Serato Launches 'SLAB' - Its Initial Standalone Beatmaking Apparatus

Developed in collaboration with AlphaTheta, it includes a 7-inch OLED touch screen, 16 RGB pads, stem control, and is compact enough to fit in a backpack.

Serato

Prominent companies in contemporary DJing, Serato and AlphaTheta, have collaborated to introduce SLAB, the inaugural MIDI pad controller designed specifically for Serato users. The release extends a longstanding history of partnership dating back to the early 2010s and signifies the inaugural instance of Serato producing hardware expressly designed for music composition rather than performance.

SLAB is engineered to operate Serato's music production software, Serato Studio, effectively merging digital beat-making with the tactile experience of hardware production, thereby providing immediate access to sampling, sequencing, FX control, and additional features. The console features a specialised processor optimised for low-latency playback, enabling users to operate Serato’s instrument packs and sample libraries independently of a laptop. Additionally, Serato is introducing a collection of SLAB-optimized sound packs to complement the launch. It achieves this while maintaining exceptional portability, with a maximum dimension of less than 12 inches (measuring 11.19 x 8.23 x 1.76 inches and weighing under 2.2 pounds).

The gadget features a central 7-inch multi-touch OLED display that facilitates sequencing, sampling, waveform manipulation, and mixing. Current Serato users will recognise the interface, which is directly derived from Serato Studio and modified for tactile interaction. However, newcomers to Serato, whether transitioning from different platforms or entirely new to production, will also find SLAB user-friendly due to its minimalist, streamlined design and colour-coded workspace.

Serato

SLAB includes 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads for controlling drums, samples, and performance, a multifunctional dial, and macro knobs that can be mapped in Serato Studio to navigate the instrument library or manage FX, stems, and parameters, along with a five-inch touch strip for filters, pitch bends, repeats, and automation.

Furthermore, SLAB enhances creative control through its Stems Level function, enabling users to isolate and modify individual track components—such as drums, bass, melody, or vocals—utilizing four touch-sensitive encoders. Each stem may be individually altered, encompassing EQ and FX, all executed directly on the device without the necessity of pre-preparing separate stem songs.

With SLAB, Serato is assertively entering the standalone workstation market, formerly led by brands such as Akai and Native Instruments, while maintaining a workflow deeply embedded in DJ culture. SLAB can be seen as a hybrid instrument for studio producers seeking the immediacy of DJ-style manipulation. Conversely, it may also be asserted that SLAB caters to DJs aspiring to engage in production, whether in a studio or club setting, as it facilitates the incorporation of live music-making components into their performances.

SLAB is currently available from Serato and AlphaTheta shops for £259 GBP / €299 EUR / $329 USD.