Serum 2 not showing up in your DAW: how to fix it

Serum 2 is a new plugin, separate from Serum 1, so your DAW has to find it before it shows up. When it does not, it is almost always one of three things: the right format was not installed, the plugin is not where the DAW looks, or the DAW has not rescanned.

First: look for "Serum 2", not "Serum"

Serum 2 installs as its own plugin next to Serum 1. In your plugin list it is called Serum 2, so search for that name. Old projects keep using Serum 1 until you swap the instrument yourself.

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Where Serum 2 is installed

Format	Mac	Windows
VST3	/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/	C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
AU (Logic, GarageBand)	/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/	Not available
AAX (Pro Tools)	/Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/	C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins

The Mac paths are from Xfer's Serum 2 manual. C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 is the standard VST3 folder on Windows that every DAW scans. If you cannot find the file in these folders, Serum 2 was not installed in that format.

Fix 1: reinstall and tick the right formats

Run the full Serum 2 installer from your Xfer account and check which formats are selected. Xfer's manual notes that you must also select the VST3 version when you install the AU or AAX version, so leave VST3 on even if you only use Logic or Pro Tools.

Fix 2: rescan in your DAW

DAW	What to do
Ableton Live	Open Settings, then Plug-Ins. Turn on Use VST3 Plug-In System Folders and click Rescan.
FL Studio	Open Options, then Manage plugins, and click Find plugins. Serum 2 then shows up in the plugin database.
Logic Pro	Logic uses the AU version. Open the Plug-in Manager in Logic's settings, select Serum 2 and choose to reset and rescan it.
Other DAWs	Find the plugin manager or plugin settings, make sure the VST3 folder above is in the list, and rescan.

Close and reopen the DAW after a rescan if Serum 2 still does not appear.

Fix 3: when the plugin loads but the presets are missing

That is a different problem: the plugin is installed, but its presets folder is not where Serum 2 expects it. See the Serum 2 presets folder, with the paths on Windows and Mac and what to do when the folder is not found.

Still nothing?

Restart the computer after installing. Some DAWs only pick up new plugins after a restart.
Check that your DAW is up to date. Very old versions may not load newer plugins.
On Windows, check that security software did not stop the installer.
Xfer answers support tickets from your account page.

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Questions

Why is Serum 2 not showing up in Ableton?

Usually because the VST3 version was not installed, or Live has not rescanned. In Live's Settings under Plug-Ins, turn on Use VST3 Plug-In System Folders and click Rescan.

Why is Serum 2 not showing up in FL Studio?

FL Studio has to scan for new plugins. Open Options, then Manage plugins, and click Find plugins.

Why is Serum 2 not showing up in Logic?

Logic needs the AU version. Reinstall with AU and VST3 selected, then rescan Serum 2 in Logic's Plug-in Manager.

Where is the Serum 2 VST3 file?

In /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/ on a Mac and C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 on Windows.

Does Serum 2 replace Serum 1?

No. They are separate plugins and both stay installed. Projects made with Serum 1 keep using Serum 1.