Serato is stepping into hardware with SLAB, a dedicated pad controller for Serato Studio that turns its software beatmaking flow into a more instinctive, performance ready instrument for producers and DJs alike. This first native controller for Studio, co developed with AlphaTheta, is clearly aimed at that crossover crowd who lives between DJ decks, sample chopping and live performance rather than traditional DAW controller users.
What SLAB is
SLAB is a compact, USB powered pad controller built specifically to control Serato Studio, with additional native integration for Serato Sample and accessory control for Serato DJ Pro. In practice that means one box can follow you from sketching ideas in Studio, to chopping samples in your DAW via Serato Sample, to adding extra performance controls on a DJ setup running DJ Pro.
Pads, performance and feel
The heart of the unit is a 4×4 matrix of 16 velocity sensitive RGB pads for finger drumming, sequencing and Pad FX, with Serato style functions like Auto Set and Favorite sitting right on the surface to speed up getting ideas down. The layout should feel familiar to anyone used to MPC style controllers or the pad sections on modern DJ controllers, but here the focus is on tight Serato Studio integration instead of being a generic MIDI box.
A 13 cm long stroke touch strip runs along the surface for live control of parameters like filters, pitch bends, swing divisions and note repeats, and it remains active while you are triggering pads or recording automation. This kind of touch control is common on DJ hardware, so it makes sense to see it here as the bridge between beatmaking gestures and DJ style sweeps and fills.
Workflow, sequencing and display
SLAB leans heavily on Serato Studio’s sampling and stems ecosystem, which already lets you split tracks into vocals, melody, bass and drums and automate those elements in the DAW. The controller adds a precise step sequencer with grid editing, velocity, swing and nudge controls so you can program beats without constantly grabbing the mouse, and it uses a dynamic LED display to show project info like deck type, pad parameters, EQ, FX, BPM and key.
A large multi function dial handles library browsing, scrubbing and slice editing, plus a Focus Mode that lets the encoder section latch onto whatever your cursor is over in Serato Studio, including third party plugins. Four touch sensitive encoders on the top panel switch between modes, effectively giving you hands on control of sound shaping and mix moves directly from the hardware where generic pads often fall short.
Integration with Sample and DJ Pro
SLAB is not locked to Studio alone. It has native control over the Serato Sample plugin, which in its current form adds stem separation so you can isolate vocals, melody, bass and drums from a single audio file inside your DAW.
That means the same controller you use for ideas in Studio can become your main pad surface for chopping and triggering stems and slices in Sample inside Live, FL Studio, Logic or other hosts. As an accessory device for Serato DJ Pro, SLAB slots in like other pad add ons, covering samples, cues and Pad FX while your main DJ controller or mixer handles decks and mixing.
MIDI mode and DAW use
Beyond the native Serato integration, SLAB also features a flexible MIDI mode so you can map it to any compatible DAW or instrument. You can flip between using it as a deep controller for Serato Sample and Studio, then switch into a custom layout for drum racks, clip launching or soft synth control in another environment.
This hybrid approach fits where Serato has been heading with the Studio and Sample ecosystem, especially now that Sample runs as a plugin with stem separation inside mainstream DAWs and Studio supports stems levels and automation. SLAB effectively gives that workflow a dedicated hardware home instead of leaving users to piece together third party controllers.
Built for studio and stage
Physically, SLAB is roughly US letter sized, compact enough to drop in front of a laptop, on a DJ booth or next to other controllers without taking over the desk. USB power keeps setup simple, which is useful for touring DJs or hybrid performers dealing with limited power and space in the booth.
Dedicated transport controls and buttons for scenes, decks and pads aim to keep you away from the trackpad as much as possible, especially when building arrangements with the latest Serato Studio song view and stems automation tools in recent 2.x updates. In a live context that combination of scenes, pads, touch strip and stems should make SLAB a strong centerpiece for sets that blur DJing with live remixing.
Pricing and availability
SLAB is available now through authorized retailers worldwide.
Product page: https://serato.com/studio/slab
Related software links
Serato Sample on Plugin Boutique: https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/1-Instruments/5-Sampler/4113-Serato-Sample
Serato Studio on Plugin Boutique: https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/3-Studio-Tools/23-DAW/5975-Serato-Studio
