Creating Hyper Presets in Serum – Stacking and Detuning Techniques

What Are Hyper Presets and Why Do They Sound So Big

Hyper presets are the massive, wide, detuned sounds that dominate modern bass music. Think of those huge supersaw leads, thick chord stacks, and shimmering pads that fill every corner of the stereo field. The secret behind these sounds is stacking multiple oscillators and detuning them against each other to create a rich, chorus-like effect.

Serum is one of the best synths for creating hyper sounds because it gives you precise control over unison voices, detune amount, and stereo spread. Once you understand the core technique, you can create everything from massive festival leads to atmospheric textures.

Setting Up Your Oscillators for Maximum Width

Unison Voice Count

Start with Oscillator A and set the unison voice count to 7 or higher. More voices means a thicker, wider sound. For hyper presets, 7-16 voices is the sweet spot. Going above 16 can start to sound washy and lose definition, so use your ears.

Each unison voice is a copy of your waveform playing at a slightly different pitch and pan position. This is what creates that massive stereo spread. The more voices you add, the more CPU Serum uses, so find the balance between thickness and performance.

Detune Amount

The detune knob controls how far apart in pitch the unison voices are spread. For classic hyper sounds, try a detune value between 0.15 and 0.30. Lower values give a tighter, more controlled spread. Higher values create a more aggressive, chaotic detuning.

Experiment with the detune curve by right-clicking the detune knob and adjusting the unison detune spread. A linear spread gives even detuning across all voices. A curved spread concentrates the detuning in certain ranges, which can sound more musical.

Stacking Oscillators for Depth

Layer Two Oscillators

Use both Oscillator A and Oscillator B with different wavetables but similar settings. Set Oscillator B an octave higher or lower than Oscillator A. Give each oscillator different unison and detune settings to avoid them sounding identical.

A common technique is to have Oscillator A handle the main body of the sound with a saw-based wavetable, while Oscillator B adds brightness with a more harmonically rich wavetable. Blend them using the mix knob until you find the right balance.

Using the Sub Oscillator

Do not forget Serum has a sub oscillator. Turn it on and set it to a basic sine or triangle wave one octave below your main oscillators. This anchors the entire hyper preset with a solid low-end foundation. Keep the sub oscillator in mono to maintain low-end clarity.

Processing Your Hyper Preset

Chorus and Dimension

Even with heavy unison detuning, adding a chorus effect can push your hyper preset even wider. Use Serum built-in chorus in the FX tab with a low depth and moderate rate. This adds subtle movement without making the sound seasick.

Reverb and Delay

A touch of reverb gives your hyper preset space and depth. Use a short to medium reverb with the mix set low (15-25%). Too much reverb on a heavily detuned sound turns it into mush. A subtle stereo delay can also add dimension without cluttering the mix.

Compression

Hyper presets with lots of unison voices can have inconsistent dynamics. A gentle compressor with a 3:1 ratio and medium attack tames the peaks and glues all those voices together. This makes the preset sit better in a mix and sound more controlled.

Making Your Hyper Presets Unique

The difference between a generic supersaw and a memorable hyper preset is movement. Assign an LFO to the wavetable position on both oscillators with different rates. This creates evolving tonal movement that keeps the sound interesting over time.

Map macros to key parameters like detune amount, wavetable position, and filter cutoff. This lets you morph the preset in real time during a performance or automation in your DAW. Browse our preset shop to see how professional presets use macro assignments for maximum flexibility.

Take Your Sound Design Further

Hyper presets are a cornerstone of modern bass music production. Master the fundamentals of stacking oscillators, dialing in the right detune amount, and processing with effects, and you will have a powerful tool in your production arsenal.

Want to see these techniques applied in professional presets you can study and use right away? Download our free Serum taster pack and pull apart the hyper presets inside to learn exactly how they are built.