How to Use Serum 2 in Metal Music Production: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Serum by Xfer Records has been a go-to synth for electronic music producers for years. With the release of Serum 2, the powerful wavetable synth has pushed its boundaries even further — and not just for EDM. In this article, we’ll explore how Serum 2 can be a game-changer in metal music production.

Whether you’re into djent, industrial, blackened deathcore, or progressive metal, Serum 2 offers a vast arsenal of tools that can enhance your sonic palette. Let’s dive deep into how to use Serum 2 in metal — from layering with guitars to designing dystopian ambiences and synth leads that cut through the mix.

Why Use Synths in Metal?

Metal has evolved far beyond the traditional “two guitars, bass, and drums” formula. Modern metal incorporates cinematic textures, atmospheric pads, glitchy effects, and aggressive synths to add depth and innovation to the genre.

Bands like Bring Me the Horizon, Periphery, Code Orange, Loathe, and Northlane are prime examples of artists who blend electronic elements with heavy riffs. Using a synth like Serum 2 allows producers to explore this hybrid territory.

What’s New in Serum 2?

Before diving into metal-specific use cases, here are some of the most notable improvements in Serum 2:

New Wavetable Engine: Enhanced resolution and smoother transitions.
Spectral FX Routing: Apply effects at different points in the signal chain.
Multi-LFO Support: Stack complex modulation layers.
Expanded Mod Matrix: More routing options, now with conditional logic.
Granular & Additive Synthesis Tools: Perfect for creating eerie textures.
Improved GUI & Workflow: Faster navigation, more visual feedback.

These additions make Serum 2 a formidable synth not just for electronic music, but for metal — especially genres that demand complex atmospheres and aggression.

Top 7 Ways to Use Serum 2 in Metal Production

1. Layering Synths with Guitars

Layering synths with guitar riffs can add dimension and widen the stereo field. Here’s how to do it with Serum 2:

Start with a Wavetable Oscillator: Choose aggressive, harmonically rich wavetables like “Monster 7” or “Addiction.” Set it to a square or saw wave with slight detune.
Use Multiband Distortion: Serum 2’s new distortion algorithms can mimic amp saturation. Combine this with a high-pass filter to avoid muddying the guitars.
Sync with the Riff: Program the same rhythm as the guitar chugs. Use Serum’s Step LFO or MIDI automation to match dynamics.

🔊 Pro Tip: Slightly offset the pitch (±7 cents) and pan the synth layer to enhance stereo width without clashing with the main guitar line.

2. Industrial & Cybernetic Sound Design

Industrial metal thrives on synthetic chaos. Serum 2 can create harsh, mechanical textures ideal for breakdowns and intros.

Use Noise Oscillators: Combine Serum’s internal noise sources (e.g., “Machine Hum,” “Grit”) with LFO modulation for glitch effects.
FM Synthesis & Spectral Warping: Route Oscillator B to modulate A using FM or RM. Add spectral morphing (e.g., Bend+, Mirror) to make your patch unstable and threatening.
Macro-Control Chaos: Map multiple parameters (filter cutoff, noise level, distortion mix) to a macro for live performance-style effects.

🎛️ Sound Idea: Create a “robot scream” using Formant-shifted wavetables, distorted noise, and a resonant peak sweeping with an LFO.

3. Cinematic Pads & Dark Atmospheres

Black and doom metal benefit greatly from ambient backdrops. Serum 2’s granular engine and reverb modules are perfect for this.

Choose Smooth Wavetables: Use harmonically dense sources like “Hollow,” “Spectral Wash,” or import your own textures.
Granular Texture Add-ons: Serum 2 now supports granular modulation. Add shimmer or motion using random pitch LFOs and spectral morphs.
Stack Reverbs & Filters: Use high-cut filters post-reverb to create distant, ethereal pads.

🎬 Cinematic Trick: Create a reverse pad by exporting the rendered Serum pad and reversing it in your DAW for creepy tension-building intros.

4. Bass Design for Djent & Deathcore

Modern metal demands powerful low end. Serum 2 gives you surgical control over bass synthesis — from clean subs to growling mids.

Start with a Sine Wave Sub: Layer it under a distorted wavetable for clarity and punch.
Parallel Processing in FX Tab: Split the chain with an EQ in the middle, then distort only the mids. This keeps the low end clean.
LFO-Controlled Notches: Use band-reject or peak filters to animate the tone, ideal for tech-death or breakdowns.

🎸 Bass Tip: Map an envelope to a notch filter’s frequency and gain to create “talking” bass sounds that rhythmically interact with your drums.

5. Glitch FX and Transitions

Transitions are often overlooked in metal, but they’re crucial for modern arrangements. Serum 2 can create insane risers, falls, and glitchy FX.

Random LFO Shapes: Use Sample & Hold or Chaos LFOs to add unpredictable modulation to pitch or filter cutoff.
Noise + FM Layers: Combine synthetic noise with FM-modulated tone for cinematic impact.
Spectral Morphing on White Noise: Apply morphing like “Fold” or “Sync” to noise for evolving textures.

🧨 FX Hack: Assign an envelope to drive a 2-bar riser. Add distortion, then automate the reverb size for an explosive transition.

6. Synth Leads That Cut Through the Mix

Leads in metal need to stand out against dense guitars and drums. Serum 2 excels at creating cutting-edge leads.

Use Supersaw Variants: Try the “HyperSaw” wavetable with 7 unison voices and moderate detune.
Transient Enhancer + Chorus: Use Serum’s built-in effects to sharpen the attack.
Formant Filters: Add vowel-like resonance to leads to give them a unique character.

🎹 Lead Tip: Add automation to the wavetable position and detune amount during solos to bring life and evolution to the sound.

7. Custom Macros for Live Play or Automation

One of Serum 2’s underrated features is macro control. In a metal context, these can be mapped to:

Filter Cutoff for Dynamics
Oscillator Mix for Clean/Dirty Blends
LFO Speed for Breakdown Intensity
FX Mix Levels for Transition Impact

🎛️ Workflow Boost: Save macro assignments as default in your go-to Serum 2 templates. This speeds up production and ensures consistency.

Essential Serum 2 Presets for Metal

While creating sounds from scratch is rewarding, here are some preset categories to explore (or create):

Aggro Synth Chugs
Glitchy Fills & FX
Industrial Drones
Distorted Reeses
Cinematic Pads
Synthetic Screams
Alien Sub Basses

Many online communities and marketplaces (like Splice, ADSR Sounds, and Producer Loops) offer preset packs designed specifically for metal and hybrid genres.

Mixing Tips for Synths in Metal

Adding synths to metal isn’t just about design — it’s about integration.

High-Pass Everything Below 100–150 Hz (unless it’s a sub bass)
Sidechain Synth Layers to the kick drum using volume automation or plugins like LFO Tool.
Match Reverb Tails to the tempo and space of your track.
Avoid Clashing Frequencies with guitars (250–500 Hz and 2–4 kHz are hotspots).
Automate Wet/Dry FX Mix during transitions to prevent clutter.

Final Thoughts: Serum 2 as a Metal Synth Powerhouse

Serum 2’s flexibility, deep modulation system, and aggressive tone-shaping capabilities make it an ideal tool for modern metal producers. Whether you’re creating ambient textures for a post-metal track or designing glitchy risers for a deathcore breakdown, Serum 2 delivers the tools you need with high sound quality and intuitive workflow.

If you’re not already using Serum 2 in your metal productions, now is the perfect time to start. The genre is expanding — and so should your sonic arsenal.