Native Instruments and Ableton have had incredible success with their custom MIDI controllers that integrate with their DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), Maschin and Live, respectively. Native Instruments’ Mashine (yes, that’s the hardware and software name) and Ableton’s Push are pretty much the gold standard for integration between music-making software and hardware. Certo is hoping to capture a silver lining of that magic with his Slab and Certo Studio duo.
Many others have tried their hand at creating (or having others build for them) custom controllers for their DAWS-FL Studio, Studio One, and MPC desktop suites. Success, however, has been mixed. What Serato has going for it is that the studio is a relatively young and streamlined Dow with minimal bells and whistles. This means that where the Push and Mouse can be intimidating (and expensive) with their proliferation of buttons, pads, knobs, and massive screens, the Slab is much more accessible and affordable at $329.
Design-wise, the slab is more than similar to going through a machine. It’s not just that both are built around a grid of 16 pads. It also has layout, label placement, and font choices. If you told me the slab was made by local tools instead of Alphaita (Certo’s companion), I wouldn’t second-guess it.
It’s a beautiful piece of hardware, though. The gray-on-gray color palette may not be exciting, and it may be a little difficult to read under some lighting, but the matte textures and clean lines avoid feeling purely utilitarian. The slab is all plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap. The encoders have a good amount of resistance, the buttons aren’t dodgy, and the big dial has a solid feel. The screen is pretty small, and while it gives you some visual feedback, you’ll never be able to write a beat on a slab without looking at your computer. That’s to be expected from a controller in this price range, though, like an AtomSQ or MPC Studio controller.
The velocity-sensitive pads are decent, if nothing spectacular. They’re good enough for finger drumming, but the unit’s MPC still reigns supreme in this department. I find this response inconsistent with a touch and, while Alphaetta lists “adjustable touch” as a feature of Slab, Serato Studio doesn’t currently support touch, which is a bit surprising in 2025. The RGB lighting, though, makes it a breeze to quickly color code and drum hits to identify your kicks.
In keeping with its budget price, the connectivity here is barebones—just a USB-C port to connect to your computer. There’s no integrated audio interface or MIDI output, like you’ll find on the Maschine and Push.
Most important is how Slab integrates with Certo Studio. The good news is that most of the essential DAW features are at your fingertips. I’m new to Serato Studio, and have only had Slab for two weeks, but I had a little trouble getting the basics down quickly. Setting up a drum pattern or playing a bass line by hand is easy and intuitive. You even have instant access to the STEM separation tech that has made the Certo model so successful.
Slab allows you to browse your library of samples or Fire plugins without ever 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 a mouse anyway.
It was easy and a lot of fun to pull out a drum break, cut it, and start creating a beat without leaving the slab. By the end of my first day, I had already put in a couple (admittedly very scary) beats. Although the quality of my output was questionable, I had a blast making them. Part of the reason I hadn’t really looked too deeply into it before was that it wasn’t a particularly tactile experience.
This is a hardware appeal. While it might be easy to cut out patterns or draw chords with the mouse, it’s a lot more fun to aim the pads and turn the knobs. Slab also puts a number of performance-based effects within easy reach, such as purd looper and wah. They’re not as robust as you might find on a standalone device like the SP404 or something from Teen Engineering, but they still spice up a jam nicely.
Where the slab loses points is in its various modes and shift functions. Those more familiar with Serato Studio may have an easier time than I, but I often found myself confused about what mode I needed to be in to change the note repeat rate, or the lack of visual feedback when browsing effects and sampling modes. And every element has its own “mode,” from the dial to the encoders and touchstrap. Keeping it straight can be a bit cumbersome.
Despite Serato Studio being a relatively simple DAW focused primarily on drum programming and sample cutting, the menu can feel naive at times. And while Studio supports VST and AU plugins for playing your favorite software synths, Slab offers limited control over them.
Slab is unlikely to win many new converts. But if you’re already using Serato Studio and are jealously eyed by Maschinen and MPC owners, Slab could be a decent investment. It gives you a similar experience at a reasonable price.
