If you’re a DJ who’s been meaning to get serious about production – or a beatmaker who’s sick of mousing around a DAW – the AlphaTheta SLAB is the little grey box that finally makes Serato Studio feel like an instrument, not just software.
SLAB is the first-ever MIDI pad controller built specifically for Serato Studio, putting its sampling, sequencing and performance tools straight under your fingers. Available now from Concert AV, it’s compact, USB-powered and designed to live right next to your laptop, CDJs or all-in-one DJ system.
Let’s break down what it does – and how different kinds of creators can actually use it day to day.
What is the AlphaTheta SLAB?
On paper, SLAB is a USB-C MIDI pad controller with:
-
A CDJ-style transport section for play, record and navigation
-
A large central dial for browsing, scrubbing and parameter tweaks
-
Multi-mode encoders dedicated to EQ, stems, FX and other parameters
-
A 4×4 grid of 29 × 29 mm performance pads with velocity sensitivity and adjustable aftertouch
-
A super responsive touch strip with RGB indicators for filter, pitch, FX and swing control
Under the hood, Serato Studio has become seriously powerful: you get a Sample Deck with full stem separation, over 190 built-in instruments, a step sequencer, project-wide key/BPM sync, Pitch ’n Time-powered time-stretch and key shift, in-key keyboard modes, automation and 42 studio-grade effects.
SLAB’s whole job is to make all of that feel immediate and musical.
Why Serato Studio + SLAB is Such a Big Deal
Serato Studio has always been aimed at DJs who think in loops, drops and flips rather than traditional “producer brain”. With SLAB, Serato has gone one step further – Studio now includes native hardware control for SLAB, so you can handle sampling, sequencing, scene navigation, transport, FX and project parameters without endless MIDI mapping.
In other words: plug it in, select a sound pack or a sample, and you’re actually playing the software – not just clicking on it.
For Concert AV customers already using AlphaTheta gear like DDJ-FLX2, DDJ-GRV6, OMNIS-DUO or the XDJ-AZ, SLAB feels like a natural extension of that ecosystem, but dedicated to the production side of your creativity.
Feature Highlights (Without the Tech Jargon)
1. Transport Section – Feels Like a Mini Deck
The top left of SLAB gives you:
-
Play and record buttons shaped like CDJ transport controls
-
Clear panel zones so you can see where transport ends and performance begins
-
A large dial that flips between modes like sample control, browsing, scrubbing and parameter adjustment
If you’re coming from club gear, this is all immediately familiar – you hit play, you hit record, and Studio starts capturing your ideas.
2. Dial & Encoder Modes – One Knob, Many Jobs
The central dial isn’t just a scroll wheel:
-
Dial modes let you switch between library navigation, scrubbing and focused parameter control.
-
With Focus Control, you can grab plugin parameters in real time without deep mapping menus.
-
Encoder modes (EQ, Stems, FX, Parameter) mean you can sweep filters, tweak stems levels, or ride FX sends in a couple of clicks.
It’s like having a tiny mixer and FX section built into one knob bank.
3. Performance Pads – For Drums, Samples, FX and Sequencing
The 4×4 pad grid is where the fun happens:
-
Pad modes: Control (for overall pad behaviour), Pad FX, Trigger and Step Sequencer modes.
-
Velocity + aftertouch mean finger drumming actually feels expressive: tap lightly for ghost notes, dig in for accents.
-
LED bars synced to Serato Studio’s GUI show you what mode you’re in and what’s active at a glance.
Whether you’re chopping up soul samples or programming 808s, it’s a much nicer experience than drawing boxes on a screen.
4. Touch Strip – One Finger, Big Moves
The strip above the pads is a multi-purpose performance control:
-
Sweep a low-pass filter across your whole beat
-
Use it for pitch bends, FX sends or swing control
-
High-visibility RGB indicators guide your finger so you don’t overshoot the sweet spot on stage
It’s the sort of control that makes a live performance look and sound more alive.
Real-World Uses: Who SLAB is Perfect For
For DJs Getting Into Production
If you’re already DJing on AlphaTheta or Pioneer DJ gear and you want to:
-
Make your own intro edits and club-ready remixes
-
Flip tracks into bootlegs for your sets
-
Build your own drum loops and drops that match your library
…SLAB plus Serato Studio is a very easy first step.
Typical workflow:
-
Drag a track into Serato Studio, or drop in an acapella.
-
Use the Sample Deck plus SLAB’s pads to slice up the hook, drums or bass, with full stem separation when you want it.
-
Lay down a new drum pattern on the pads or in Step Sequencer mode.
-
Use the touch strip and FX encoders for builds, filter sweeps and drops.
-
Print the result as a WAV and play it from your USB stick or via your DJ software.
You stay in a DJ-style, loop-focused mindset – but you end up with original music and edits.
For Beatmakers & Sample Heads
If you live for dusty samples, lo-fi, boom bap or R&B:
-
Chop up to 16 parts from any sample directly in Serato Studio’s Sample Deck.
-
Use Keyboard Mode to play those chops up and down the keys like an instrument.
-
Turn on Play in Key and Auto Chords when you want to freestyle harmonies without music theory slowing you down.
-
Ride automation and FX via SLAB’s encoders for tape-style drops, filter sweeps and lo-fi textures.
SLAB gives you the feel of classic hardware samplers, but with modern luxuries like stem separation, Pitch ’n Time time-stretch and instant recall of projects.
For Live Performers & Hybrid Sets
Already running hybrid DJ/live sets in clubs or on festival stages?
SLAB is ideal for:
-
Triggering one-shots, loops and stems over your main DJ mix
-
Playing extra percussion or melodic lines live
-
Riding FX and filters on a dedicated controller so your main mixer stays focused on the master mix
-
Launching scenes and arrangements in Serato Studio while still feeling like you’re “playing hardware”
Because it’s bus-powered over USB-C and only about the size of a small laptop, it fits comfortably next to an XDJ-AZ, Omnis-Duo or pair of CDJs without eating your whole booth.
For Portable & Couch Producers
SLAB is ridiculously easy to throw in a backpack:
-
Weight: around 1 kg
-
Dimensions: 284.3 × 209.0 × 44.6 mm
-
Power: 5 V, 500 mA over USB-C – no wall wart.
Pair it with a laptop and headphones and you’ve got a full beat-making rig for:
-
Long flights
-
Hotel rooms on tour
-
Couch sessions at home
-
Writing ideas backstage before a set
And because Serato Studio has loads of built-in sounds and FX, you don’t need a huge VST collection to get going.
Why Get Your SLAB from Concert AV?
At Concert AV in Melbourne, we sit right at the crossover of DJ, production and pro audio:
-
We’re an authorised AlphaTheta dealer, so you know your SLAB is genuine and supported.
-
Our team actually uses Serato & AlphaTheta gear, so we can help you map out a full setup – maybe pairing SLAB with an FLX2 for DJing or an Omnis-Duo/WAVE-EIGHT for proper portable party rigs.
-
We offer fast shipping across Australia, or you can drop into our Melbourne store to get hands-on with SLAB and ask all the nerdy questions.
Ready to Make Your Ideas Faster?
If you’ve ever felt like your ideas move quicker than your mouse, the AlphaTheta SLAB is worth a serious look. It takes the power of Serato Studio and puts it under pads, knobs and a touch strip that actually invite you to play.
Come chat with the team at Concert AV, try SLAB in person, or order online – and turn that half-finished loop in your head into your next finished track.