Building Custom Drum Kits in Serum 2 with SampleRobot
Serum 2 introduces multisample support, making it possible to load velocity-layered drum kits right into the synth. With tools like SampleRobot, producers can now sample hardware or plugins and turn them into fully playable SFZ instruments for Serum 2. This guide walks you through how to build expressive melodic techno drum kits using SampleRobot and import them seamlessly into Serum 2’s powerful new Multisample engine.
Why Use SampleRobot with Serum 2? SampleRobot automates the recording of multiple samples from your drum machine, plugin, or even DAW audio tracks. It captures multiple velocity layers and exports your sounds as ready-to-load SFZ instruments that plug directly into Serum 2. The workflow is ideal for:
Sampling analog drum machines with velocity nuance
Organizing one-shots into mapped multisample kits
Creating hybrid sound sources inside Serum for techno production
Sampling Your Drums in SampleRobot
SampleRobot makes it easy to capture velocity-sensitive drum hits and export them in a format compatible with Serum 2’s multisample engine.
Step-by-Step Workflow:
1. Set Up Inputs
Connect your drum machine, sampler, or drum plugin.
In SampleRobot, select your audio input and optional MIDI output.
2. Create a New Project
Go to Project → Add New.
Add one or more Multi-Samples — for example: Kick, Snare, HiHat.
Label each one clearly for better organization.
3. Choose MIDI Keys (Follow General MIDI Standard)
Map each drum sound to its correct MIDI key:
Kick → C1 (MIDI 36)
Snare → D1 (MIDI 38)
Closed Hi-Hat → F#1 (MIDI 42)
Open Hi-Hat → A#1 (MIDI 46)
Tip: You can drag and drop each Multi-Sample directly onto the correct MIDI key on SampleRobot’s keyboard at the bottom of the window.
4. Set Velocity Layers
Use 2–3 velocity layers per drum sound. This helps capture dynamic expression. For example:
Kick Soft = velocity 30
Kick Medium = velocity 90
Kick Hard = velocity 127
Note, this is not always necessary but can be a fun extra for your productions, to help make a digital kick soft, take your samples level down, and maybe take the filter and pitch amt down too.
5. Record the Hits
If you decide to use an external drum machine, you can use this method rather than drag and drop
Click the red mic icon to begin automatic or semi-automatic recording.
Trigger each drum at its intended velocity.
SampleRobot will record each layer as a separate sample.
6. Trim and Clean Up
Turn Auto-Loop off — one-shot drums don’t need looping.
Trim excess silence or background noise from each sample.
7. Export as SFZ
Go to File → Export Project → Export as SFZ, then choose:
Cakewalk Dimension (*.sfz)
or Camel Audio Alchemy (*.sfz)
These formats are fully compatible with Serum 2’s Multisample engine. You’ll get an .sfz file and a folder of WAVs, mapped by key and velocity.
Quick Tips:
Name files clearly (e.g. Kick_C1_vel90.wav) to make debugging and reuse easier.
Always double-check the final MIDI key and velocity zone ranges in SampleRobot’s mapping panel.
Keep drum hit tails short and punchy to avoid phase issues or overlapping playback in Serum.
Loading Kits into Serum 2
Serum 2’s Multisample oscillator can load SFZ instruments directly. Here's how:
Select OSC Type: Set OSC A (or B/C) to "Multisample"
Load SFZ: Click the menu icon > Load SFZ. Navigate to your exported SampleRobot kit
Browse Options: Install kits into Presets/Multisamples/User for browsing
Mapping Behavior:
Serum respects each SFZ’s key and velocity zones
Multiple hits (e.g. Kick/Clap/Snare) can live on different MIDI notes
Velocity layering is automatic based on SFZ group mapping
Reminder: Serum does not support SF2 or EXS formats. Use SampleRobot or tools like Sforzando to export/convert to SFZ.
Best Practices & Limitations
Always export as SFZ from SampleRobot
Avoid looping: one-shot drums should have natural decay
Serum loads the full SFZ into the preset—keep kits tight
No automatic round-robin; use velocity zones or duplicates manually
Polyphony is limited per voice: spread drums across oscillators if needed
Download a Free Kit
Includes:
Kick/Snare/Clap/Hi-hats mapped and layered
Macros assigned for shaping in real-time
Built with SampleRobot + Serum 2
Conclusion: Serum 2’s Multisample engine transforms the way producers can use sampled drums inside a synth. Combined with SampleRobot’s automated multisampling, you can now create your own expressive, velocity-sensitive techno kits and modulate them just like any Serum oscillator. Whether for analog warmth or hybrid experimentation, this workflow unlocks a new frontier in percussive sound design.
Next time, we’ll explore building tuned melodic instruments (like sampled toms or synth stabs) for Serum 2 using SampleRobot.
Serum 2 Preset Pack
Step into Elysium, the ultimate Serum 2 toolkit for producers exploring the emotional depths of Melodic Techno and Progressive House. Designed to spark instant inspiration and provide endless sonic flexibility, Elysium combines expressive presets, drag‑and‑drop loops, and custom sound‑design tools to elevate your productions.
Crafted by the Mind Flux team, each sound has been meticulously designed to deliver lush atmospheres, punchy low‑end grooves, and euphoric leads — perfect for crafting tracks that flow between deep melodic journeys and peak‑time energy.
Inside, you’ll find ready‑to‑use Serum 2 presets paired with clip banks, MIDI and audio loops, effect chains, and custom wavetables and LFO shapes, giving you everything you need to build tracks fast or dive deep into sound design