Native Instruments and Ableton have set the benchmark for integrating custom MIDI controllers with their respective digital audio workstations (DAWs), Maschine and Live. These products have become the epitome of seamless software and hardware integration. Now, Serato is stepping into this competitive realm, hoping to capture some of that magic with its new pairing of the Slab controller and Serato Studio software.

Many other companies have ventured into developing custom controllers for their DAWs—examples include FL Studio, Studio One, and the MPC desktop suite, all of which have released dedicated hardware. However, the results have been inconsistent. Serato’s advantage lies in its relatively new and straightforward DAW, Studio, which is designed to be user-friendly. Unlike the more complex and pricey options like Push and Maschine, Slab offers a more approachable and budget-friendly alternative, priced at $329.

When it comes to design, Slab closely resembles Maschine. Both center around a 16-pad grid, with similar layouts, label placements, and font styles. If one were to mistake Slab for a Native Instruments product instead of one crafted by AlphaTheta, Serato’s partner, it would be an understandable error.

Despite its understated gray-on-gray aesthetic, which can be challenging to read in certain lighting, Slab boasts a matte texture and sleek lines, avoiding a strictly utilitarian look. Constructed entirely from plastic, it maintains a quality feel. The encoders offer satisfying resistance, the buttons are firm, and the large dial features distinct detents. Although the screen is small and not suitable for composing beats without a computer, this is expected for controllers in this price range, such as the Atom SQ or MPC Studio controller.

The velocity-sensitive pads are adequate, though not exceptional. They suffice for casual finger drumming, but Akai’s MPC remains the leader in this area. The response can be somewhat inconsistent, and while AlphaTheta includes “adjustable aftertouch” as a feature, Serato Studio does not currently support it—a surprising omission in 2025. However, the RGB lighting feature is a highlight, enabling users to easily color-code chops and drum hits, simplifying tasks like identifying kicks by assigning them a red hue.

Reflecting its budget-friendly nature, Slab’s connectivity options are minimal, featuring only a USB-C port for computer connection. Unlike Maschine and Push, it lacks an integrated audio interface or MIDI outputs.

What matters most is how Slab integrates with Serato Studio. The good news is that most of the DAW’s essential features are at your fingertips. I’m new to Serato Studio, and I’ve only had Slab for about two weeks, but I had little trouble quickly getting the basics down pat. It’s easy and intuitive to sequence a drum pattern or play a bassline by hand. You even have quick access to the stem separation tech that has made Serato Sample so successful.

Slab allows you to browse your library of samples or fire up plugins without reaching for your mouse or keyboard. That being said, depending on the size of your collection, it might be faster and easier to go for the mouse anyway.

It was simple and quite fun to pull in a drum break, chop it up, and start crafting a beat without leaving Slab. By the end of my first day, I’d already put together a couple of (admittedly pretty terrible) beats. While the quality of my output was questionable, I had a blast making them. Part of the reason I hadn’t really delved too deeply into Serato Studio before is that it wasn’t a particularly tactile experience.

That’s the appeal of hardware. While it might be easy to chop samples or draw a melody with a mouse, it’s just a lot more fun to hit pads and turn knobs. Slab also puts several performance-focused effects in easy reach, like a pitched looper and wah. They’re not quite as robust as what you might find on a standalone device like the SP-404 or something from Teenage Engineering, but they still spice up a jam nicely.

Where Slab loses points is in its variety of modes and shift functions. Those more familiar with Serato Studio might have an easier time than I did, but I frequently found myself confused about which mode I needed to be in to change the note repeat rate, or by the lack of visual feedback when browsing effects and sample chopping modes. And each element has its own “mode,” from the dial, to the encoders, and the touchstrip. Keeping it all straight can get a little cumbersome.

Despite Serato Studio being a relatively simple DAW focused primarily on drum programming and sample chopping, Slab can feel menu-divy at times. And while Studio does support VST and AU plugins for playing your favorite software synths, Slab offers limited control over them.

Slab is unlikely to win over many new converts. But if you’re already using Serato Studio and have been eyeing Maschine and MPC owners with jealousy, the Slab might be a decent investment. It gives you a similar hands-on experience at a reasonable price.