I thought DJing was all about spinning records and looking cool: I was wrong. There’s a lot more to it than just waving your hands around like you’re conducting an invisible orchestra. It all started with a cheap MIDI controller, a dream, and a whole lot of confusion.

One lazy Sunday afternoon, I was sitting in my tiny home studio, staring at my computer screen, trying to figure out how to make my beats sound less…robotic. I wanted that raw, gritty texture you hear in hip-hop tracks—the kind that makes you feel like you’re standing in a dimly lit club, surrounded by people who actually know how to dance. But here’s the thing: I didn’t own turntables, and my scratching skills were, well, nonexistent.

That’s when I stumbled upon Xfer Serum. If you’re not familiar, Serum is this magical synth that lets you create sounds so rich and detailed, it’s like having a full orchestra in your laptop. But I didn’t just want any old sound. I wanted that sound—the one that makes people stop and say, “Wait, is that real vinyl?”

I discovered a way to make Serum produce hyper-realistic vinyl scratches without needing a turntable or a degree in sound engineering.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

First, forget everything you’ve seen online about using the noise section to create scratches. Sure, it works, but it sounds about as authentic as a plastic tree. Instead, I dug deeper into Serum’s capabilities, using its powerful wavetable and modulation features to replicate the gritty texture of real vinyl. That gives scratches that feel like they’ve been ripped straight from a DJ’s turntable.

These presets aren’t just for one genre—but for hip-hop, EDM, or even turntablism-style production. These sounds adapt effortlessly for adding a subtle scratch to a beat or going full-on DJ mode. Also, the HS-crush effects, which add that essential distortion and character to your scratches. It’s like giving your tracks a pair of worn-in sneakers—they just feel right.

The best part is that you don’t need any fancy equipment. No turntables, no vinyl, no mess. Just load the presets into Serum, tweak a few knobs, and you’re ready to scratch like a pro. It’s instant playability at its finest.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “This sounds too good to be true.” But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what DJ X had to say: “I’ve been using DJ scratch sounds for years, but nothing compares to the realism of these Serum presets. They feel like real vinyl, adding that authentic DJ vibe to my tracks!”

So, if you’re ready to take your music to the next level, head over to my Serum Vinyl DJ Scratch Presets download section. These presets are exclusive, unique, and designed to bring the turntable experience straight into your DAW. Trust me, your tracks will thank you.

Probably creating from scratch is what you're looking for, then go here to learn how to make Serum Vinyl DJ Scratch Presets now!

Happy scratching!

Say you’re working on a track that needs a touch of humor, maybe a children’s project or a lo-fi beat with barnyard vibes. Suddenly, you realize—you need a realistic pig sound. No, not a sample from a dated library. You want to craft it yourself, twisting knobs and shaping waveforms until your synth oinks. As a producer who once spent three hours trying to replicate a goat’s bleat for a psychedelic folk track (true story), I’m here to guide you through the delightfully weird process of creating pig sounds using XFer Serum.

Pig vocalizations are a messy mix of grunts, squeals, and snorts—a chaotic blend of low-end rumbles and high-pitched harmonics. Serum’s wavetable engine is perfect for this because it allows for precise manipulation of harmonics and noise, essential for mimicking organic sounds. Historically, synthesizers have been used to create animal sounds in films (think Star Wars bantha cries), but Serum’s modern flexibility lets you go beyond presets and get weird.

Step 1: Start with the Right Waveform

Pig grunts sit in the lower mids (200–500 Hz), while squeals shoot up to 2–4 kHz. To replicate this:

• Oscillator A: Start with a sawtooth wave. Saw waves are rich in harmonics, mimicking the nasal texture of a pig’s squeal.

• FM (Frequency Modulation): Apply light FM from Oscillator B (sine wave) to add grit. Adjust the FM amount until it feels “snorty.”

Pro Tip: In 2021, I accidentally created a perfect pig snort while experimenting with FM on a bass patch. The key was setting Oscillator B’s pitch 7 semitones higher and using a 25% FM blend.

Step 2: Modulate the Filter for Dynamic Grunts

Pig sounds aren’t static—they warble and shift. Use Serum’s LFO to modulate the filter cutoff:

1. Set up an LFO with a random wave shape (Serum’s “Mega Random” works great).

2. Assign the LFO to the filter cutoff of a low-pass filter.

3. Adjust the LFO rate to ~2 Hz for a natural, erratic grunt rhythm.

Real-World Example: For a commercial jingle, I automated the filter’s resonance to spike briefly during “squeal” moments, mimicking a pig’s sudden high-pitched outburst.

Step 3: Layer Noise for Authentic Breathiness

Pig sounds are breathy and noisy. Serum’s noise oscillator is your friend here:

• Enable the Noise Oscillator and select the “Pink Noise” preset.

• Use a high-pass filter to remove rumble, then blend it subtly with your main oscillator.

• Assign an envelope to the noise level so it spikes during attack phases (like the start of a grunt).

Historical Nugget: Pink noise was famously used in the 1980s to create the “breath” sounds of the Xenomorph in Alien. Pigs aren’t aliens, but the principle’s the same!

Step 4: Add Movement with Effects

• Reverb: A short, dense reverb (try “Room” settings) places the pig in a barnyard.

• Distortion: A touch of Serum’s “Downsample” effect adds a raw, gritty edge to squeals.

• Pitch Modulation: Assign a slow LFO to Oscillator A’s pitch (±5 cents) for unstable, “living” vibrato.

Personal Anecdote: Once, while demoing this patch live, an audience member yelled, “Is there a pig backstage?!” Mission accomplished.

Bonus: Download My Pig Sound Presets

If you’re short on time, I’ve crafted a set of Serum presets that nail everything from lazy grunts to panicked squeals. Grab them here: Serum Pig Sounds Preset Pack.

Why Bother Making Pig Sounds?

Beyond the novelty, synthesizing organic sounds sharpens your sound design skills. You learn to listen critically—how a pig’s grunt has a sharp attack and slow decay, or how its squeal resembles a distorted violin. Plus, it’s a riot to surprise collaborators with your farmyard synth wizardry.

So fire up Serum, embrace the absurd, and remember: If Mozart had a synth, he’d probably have made a pig symphony too. 🐷🎛️

Got your own quirky sound design stories? Share them in the comments!

DOWNLOAD LINK: https://hewlaq.com/products/serum-vinyl-scratch

The 25 single presets in the Xfer Serum preset pack for advanced sound design are the result of countless hours of work and are ideal for getting deeply into sound design or giving any production a distinctive personality by filling it with unique fills, transitions, and pre-break moments. The preset pack simulates the natural sensation of human hand scratches. These custom-made, royalty-free presets are actually unique and can't be found anywhere else. This implies that there are no additional costs or licensing concerns when using these royalty-free sounds in your own songs and projects.