Xfer Records was founded by software developer and audio engineer Steve Duda, who initially launched it as a record label alongside Canadian producer deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman) to release their collaborative BSOD project. Duda's background spans work as an engineer and programmer on major recording projects, and he gradually shifted the company's focus toward developing professional audio software for music producers. The brand is based in Los Angeles, California.

Xfer Records is best known for Serum, a wavetable synthesizer plugin released in 2014 that became one of the most widely used soft synths in electronic music production. Serum's visual wavetable editor, flexible modulation system, and high-quality sound engine made it a staple in EDM, pop, and hip-hop production. Other notable plugins include Cthulhu, a MIDI chord and arpeggio generator; LFOTool, a tempo-synced modulation plugin; and Nerve, a software drum machine. Xfer also offers several free utility plugins, including OTT, a multiband upward/downward compressor that became popular in bass music genres.

A subsequent version, Serum 2, expanded on the original with additional oscillator types including granular and spectral modes, dual warp processing, and a built-in sample library. Serum and its successor have attracted widespread adoption among producers across electronic music genres, and presets for the synth are distributed by a large ecosystem of third-party sound designers.

Xfer Records has 14 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Utility Plugins, Synth Plugins, and Multi-Effect Plugins. Their gear is featured by 411 artists, with the strongest followings in Electronic, Pop, and Hip Hop. Notable users include Deadmau5, Merk & Kremont, and 3RI5.