The basic steps to import a bank file into Serum 2

To import a bank into Serum 2, open the software and go to the Banks menu at the top. Select Import Bank from the dropdown. A file browser will open — navigate to the folder where your bank file is stored and select it. Serum 2 accepts .fxb files (Serum bank format) and .zip files containing multiple banks. Once you select the file, click Open and Serum 2 will load the presets into the software.

The import process takes a few seconds depending on the size of the bank. After import completes, the new presets appear in your Preset Browser on the left side of the screen, organized by the bank name. You can now use these presets in your projects immediately — no restart of Serum 2 or your DAW is required.

Key Takeaways

  • Import banks through the Banks menu by selecting Import Bank and choosing your .fxb or .zip file.
  • Imported presets appear in the Preset Browser and are ready to use without restarting Serum 2 or your DAW.
  • You can import multiple banks at once by selecting a .zip file that contains several .fxb files.
  • Banks you import are stored in Serum 2's user library folder and remain available in future sessions.

Where Serum 2 stores imported banks on your computer

When you import a bank, Serum 2 copies it to a specific folder on your hard drive so it persists between sessions. On Windows, this folder is located at C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\xfer\Serum2\Banks. On Mac, the path is /Users/[Your Username]/Library/Application Support/xfer/Serum2/Banks.

You do not need to manually move files to these folders — the import function handles that automatically. However, if you want to organize your banks manually or back them up, knowing this location is useful. You can also place .fxb files directly into these folders and they will appear in Serum 2 the next time you open the software.

Importing banks from third-party preset packs

Many preset pack downloads come as .zip files containing multiple banks and sometimes documentation. Extract the .zip file to any location on your computer first — do not try to import directly from the compressed file unless it is a single .fxb inside a .zip. Once extracted, open Serum 2 and use the Import Bank function to select the .fxb files you want to add.

Some preset packs include a folder structure with subfolders for different categories. You can import each .fxb file separately to keep them organized, or import them all at once if the pack includes a master .zip that bundles them. Check the documentation that came with the preset pack — it usually specifies the recommended import method.

Troubleshooting import errors and missing banks

If Serum 2 does not recognize a bank file, the most common cause is file format. Serum 2 only reads .fxb and .zip files — other formats like .nmsv or .syx will not import. Verify the file extension by right-clicking the file and checking its properties. If the file is the wrong format, you may need to convert it using a different tool or contact the preset creator for a Serum-compatible version.

If you import a bank but do not see it in the Preset Browser, try closing and reopening Serum 2. Sometimes the browser does not refresh immediately after import. If the bank still does not appear, check that the file was not corrupted during download — try downloading it again and importing a fresh copy. You can also manually verify the import by navigating to the Banks folder on your computer and confirming the .fxb file is there.

Organizing and managing multiple imported banks

As you import more banks, the Preset Browser can become crowded. Serum 2 displays imported banks in the order they appear in the Banks folder on your computer. You can rename .fxb files directly in Windows Explorer or Finder to change how they sort — for example, prefixing filenames with numbers (01_, 02_, etc.) will arrange them in that order within Serum 2.

You can also create subfolders within the Banks directory to group related presets, though Serum 2 will still display all .fxb files from all subfolders in a single list. If you want to remove a bank from Serum 2 without deleting it, move the .fxb file out of the Banks folder. The presets will no longer appear in the software, but the file remains on your computer if you want to re-import it later.

Backing up and sharing imported banks

To back up your imported banks, copy the entire Banks folder from the location listed above to an external drive or cloud storage. This preserves all your imported presets in one action. You can also export individual banks from Serum 2 by right-clicking a preset in the browser and selecting Export Bank — this creates a new .fxb file you can share or store separately.

If you want to transfer your banks to another computer, copy the Banks folder to the same location on the new machine. Serum 2 will recognize the banks immediately when you open the software. This method is faster and more reliable than re-importing each bank individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import banks from other synthesizers into Serum 2?

No — Serum 2 only reads .fxb files and .zip files containing .fxb files. Banks from other synthesizers use different formats and cannot be imported directly. Some third-party tools can convert presets between formats, but conversion is not may provide to work perfectly because each synthesizer has different parameters.

What happens if I import a bank with the same name as one I already have?

Serum 2 will overwrite the existing bank if you import a new one with the same filename. If you want to keep both, rename one of the .fxb files before importing so they have different names. You can rename files in Windows Explorer or Finder without affecting Serum 2's ability to read them.

Do imported banks take up a lot of storage space?

Bank files are typically small — most .fxb files are between 100 KB and 5 MB depending on how many presets they contain. Even importing dozens of banks uses minimal disk space. Storage is not a concern unless you are importing hundreds of very large preset packs.

Can I import banks while Serum 2 is running?

Yes — you can import banks at any time while Serum 2 is open. The new presets appear in the Preset Browser immediately after import. You do not need to close or restart the software.