Native Instruments and Ableton have achieved remarkable success with their custom MIDI controllers that seamlessly integrate with their respective DAWs—Maschine and Live. The Maschine hardware and software combo, along with Ableton’s Push, are considered the pinnacle of integration between music software and hardware. Now, Serato aims to capture a bit of that magic with its new Slab controller paired with Serato Studio.
Many companies have attempted to create dedicated controllers for their DAWs, including FL Studio, Studio One, and the MPC desktop suite, each enjoying varied levels of success. Serato’s advantage lies in Serato Studio being a relatively new and streamlined DAW with a straightforward interface. Unlike Push and Maschine, which can be overwhelming (and pricey) due to their myriad buttons, knobs, and large screens, Slab is more user-friendly and affordable at $329.
When it comes to design, Slab closely resembles Maschine—not just in the layout of its 16 pads, but also in the placement of labels and choice of fonts. If you told me Slab was a Native Instruments product instead of AlphaTheta (Serato’s partner), I wouldn’t question it.
Overall, it’s a good-looking piece of hardware. Though the gray-on-gray color scheme might not be the most exciting and can be hard to see in certain lighting, the matte finish and clean lines give it a nice aesthetic that avoids a purely utilitarian look. Made entirely of plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap. The encoders provide a satisfying resistance, buttons are responsive, and the large dial has well-defined detents. The screen is small and provides some visual cues, but you won’t be composing beats directly on it without also glancing at your computer—something to expect at this price point, similar to the Atom SQ or MPC Studio controller.
The velocity-sensitive pads perform adequately but aren’t exceptional. They work well for basic finger drumming, though Akai’s MPC line is still the gold standard here. I noticed some inconsistencies in response, and even though AlphaTheta lists “adjustable aftertouch” as a feature, it’s surprising that Serato Studio does not currently support aftertouch in 2025. On the plus side, the RGB lighting makes it easy to color-code your samples, like marking all kick drums in red.
The dial feels solid, although navigating large sample libraries can be a bit challenging using it. Connectivity is minimal—just a USB-C port for your computer—lacking an integrated audio interface or MIDI outputs, which are features found on Maschine and Push.
The key point is how well Slab works with Serato Studio. Fortunately, most of the DAW’s essential features are easily accessible. As a newcomer to Serato Studio, I found it straightforward to learn the basics. Sequencing a drum pattern or playing a bassline felt intuitive, and I could quickly access Serato’s successful stem separation technology.
Using Slab, I could browse my sample library or launch plugins without needing to grab my mouse. However, depending on the size of your libraries, the mouse might still be quicker.
Pulling in a drum break, slicing it up, and starting a beat was simple and enjoyable. By the end of my first day, I had created a couple of (admittedly not-so-great) beats. I hadn’t explored Serato Studio in-depth before because it felt less tactile.
That’s the benefit of hardware. While it’s straightforward to chop samples or create melodies with a mouse, hitting pads and turning knobs is a lot more fun. Slab also provides easy access to several performance-focused effects, like a pitched looper and wah. While not as robust as standalone devices like the SP-404 or those from Teenage Engineering, they still add some flair to jam sessions.
On the downside, Slab can be a bit confusing with its various modes and shift functions. Experienced Serato Studio users might navigate it better, but I often found myself unsure of which mode to use for adjusting note repeat rates or overwhelmed by the lack of visual feedback during effects browsing and sample chopping. Each aspect has its own “mode” to manage, from the dial to the encoders and touch strip, which can make things feel cumbersome.
Even though Serato Studio is designed to be a straightforward DAW centered on drum programming and sample manipulation, Slab can sometimes feel too menu-driven. Moreover, while the DAW supports VST and AU plugins for your favorite software synths, Slab’s control over them is limited.
Slab likely won’t convert many new users, but if you’re already a Serato Studio user eyeing the features of Maschine or MPC, it could be a worthwhile investment. It offers a similar hands-on experience at a more budget-friendly price.
