AlphaTheta SLAB Music Production MIDI Pad Controller

The AlphaTheta SLAB is the first-ever MIDI pad controller that puts Serato Studio’s sampling, sequencing, and performance capabilities directly into your hands. It brings the raw instinct, feel, and speed of beat-making back to its elements. SLAB’s layout is focused on intuitive control, with carefully selected functions and a design that emphasizes a streamlined hands-on workflow. Every detail is optimized to help you navigate Serato Studio with confidence and speed. With SLAB, you can also transition seamlessly from production to performance whenever you want. While the controller is custom-built with Serato Studio in mind, it also supports a variety of applications through its general-purpose MIDI mode, including Serato Sample, Serato DJ Pro, and various DAWs. And, with the built-in Stems Level feature, which expands on Serato Studio’s proprietary Stems capabilities, you can isolate and finely control the volume of individual track stems in a sample, including the vocals, melody, drums, and bass, which brings a new level of creative freedom and detailed expression.

TRANSPORT SECTION AND FOCUS CONTROL SUPPORT CORE PRODUCTION TASKS

Think of SLAB’s transport section as the operational core of your music-making process. It brings together essential functions, such as play, record, and seek, and includes a multifunctional dial that enables faster browsing and seeking. You can swiftly locate the phrases you want by scrolling through sampled audio with the dial, which hugely enhances the speed and flexibility of the sampling process. One of the dial’s key features is Focus Control, which you can use to manipulate third-party plugins, such as virtual instruments and effects, directly from SLAB. Simply move the mouse pointer over a parameter on your laptop’s screen and use the dial to control it instantly – there’s no need for manual MIDI mapping. This enables seamless, intuitive sound design and gives you immediate access to critical tools.

OLED DISPLAY AND TOUCH-SENSITIVE ENCODERS FOR HANDS-ON CONTROL

Keep an eye on the OLED display at the top of SLAB to see real-time information on integration status and parameter values in exceptional clarity, even in dark studio environments. You’ll find 4 touch-sensitive encoders at your fingertips, providing direct access to EQs, stems, effects, and parameter controls in Serato Studio. When you touch an encoder (without turning it), the current assignments are shown on the OLED display, enabling you to design sounds faster and with more confidence.

MULTICOLOR LED PADS FOR INTUITIVE, INSTRUMENT-LIKE PERFORMANCE

SLAB captures every nuance of expression in your performance. Its 16 Performance Pads are highly sensitive, responsive, and tactile, and they feature velocity and aftertouch support. With a single touch of one of 4 dedicated buttons above the pads, you can switch between pad modes, including Pad FX mode, where 4 types of effects are assigned vertically to the pads and up to 4 effects can be layered at the same time. This enables you to apply effects directly during production and hear the changes in real time, expanding your expressive possibilities.

It’s easy to capture and manage sampled material with the vertically arranged application control section, which gives you quick access to features like Auto Set and Favorite. From chopping samples to slicing loops, the intuitive interface boosts your production speed and helps you focus. Together, the pads and application controls create a unified layout that keeps your creativity flowing.

LED LONG-STROKE TOUCH STRIP BRINGS VISIBILITY AND EXPRESSIVE CONTROL

Use the 130mm long-stroke touch strip to control a range of parameters such as filter, pitch, FX level, and swing. Its smooth and tactile response is paired with high visibility through RGB indicators to enable precise, fast, and expressive production and performance techniques.

PRECISE CONTROL WITH STEMS LEVEL

When you use SLAB with compatible Serato software, including Studio, Sample, and DJ Pro, you can finely tune the volume of individual parts in the same track – such as vocals, melody, drums, and bass – via the Stems Level feature. Until now, if you wanted to tweak individual volume levels, you had to prepare separate tracks. But with SLAB’s 4 touch-sensitive encoders, you can do it directly from the hardware. This hands-on control is also a game changer for DJ performances with Serato DJ Pro, enabling precise combinations of EQ and stem adjustments.

SEAMLESS INTEGRATION WITH SERATO APPLICATIONS FOR DIVERSE PRODUCTION SETUPS

SLAB also supports Serato Sample and Serato DJ Pro. Thanks to its versatile MIDI mode, you can use your preferred DAW while taking advantage of Serato Sample’s high-quality sampling engine for a smooth production workflow. And if you pair SLAB with Serato DJ Pro, it serves as an Official Serato Accessory (OSA), expanding the expressive possibilities of your DJ performances. From home studios to live stages, SLAB supports creativity across a wide range of scenarios.

SLEEK DESIGN TURNS ANY LOCATION INTO A STUDIO

SLAB features a compact body smaller than A4/US Letter size, making it easy to carry anywhere and create a comfortable studio environment, whether you’re at home, in a café, or on the go. The 2-tone gray design gives a light, contemporary look while clearly grouping functions for intuitive operation. Familiar elements such as AlphaTheta’s signature circular PLAY/REC buttons, along with the unique illumination bar inspired by sample clips in Serato Studio and Serato Sample, offer an intuitive and engaging user experience for both creation and performance.

The controller also comes with a gray USB Type-C cable that matches the body color. With both straight and L-shaped connectors included, cabling remains neat and flexible, even in tight or space-limited setups.

ALPHATHETA SLAB FEATURES:

• First-ever MIDI pad controller optimized for Serato Studio’s sampling, sequencing, and performance capabilities
• Intuitive interface enhances production speed with unified layout that keeps your creativity flowing
• 4 touch-sensitive encoders provide direct access to EQs, stems, effects, and parameter controls
• Built-in Stems Level feature expands on Serato Studio’s Stems capabilities allowing you to isolate and finely control the volume of individual track stems in a sample
• 16 highly sensitive, responsive, and tactile performance pads feature velocity and aftertouch support
• 130mm long-stroke touch strip controls filter, pitch, FX level, and swing
• OLED display provides information on integration status and parameter values
• Transport section includes play, record, and seek, plus a multifunctional dial that enables faster browsing and seeking
• MIDI mode allows you to use preferred DAW while taking advantage of Serato Sample’s high-quality sampling engine