Serum vs. Vital VST comparison UPD. Apr '24
![title.jpg](title.jpg)
Everything that you need to know about Serum VS Vital. I didn't compare available options in effects. Leave your feedback in the comments, if you wish. I'll improve the article.
Ver.
v1.368 beta
1.5.5 early
Price
189$
free
Amount of 3rd party presets
tens of thousands ⭐
thousands
Preset menu
Has interesting options
![20231227-preset-menu-serum.jpg](20231227-preset-menu-serum.jpg)
![20231227-preset-menu-vital.jpg](20231227-preset-menu-vital.jpg)
Browse by vendor
Pick 'Filter by location'
![serum-by-vendor.png](serum-by-vendor.png)
Fine
![20231227-vendor-vital.jpg](20231227-vendor-vital.jpg)
Select multiple categories
yes
Retains browser state
yes
Keyboard arrows browse presets
yes
Stores SCW in the preset
yes
Microtuning
yes
Resizable UI
(fixed ratio)
(fixed ratio)
yes
Visual feedback
good
better
Skins
yes
yes, has editor ⭐
Folder structure
meh
smarter ⭐
Has Keyboard, Mod / Pitch wheel, Glide, Mono, Legato, Always
same
OSC
2 + sampler + Sub (only 6 shapes)
3 + sampler ⭐
NOISE / SMP
can be an OSC
![serum-send-to-noise-osc.png](serum-send-to-noise-osc.png)
no (PITA)
Sample modes
![serum-noise.png](serum-noise.png)
has random start pos. and alt. continuos mode
![vital-noise-mode.png](vital-noise-mode.png)
Audio as modulator
everything ⭐
only FM to OSC 1, 2 and 3
Direct Out
only sub and noise
everything ⭐
Wave morph modes
![20231227-warp-serum.jpg](20231227-warp-serum.jpg)
![20231227-warp-vital.jpg](20231227-warp-vital.jpg)
Spectral morphing
no
![20231227-spectral-vital.jpg](20231227-spectral-vital.jpg)
Macro
same
ENV
4
6
LFO
8
8
LFO can be ENV
yes
LFO has Delay and Smooth
yes
LFO presets
yes
copy LFO
![20201127-serum-clfo.gif](20201127-serum-clfo.gif)
hold alt
![20201127-vital-cp.jpg](20201127-vital-cp.jpg)
random LFO
yes, 2
yes, 4
random LFO modes
1
4
max oversampling
4x
8x
LFO freq
Hz
time
Modulation max rate
100 Hz
1000 Hz (0.001 sec)
Mod dest and side-chain (SC)
has AUX source, it is like SC in Massive
drag and drop MOD env on morph curve
has AUX source, it is like SC in Massive
![20201127-serum-aus.jpg](20201127-serum-aus.jpg)
drag and drop MOD env on morph curve
![20201127-vital-aus.jpg](20201127-vital-aus.jpg)
Sort modulation
![20201127-serum-som.jpg](20201127-serum-som.jpg)
![20201127-vital-som.gif](20201127-vital-som.gif)
filters
2
3 ⭐
num of types
96
64
filter edit
switch display mode
![20201127-serum-sw.gif](20201127-serum-sw.gif)
![20201127-serum-sw.gif](20201127-serum-sw.gif)
acts like X-Y pad
![20201127-vital-xy.gif](20201127-vital-xy.gif)
SCW inport modes
7
![20201127-serum-1.jpg](20201127-serum-1.jpg)
![20201127-serum-1.jpg](20201127-serum-1.jpg)
3
![20201127-vital-1.jpg](20201127-vital-1.jpg)
![20201127-vital-1.jpg](20201127-vital-1.jpg)
MPE
yes
Reverb
okay
good ⭐
Distorsion
16 ⭐
![20201127-serum-d.jpg](20201127-serum-d.jpg)
![20201127-serum-d.jpg](20201127-serum-d.jpg)
6
![20201127-vital-d.jpg](20201127-vital-d.jpg)
![20201127-vital-d.jpg](20201127-vital-d.jpg)
unison stack modes
![20201127-serum-um.jpg](20201127-serum-um.jpg)
![20201127-vital-us.jpg](20201127-vital-us.jpg)
Storing Presets
a little bit messy
well organized ⭐
Undo / Redo
no
yes ⭐
![20231227-vital-undo-redo.jpg](20231227-vital-undo-redo.jpg)
Paste wave formula
yes
no
custom distortion wave shape
![20201127-serum-cdw.jpg](20201127-serum-cdw.jpg)
![20201127-serum-cdw.jpg](20201127-serum-cdw.jpg)
render last note
![20201127-serum-ce.jpg](20201127-serum-ce.jpg)
hyper / dimension
![20201127-serum-hd.jpg](20201127-serum-hd.jpg)
![20201127-serum-hd.jpg](20201127-serum-hd.jpg)
filter level
![20201127-serum-lvl.gif](20201127-serum-lvl.gif)
modulate lfo anchor X-Y position
![20201127-serum-mlfo.jpg](20201127-serum-mlfo.jpg)
![20201127-serum-mlfo.jpg](20201127-serum-mlfo.jpg)
silence tails when DAW stops
![20201127-serum-sl.JPG](20201127-serum-sl.JPG)
no
drag and drop picture
![20201127-serum-qr.jpg](20201127-serum-qr.jpg)
![20201127-serum-qr.jpg](20201127-serum-qr.jpg)
Not the same
![ntp.jpg](ntp.jpg)
![ntp.jpg](ntp.jpg)
LFO can sync freq to pitch
![freq.PNG](freq.PNG)
Custom Wave Morph Mode
![cwwm.jpg](cwwm.jpg)
Coarse Pitch
![coars.jpg](coars.jpg)
![coars.jpg](coars.jpg)
Hidden here
![20201127-vital-coarse.jpg](20201127-vital-coarse.jpg)
![20201127-vital-coarse.jpg](20201127-vital-coarse.jpg)
Tooltips
![tt.jpg](tt.jpg)
![tt.jpg](tt.jpg)
LFO: select dots
![20201127-serum-sd.gif](20201127-serum-sd.gif)
FX insert unit with macros
![20201127-serum-fx.JPG](20201127-serum-fx.JPG)
Lock Mod Matrix on preset change
![20201127-serum-ls.jpg](20201127-serum-ls.jpg)
![20201127-serum-ls.jpg](20201127-serum-ls.jpg)
OSC to LFO
![20210919-osc-to-lfo.png](20210919-osc-to-lfo.png)
some filters has extra rotary
![20201127-serum-mf.gif](20201127-serum-mf.gif)
![20201127-serum-mf.gif](20201127-serum-mf.gif)
filter type morphing
![20201127-vital-ftm.gif](20201127-vital-ftm.gif)
![20201127-vital-ftm.gif](20201127-vital-ftm.gif)
LFO: quick draw
![20201127-vital-qd.gif](20201127-vital-qd.gif)
tranpose snap
![20201127-vital-t.jpg](20201127-vital-t.jpg)
Stereo mod for modulators
![20201127-vital-st.JPG](20201127-vital-st.JPG)
Unison mode per oscilator
![20201127-vital-umpo.jpg](20201127-vital-umpo.jpg)
![20201127-vital-umpo.jpg](20201127-vital-umpo.jpg)
only filter
![20201127-serum-fsp.gif](20201127-serum-fsp.gif)
waveform and spectral analyzer
![20201127-vital-anl.jpg](20201127-vital-anl.jpg)
![20201127-vital-anl.jpg](20201127-vital-anl.jpg)
text to wavetable
![20201127-vital-ttw.jpg](20201127-vital-ttw.jpg)
![20201127-vital-ttw.jpg](20201127-vital-ttw.jpg)
search in wavetable list
![20201127-vital-s.jpg](20201127-vital-s.jpg)
![20201127-vital-s.jpg](20201127-vital-s.jpg)
extra midi modulators
![20201127-vital-mi.jpg](20201127-vital-mi.jpg)
![20201127-vital-mi.jpg](20201127-vital-mi.jpg)
more voice stealing options
![20201127-vital-vs.jpg](20201127-vital-vs.jpg)
![20201127-vital-vs.jpg](20201127-vital-vs.jpg)
Spread
![20201127-vital-tm.jpg](20201127-vital-tm.jpg)
![20201127-vital-tm.jpg](20201127-vital-tm.jpg)
MIDI learn indicator
no
![20231227-midi-learn-indicator-serum.jpg](20231227-midi-learn-indicator-serum.jpg)
![20231227-midi-learn-indicator-serum.jpg](20231227-midi-learn-indicator-serum.jpg)
yes
![20231227-midi-learn-indicator-vital.jpg](20231227-midi-learn-indicator-vital.jpg)
![20231227-midi-learn-indicator-vital.jpg](20231227-midi-learn-indicator-vital.jpg)
Can resynthesize OSC / Warp
yes
![2024-05-08-resynth-serum.png](2024-05-08-resynth-serum.png)
![2024-05-08-resynth-serum.png](2024-05-08-resynth-serum.png)
yes
![2024-05-08-resynth-vital.png](2024-05-08-resynth-vital.png)
![2024-05-08-resynth-vital.png](2024-05-08-resynth-vital.png)
Can generate words
yes
![2024-05-08-serum-can-generate-words.png](2024-05-08-serum-can-generate-words.png)
![2024-05-08-serum-can-generate-words.png](2024-05-08-serum-can-generate-words.png)
yes
Drag n drop audio samples
Into Noise OSC, yes
Into SMP, yes
Can modulate effect parameters
yes
![2024-05-08-serum_modulate_effect_parametes.png](2024-05-08-serum_modulate_effect_parametes.png)
![2024-05-08-serum_modulate_effect_parametes.png](2024-05-08-serum_modulate_effect_parametes.png)
yes
![2024-05-08-vital_modulate_effect_parametes.png](2024-05-08-vital_modulate_effect_parametes.png)
![2024-05-08-vital_modulate_effect_parametes.png](2024-05-08-vital_modulate_effect_parametes.png)
Sources
![2024-05-08-serum-sources.png](2024-05-08-serum-sources.png)
![2024-05-08-vital-sources.png](2024-05-08-vital-sources.png)
Multi-select
![2024-05-08-multiple-categories-serum.png](2024-05-08-multiple-categories-serum.png)
![2024-05-08-multiple-categories-vital.png](2024-05-08-multiple-categories-vital.png)
Random OSC
2
4 ⭐
MIDI retrig value
no
yes
Random modes
2
4 ⭐
Random time
Hz, Tempo
Seconds, Tempo, Keytrack
Vital tips:
ctrl + mouse = precise increment
alt + click = enter value
click on waveform to see spectrogram
double click = default
shift + change pitch = jump by octave
![20201127-vital-spread.gif](20201127-vital-spread.gif)
draw and copy/paste shapes right in the LFO
![20201127-vital-copy-shape-r.gif](20201127-vital-copy-shape-r.gif)
use spectral view mode to see spectral morph
![20201127-vital-sp.gif](20201127-vital-sp.gif)
use mouse wheel to tune modulation amount without drop the source on destination
![20201127-vital-hold.gif](20201127-vital-hold.gif)
you can mute modulation
![20201127-vital-mu.gif](20201127-vital-mu.gif)
disable compression by sliding stripes (ratio)
![20201127-vital-comp.gif](20201127-vital-comp.gif)
scroll mouse to zoon bands
![20201127-vital-scrl.gif](20201127-vital-scrl.gif)
smoth can be switched to fade-in
![20201127-vital-fade.gif](20201127-vital-fade.gif)
use shift to edit all LFO curves
![20201127-vital-ac.gif](20201127-vital-ac.gif)
Source
Vital Synth Hacks and Secrets by Baphometrix