my old projects switch to Serum 2 automatically?
No. Old projects keep using Serum 1 so their sound does not change without you choosing to change it. Copy the project and replace each instance yourself after saving its preset and a bounced reference.
Can I keep Serum 1 and Serum 2 installed together?
Yes. Xfer allows both versions to stay on the same system. Keeping both is the safest choice while unfinished projects still use Serum 1.
Does Serum 2 use more CPU than Serum 1?
Not always. Xfer says matching patches should use the same or less CPU, although granular processing, convolution, and other new tools can require more power. Test the same patches in both versions inside your own DAW.
Is Serum 1 still supported?
No. Serum 1 has reached end-of-life, so Xfer does not plan to add more features or fixes. You can keep it for old projects, but new work should move to Serum 2 when possible.
FOLLOW US ON
Comments