Serum Synth Flashcards
What is a wavetable?
How are pitch and timbre determined?
A sample of audio thats played back in a looping fashion.
Pitch - determined by the rate (speed between repeats)
Timbre - determined by the content of the waveform
How many sub-tables can Serum have up to?
Alt name for sub-tables
256
sub-tables = frames (single cycle waves)
How to switch between 2D and 3D view of oscillator and what does the green, grey, and yellow colors mean?
Click the oscillator window to toggle
Green - each line is a single frame
Grey - the interpolated (transition area) between each frame
Yellow - the current frame that is audible/selected by the wavetable position knob
How to tell if a preset has been altered or if your original sound has not been saved?
A floppy disk icon will show next to the name AND the sound name in the oscillator will have a blue tint
How to add a modulator to affect octave, semitones, and fine at the same time?
Add the modulation parameter to the CRS (Coarse) parameter in the oscillator box
Unison voices
What is the “magic” number of voices to use per osc?
What is the function of the Unison Blend knob
magic number = 7 voices
Unison blend is basically a dry/wet knob between hearing the main 1 voice and the added unison voices.
How many semitones in an octave?
How many cents in a semitone?
What parameter stands for “cents” in Serum?
12 semitones in an octave
100 cents in a semitone
FIN = cents parameter in serum
In Serum matrix - what value change in the “amount” slider gives you 1 octave change?
+/- 9
What is key tracking in the filter section?
It affects the filter results depending on what note is played
What is the “NOTE” graph parameter on the middle right?
It is the note modulator that adds “key tracking” to any parameter
What is bipolar vs unipolar modulation?
How to change the envelope modulation from bipolar to unipolar
iBipolar - modulates both ways
Unipolar - modulates with the starting value being what is currently on the parameter
shift + alt + click the modulation icon on the selected nob
How to check which envelopes/LFOs are assigned to what parameter?
Right click the label at the top by the crosshairs
How to set parameters to be specific lengths (ex: make the pitch envelope happen over 2 bars?)
Use fractions with 1st number being the actual length desired and the 2nd indicating the timing reference based on BPM
(EX) 2/1 = effect to happen over 2 bars based on 1 bar @ the BPM of the session
How do you enter legato mode in the LFO section?
Set the initialize option to “OFF” instead of TRIG or ENV
What do these functions do in the LFO section?
TRIG
ENV
OFF
TRIG - keeps retriggering LFO as long as the note is held
ENV - only triggers LFO once per note no matter the length
OFF - legato mode. LFO starts from where it left off when you change notes
With the Phase/Random Knobs - how do you ensure that the effect will trigger from the same spot every time a new note is played?
Turn the knobs all the way to the right so the parameter reads “MEM” instead of numbers
What is “glide” referred to as in Serum
Portamento
How does the “always” option affect portamento?
No matter what there will be a glide with notes played whether notes are overlapping or not
In the voicing section what does “legato” do?
When notes overlap it does not re-trigger the amp envelope. The envelope picks up from when the last note was played.
While using portamento what does “scaled” do?
It adjusts the glide to where it only plays the notes within a scale (resulting in faster glide)
Describe the Warp Modes
Sync / Sync (1/2 or full window)
Bend +/-
Asym +/-
PWM (pulse width mod)
Flip
Mirror
Quantize
FM
AM
RM
Sync / Sync / Sync (1/2 or full window): pitches up harmonic content while keeping the original tone (generates extra saw waves). Window same as sync but fades in start/end points to eliminate extra saw waves.
Bend +/- : Pinches waveform inward or pulls waveform outward
PWM (pulse width mod): pushes entire waveform to the left (useful with square waves)
Flip: creates instant polarity flip
Mirror: mirrors waveform on the second half of cycle
Quantize: bit reduction
FM: freq mod
AM: amp mod
FMNoise: freq mod from noise osc
What is the “MEM” setting on the phase knob (set at 100%)
It continues the playback on the waveform from the location of the last note
What kind of effect do you get from automating the phase of noise oscillators?
A scratching effect (like lo-fi genres)
How to embed samples into the preset file?
Drag the file directly into the oscillator instead of importing it from menu
