Serum 2 Guidelines for Optimizing CPU Usage

To achieve the best performance and maintain high-quality sound design in Serum 2, this article offers some areas to focus on for CPU optimization.

Manage Unisons Effectively

• Keep Unison Counts Low

  Using more than 3-7 unisons per oscillator is often unnecessary and can be a red flag for inefficiency. Higher unison counts not only increase CPU usage significantly but also introduce phasing issues, potentially degrading your sound quality.

  Chorus vs. Unisons

  Instead of stacking unisons to create a thick, chorused sound, use a dedicated FX bus with a chorus effect. This approach is:

  • CPU-Friendly: Applies the effect once instead of processing it for every voice.
  • More Flexible: Allows easier tweaking and layering of effects without duplicating processing effort.

By keeping unison counts reasonable and leveraging FX buses effectively, you'll save significant CPU resources, improve workflow, and retain high-quality sound output in Serum 2.