How to create new Serum Wavetables using vocal samples
One of the features that sets Serum apart from a lot of Wavetable synths is the ability to create wavetables.
Loading samples into Serum’s Wavetable oscillators is as easy as dragging them onto the interface from your DAW. When using vocal samples, I found the FFT 1024 mode sounded the best, so drop your sample into that window.Unlike the other wavetable import modes, FFT retains the snippets of time and creates an array of single cycle waves which represent your audio file. In short, if you apply an envelope to sweep through the Wavetable Position, the audio should play back similarly to how the audio file would play back in the DAW. There are obvious differences in the audio characteristics of the sound, for various reasons – however this is a great way to create a robotic vocal sample or synth sounds with a vocal texture.
If you want more of an audible speech sound, then leave the LFO as a basic sweeping motion, however it’s also great to experiment with a chaos oscillator or custom stepped LFO on the Wavetable position for a more chaotic sound. When combined with Serum’s warp modes, you can get some very interesting results.
Creating rhythmic sequences…
I like to use these types of sounds as sequences to create movement and rhythm in my tracks, the vocal texture sounds a bit more natural than basic saw waves and with some carefully crafted stepped LFO patterns and maybe filter modulation the sound can really fill up some empty space in an arrangement.
You can also use these new waveforms as FM modulation sources to create all sorts of interesting textures, so try loading up any samples you have – you’re not limited to using vocal samples. For a walkthrough on how to load samples into Serum’s wavetable oscillator and manipulate them for a variety of effects, check out the video here:
[youtube_sc url=”https://youtu.be/3MFhpRw-87s”]
