What Is Xfer Serum? How to Install Serum & Serum 2 Presets

Xfer Serum is a wavetable synthesizer used to create basses, leads, pads, plucks, keys, effects and evolving electronic sounds. You can design sounds from scratch or load presets that already contain oscillator, filter, modulation and effect settings.

If you have downloaded a Serum bank but cannot find it inside the plugin, this guide explains how to install Serum, add Serum 1 and Serum 2 presets, import .SerumPack files and solve common preset folder problems on Windows and macOS.

Looking for new sounds? Browse the complete collection of Serum presets and sound banks available on r-loops.

How to Install Serum Presets: Quick Answer

1. Download the preset bank and extract the ZIP file.
2. Open Serum inside your DAW.
3. For Serum 1, select Menu > Show Serum Presets Folder.
4. For Serum 2, select Menu > Open Serum 2 Presets Folder.
5. Copy the preset files into the appropriate Presets folder.
6. Import .SerumPack via Menu > Import Preset Pack.
7. Select Menu > Rescan Folders on Disk.

If the bank includes additional wavetables, noises or impulse responses, keep its original folder structure and copy those assets into the matching Serum folders.

What Is Xfer Serum?

Serum is a software synthesizer developed by Xfer Records. Its sound engine is based on wavetable synthesis, allowing producers to select, edit and move through waveforms over time.

The plugin includes oscillators, filters, envelopes, LFOs, modulation tools, macros and built-in effects. This makes it useful for both detailed sound design and preset-based workflows.

Serum is commonly used for electronic music, trap, R&B, hip-hop, melodic techno, drum and bass, dubstep, synthwave and many other genres. Its presets can cover everything from simple sub basses and plucks to evolving pads, sequences and heavily modulated effects.

What Are Serum Presets?

A Serum preset is a saved collection of synthesizer settings. When you load a preset, Serum recalls the oscillators, wavetables, filters, envelopes, LFOs, effects and macro assignments used to create the sound.

Preset banks usually organize sounds into categories such as:

• Basses and 808s
• Leads
• Pads and atmospheres
• Plucks
• Keys and bells
• Arpeggios and sequences
• Sound effects and textures

Some banks contain only preset files. Others also include custom wavetables, noises, one-shots, MIDI files or multisample instruments. Check the product details before installation so you know which files need to be copied.

Serum 1 vs Serum 2 Preset Formats

The correct installation method depends on the version of Serum and the supplied file format.

File type	Used with	Installation method
.fxp	Primarily Serum 1	Copy the bank into the Serum 1 Presets folder and rescan the library.
.SerumPreset	Serum 2	Copy the files into the Serum 2 user preset folder.
.SerumPack	Serum 2	Choose Menu > Import Preset Pack inside Serum 2.
.sfz and audio samples	Serum 2 multisample libraries	Follow the product instructions and load the SFZ file through a Multisample oscillator.

A preset made specifically for Serum 2 may not work in Serum 1. Always check the required plugin version before downloading a bank.

How to Install the Serum Plugin

Step 1: Download Serum

Sign in to your account on the official Xfer Records website and download the correct installer for Windows or macOS.

If you purchased Serum through a rent-to-own service, download and manage the installation through that service’s desktop application.

Step 2: Run the Installer

Open the downloaded installer and follow the instructions. Keeping the recommended plugin locations is usually the safest option because most DAWs scan them automatically.

Common plugin locations include:

• Windows VST3: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
• macOS VST3: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3
• macOS Audio Unit: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components

Older Serum 1 installations may also use a custom VST2 folder. If your DAW scans a specific VST2 directory, select that folder during installation.

Xfer Serum installer on macOS

Step 3: Scan for Serum in Your DAW

Open your DAW and add Serum to an instrument or MIDI track. If the plugin does not appear, open the DAW’s plugin settings and run a full plugin rescan.

Also confirm that your DAW is scanning the folder selected during installation. Installing the plugin in one folder while scanning a different folder is a common reason Serum does not appear.

How to Install Serum 1 Presets

Step 1: Download and Extract the Bank

Download your Serum preset bank. Most products are delivered as a compressed ZIP file. Extract the archive before moving its contents.

• Windows: right-click the ZIP file and select Extract All.
• macOS: double-click the ZIP file to extract it.

Do not place the unopened ZIP file in Serum’s library. Serum needs access to the actual preset files and any included supporting content.

Step 2: Open the Serum 1 Presets Folder

Load Serum 1 inside your DAW and select:

Menu > Show Serum Presets Folder

This is more reliable than searching for the folder manually, especially if your Documents directory has been moved or synchronized with OneDrive.

Serum Presets folder on macOS

Step 3: Copy the Preset Files

Open the Presets directory and copy the extracted bank into it. You can keep third-party banks organized in their own folders, for example:

Serum Presets/Presets/User/Bank Name

The presets can be stored in a custom subfolder inside the main Presets directory. Keeping each bank in a separate folder makes it easier to browse and remove later.

Step 4: Copy Additional Content

Some presets depend on custom content. If the download contains folders named Noises, Tables, LFO Shapes or Impulses, copy their contents into the matching folders inside the Serum library.

If you copy only the preset files, Serum may display a missing wavetable or missing noise message when you try to load a sound.

Step 5: Rescan the Library

Return to Serum and select:

Menu > Rescan Folders on Disk

If the bank still does not appear, close and reopen Serum or restart your DAW.

Opening the Serum Presets folder from the plugin menu

How to Install Serum 2 Presets

Method 1: Install Individual Serum 2 Presets

Use this method when the download contains individual .SerumPreset files or a regular folder of Serum 2 presets.

1. Open Serum 2 inside your DAW.
2. Select Menu > Open Serum 2 Presets Folder.
3. Open the user preset directory.
4. Copy the extracted preset bank into that directory.
5. Return to Serum 2 and select Menu > Rescan Folders on Disk.

Keep the bank inside its own folder so its presets remain grouped in the Serum 2 browser.

Looking for sounds created specifically for the new version? Browse our Serum 2 presets and sound banks.

Method 2: Import a SerumPack File

Serum 2 supports packaged preset libraries using the .SerumPack format. These packages can contain the presets and the non-factory content required by them.

1. Open Serum 2.
2. Click Menu in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Import Preset Pack.
4. Choose the downloaded .SerumPack file.
5. Wait for Serum 2 to complete the import.
6. Open the preset browser and locate the new pack.

Do not extract or manually reorganize a .SerumPack file unless the product provider specifically instructs you to do so.

Method 3: Load a Serum 2 Multisample Library

Some Serum 2 libraries use the Multisample oscillator instead of standard wavetable patches. These products may include an SFZ file and a collection of recorded samples.

1. Install the supplied Serum preset and sample library according to the product instructions.
2. Open the included preset in Serum 2.
3. Go to OSC A or OSC B.
4. Switch the oscillator type to Multisample.
5. Click Browse and select the included SFZ file.

Preserve the supplied folder structure. Moving the SFZ file away from its samples may break the file references used by the instrument.

Video: How to Install Serum 2 Presets and Packs

The video below shows how to install third-party presets and preset packs in Serum 2. Use it alongside the instructions above when working with .SerumPreset or .SerumPack files.

After importing a bank, open Serum 2’s preset browser and confirm that the new folder or pack is visible. If it does not appear, rescan the folders and restart the plugin.

Why Are My Serum Presets Not Showing Up?

The Download Is Still Compressed

Serum cannot browse preset files stored inside an unopened ZIP or RAR archive. Extract the download first.

The Presets Are in the Wrong Folder

Serum 1 and Serum 2 use separate content directories. Open the correct location through the plugin’s menu instead of guessing the path.

The Bank Is Inside an Extra Nested Folder

Some downloads contain an additional folder around the actual preset bank. Open the extracted archive and locate the directory containing the .fxp or .SerumPreset files.

The Bank Requires Serum 2

A preset created specifically for Serum 2 cannot be expected to work in Serum 1. Check the required version and file format on the product page.

Serum Reports a Missing Noise or Wavetable

The preset probably uses custom content that was not copied into the library. Look for included Noises, Tables, Impulses or sample folders and follow the provider’s installation instructions.

The Preset Folder Is Missing

If the expected Serum 2 content folders do not exist, confirm that you used the full Serum 2 installer rather than an updater. You can also reinstall Serum and allow the installer to add the factory content.

The Bank Does Not Appear After Rescanning

Close Serum, restart your DAW and open the preset browser again. Also check whether the bank was installed for the correct version of Serum.

Serum 2 Presets and Libraries to Try

Serum 2 banks can contain standard synthesizer presets, custom wavetables, one-shots or complete multisample instruments. The following products demonstrate several different ways Serum 2 can be used.

You can also explore the complete selection of Serum presets and patches on r-loops.

Serum 2 Upright Bass Library

A velocity-responsive upright bass instrument built for Serum 2’s multisample engine. It contains 201 samples, an SFZ library and supporting presets for soul, R&B, lo-fi, hip-hop, jazz and cinematic music.

80’s Nostalgia for Serum 2

Seventy Serum 2 presets influenced by 1980s and 1990s electronic music. The bank includes basses, leads, pads and synths for synthwave, outrun, retrowave and other retro styles.

Dynasty – Serum 2 Presets

Sixty Serum 2 presets for contemporary R&B, trap and trap soul, including keys, pads, plucked sounds, basses, leads, arps and soundscapes. The pack also contains 114 one-shots, wavetables and SFZ files.

Melodic Techno Serum 2 Presets & One Shots

A melodic techno library containing 99 Serum 2 presets and 99 matching one-shots. It covers basses, pads, plucks, Reese sounds, sequence arps, LFO leads, synths and atmospheric effects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is the Serum Presets Folder?

Open Serum 1 and select Menu > Show Serum Presets Folder. In Serum 2, select Menu > Open Serum 2 Presets Folder. Using the menu is safer than relying on a fixed path because the content directory can vary between computers.

Do Serum Presets Need to Be Installed?

Serum presets do not use a separate software installer. Regular preset files are copied into the correct content folder, while Serum 2 preset packs can be added using Import Preset Pack.

Can Serum 2 Presets Be Used in Serum 1?

Presets created specifically for Serum 2 may use its newer file format and features, so they should not be treated as Serum 1 compatible. Check the required version on the product page.

Why Does Serum Say a Wavetable or Noise Is Missing?

The preset references custom content that Serum cannot find. Copy the included wavetables, noises or other assets into their corresponding Serum folders while preserving the folder structure supplied with the bank.

Can Serum Presets Be Used in Any DAW?

The presets are loaded inside Serum, not directly into the DAW. They can therefore be used in a compatible DAW where the required version of Serum is installed and working.

What If the Download Also Contains WAV or MIDI Files?

WAV loops, one-shots and MIDI files should be imported into your DAW rather than placed in the Serum preset folder. FL Studio users can follow our guide on how to install and use sample packs in FL Studio.