synthXfer Records
Serum 2
The industry-standard wavetable synthesizer. Drag-and-drop wavetable editing, a world-class effects rack, and a modulation system that makes complex patches intuitive.
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Serum 2 vs Pigments 7
The dedicated wavetable specialist versus the all-in-one synth that blends wavetable, analog, granular and sampling.
Written and reviewed by Kasper Nods. Updated June 2026. How PlugPick reviews
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synth
synthArturia
Pigments 7
A flagship hybrid synth with six engines, wavetable, virtual analog, granular, sampling and more, and a colour-coded, drag-and-drop modulation workflow. The most-cited modern Serum alternative.
At a glance
Genres
Artists who use it
Why Serum 2
Serum is the dedicated wavetable synth, and if wavetables are what you want, reviewers agree it wins by a wide margin: more wavetable tools, the deepest preset and tutorial ecosystem, and a clean, precise sound that has defined modern EDM and bass. Serum 2 also added sample, granular and spectral engines, narrowing the gap with all-in-one synths while keeping wavetables at its core.
Why Pigments 7
Pigments is the all-in-one. It combines wavetable, analog, granular and sampler engines in one instrument, so you can blend synthesis types in a single patch, and reviewers often place its sound a hair above the field, describing it as pristine and slightly warmer than Serum. For producers who want maximum sonic flexibility from one synth, Pigments offers more modes to work in.
The verdict
The two are closer than ever now that Serum 2 has broadened its engines, and both sound superb. The deciding factor is focus versus breadth.
If you mainly want the best dedicated wavetable synth with the biggest ecosystem, choose Serum. If you want one instrument that does several kinds of synthesis and blends them freely, Pigments is the more versatile all-rounder.
Pick Serum 2 if you want the deepest dedicated wavetable engine, ecosystem and preset market.
Pick Pigments 7 if you want one all-in-one synth blending wavetable, analog, granular and sampling.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pigments better than Serum?
Reviewers rate them extremely close, with Pigments sometimes nudging ahead on raw sound and flexibility because it combines several synthesis types. Serum wins if you specifically want a dedicated wavetable synth with the largest preset ecosystem.
Does Pigments do wavetable synthesis like Serum?
Yes, wavetable is one of its engines, but Pigments also offers analog, granular and sampler engines in the same instrument, where Serum is wavetable-focused.
Serum or Pigments for beginners?
Both are approachable. Serum has more tutorials and presets to learn from, while Pigments offers more modes in one place. Beginners chasing modern EDM sounds often start with Serum for its ecosystem.