PARALYZED
Key Features
- 30 Serum presets spanning bass, keys, pluck, bell, pad, lead, and synth categories
- Heavy-hitting bass presets with deep sub-frequencies and aggressive mid-range growl suited for dubstep and trap drops
- Expressive lead presets with sharp, cutting tones designed to sit on top of dense mixes
- Atmospheric pad presets with evolving modulation and rich textures for ambient builds and breakdowns
- Pluck and bell presets with fast attack/decay transients ideal for melodic trap and future bass hooks
- Key presets covering a wide tonal range from bright and percussive to warm and mellow
- Ready-to-use sound design with Serum's modulation matrix fully mapped for hands-on tweaking
Description
PARALYZED is a 30-preset Serum bank from producer AZPEX, built for dubstep, trap, future bass, EDM, and house. Every patch covers a specific role in the mix — basses, leads, keys, pads, plucks, bells, and synths — so the whole bank functions as a complete production toolkit rather than a collection of similar sounds.
The bass presets focus on weight and aggression, pairing deep sub-frequencies with gritty mid-range movement suited for trap drops and dubstep wobble sections. Lead presets are tuned to cut through busy arrangements, with defined attack transients and enough harmonic content to carry a melodic line.
Pad presets take a more atmospheric approach, using evolving modulations and smooth filter sweeps that build tension during breakdowns and intros. Pluck and bell presets deliver the tight, shimmery transients that define melodic trap and future bass hooks.
Key presets cover a wider tonal range — from crisp and percussive to warm and mellow — making them flexible for both chord stabs and sustained harmonic layers. All presets ship with Serum's macro controls mapped and ready, so dialing in tone, movement, or character takes seconds.
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Tips
- Layering Bass Presets: Combine multiple bass presets to create a fuller, more complex bass sound. For example, layer a sub-bass preset with a mid-range bass preset to cover a wider frequency spectrum and add more depth to your basslines.
- Modulating Key Presets: Utilize Serum's modulation capabilities to add movement and variation to the key presets. Assign LFOs to parameters like filter cutoff or wavetable position to create evolving sounds that keep your listeners engaged.
- Using Pluck Presets for Rhythmic Elements: Incorporate the pluck presets into your percussion section by using them as rhythmic accents. Adjust the attack and decay settings to fit them seamlessly into your drum patterns, adding a unique texture to your beats.
- Enhancing Pads with Effects: Apply reverb, delay, and chorus effects to the pad presets to enhance their atmospheric qualities. Experiment with different effect settings to create lush, immersive soundscapes that fill out your mix.
- Automating Lead Presets: Use automation to bring your lead presets to life. Automate parameters like pitch, filter cutoff, and effects to create dynamic and expressive lead lines that stand out in your tracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which version of Serum do I need to use these presets?
These presets are designed for Xfer Serum (the original VST/AU). They use standard Serum wavetables and modulation routing. If you are running Serum 2, the presets will import and play back correctly since Serum 2 is backward compatible with the original FXP format.
How do I install the presets in Serum?
Extract the downloaded RAR file to get the FXP preset files. In Serum, open the preset browser, navigate to your User Presets folder, and drag the FXP files there — or use Serum's menu to import them directly. After importing, they will appear under the User category in your preset browser.
Are the presets locked, or can I edit and resave them?
All presets are fully unlocked. You can tweak any parameter — wavetable position, filter cutoff, envelope times, effects — and resave them as your own custom patches. Serum's modulation matrix is already mapped on many presets, so macro-style adjustments are easy to make.
Do these presets work for genres outside of dubstep and trap?
Yes. While the pack is tuned for dubstep, trap, and future bass, the keys, pads, and leads translate well to EDM, house, and bass music in general. The bell and pluck presets in particular work well in any melodic electronic context.
