Creating a White Noise Riser in Serum: Step-by-Step Guide

Producing electronic music can involve a plethora of sound elements, one of which is the white noise riser. In this article, we will explain how to make a white noise riser in Serum, the popular software synthesizer. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions to add an engaging riser effect to your tracks.

1. Open Serum: First, launch your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and load Serum on an empty track or project.

   
   



2. Initialize the preset: Go to the top left corner of Serum, click on the down arrow to see the preset menu, and select 'Init preset.' You now have a blank canvas to work with.

   
   



3. Generate white noise: Select the Noise oscillator under Oscillator A and B. Choose a white noise sample Choose a white noise sample from the drop-down menu, such as 'Bright White' or 'AC Hum.'

   
   

1. Set the envelope: With the default envelope 1 (Env 1), adjust the attack, decay, sustain, and release settings. Generally, a short attack (0-3 ms), long decay (2-5 seconds), and zero sustain work well to create a riser effect.

   
   



2. Add a filter: Click the 'Filter' section and choose a low-pass filter (e.g., MG Low 12). Adjust the cutoff frequency to taste, and make sure you enable the 'N' button to route the noise oscillator through the filter.

   
   



3. Automate the cut-off frequency: Go back to Envelope 1 and drag the blue 'modulation' dot to the cutoff knob of the filter. Adjust the modulation range by dragging the small blue line around the cutoff knob so that the cutoff frequency rises during the decay phase of the envelope.

   
   

1. Add reverb: Click on the 'FX' tab at the top of Serum and enable the 'Reverb' module. Adjust the reverb settings, such as mix, size, and decay time, to taste.

   
   



2. Automate the reverb mix: To enhance the riser effect, create a second envelope (Env 2) and modify its parameters similarly to Env 1 but with a longer decay time. Then, drag this envelope's modulation dot to the reverb mix knob and adjust it accordingly.

   
   



3. Fine-tune: You can further fine-tune your white noise riserFine-tune: You can further fine-tune your white noise riser ; play around with the filter types, noise samples, or any other effects like delay or phaser.

   
   

That's it! You've successfully created a white noise riser in Serum. Don't forget to save the preset for future use in your projects.