Output’s signature delay plugin, Portal, was released in 2019—a millennium in music-production terms—and countless other plugins have emerged as competitors since then. While many producers tout it as one of their all-time favorites, one must wonder if they’re just repeating old sentiments from nearly half a decade ago. Are they unaware of the fantastic new delays, or does Portal genuinely maintain its status as one of the best delay plugins still in 2024?
That’s what we aim to uncover in this latest review. We’ll delve into what this plugin is, what it can do, what impressed me the most after extensive studio use, and areas where it could improve or adjust. So let’s dive in—or click an item in the table of contents to jump to what interests you most!
Learn More About Portal While Supporting Our Team Of Writers Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Plugin Boutique Right Here
What Is Portal By Output?
Portal is a granular synthesis FX plugin that transforms any audio input, like VSTs, drums, vocals, or live guitar, creating unique soundscapes. After installation, it’s accessible in your DAW’s FX Plugins list. Compatible with Mac OS X 10.14 to macOS 13 Ventura and Windows 10 and 11, it requires a 64-bit DAW supporting AAX, AU, VST, and VST3 plugin types. Key features include over 250 presets, a circular XY Control for granular effects, a powerful time manipulation engine, tempo-synced grain delay, and scale-based pitch modulation.
It includes seven built-in effects, a master compressor and filter, and a value readout for control clarity – which was quickly one of my favorite features, but I’ll save that for its section later.
Portal is designed for musicians and producers seeking to explore new dimensions of sound. Its intuitive interface and advanced features allow users to instantly transform sounds musically, making it ideal for creative experimentation. Whether manipulating live instruments or electronic sounds, Portal offers infinite possibilities to turn a single idea into a diverse range of sonic expressions. Its compatibility with modern systems and easy integration into existing workflows make it a versatile tool for anyone looking to expand their sound palette.
Snag Premium House Music Samples Without Breaking The Bank With Our Massive Curated List Of Warm, Punchy Sounds From Across The Internet. Click Here To Get 4k+ Free Sounds and Samples
What I Liked Most About Output
The Presets Are Amazing
There’s a LOT to this plugin, almost to a fault (and we’ll get to this later), but the vast number of well-organized presets curbs the intimidation factor. Each preset is meticulously crafted, with a ton of TLC put into it, and the effects on the sound vary widely as you scroll through even a few presets within the same category.
Looking at the preset categories, it’s evident just how versatile this plugin can be. It offers everything from standard delay effects to ambient washes, rhythmic FXs, and glitches… Do I need to continue?
The abundance of usable presets right out of the box makes diving deeper into the delay and mastering all of its numerous parameters and functionalities genuinely exciting rather than daunting, as with many other similarly complex delays.
It’s Sound-Altering
I’ve always categorized plugins and effects into two distinct groups. On the one hand, there are the conventional ones I use to mix and enhance the source sound I’ve recorded or created. On the other hand, sound-design plugins have the power to transform a source signal into something entirely new.
Portal, however, excels in bridging the gap between these two categories. But the latter—the ability to transform sounds—truly sets it apart for me.
Whether you need to breathe life into a sound instantly or seek inspiration by turning a recording, sample, or patch into something radically different to see where it takes your track, Output’s Portal can handle it all. Combined with its extensive preset library—some of which you can even mark as Favorites for easy access—it becomes both an inspiration machine and a formidable sound-design tool.
Looking for the best drum samples? Dive into ‘The Ultimate Library of Free Drum Samples: 7k+ Percussions and Drum Loops for Every Genre’ – access your free sounds here.
It’s Got A Built-In Compressor!
Managing the dynamics and volumes of delays during the mixing and production process has always been a step I find daunting. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve been a fan of Ableton’s Echo plugin, especially for controlling the length of the tails. Frequently, delays tend to fade too quickly but still linger in the mix, sometimes occupying precious headroom while remaining barely audible.
Including a built-in compressor in Portal to assist with this aspect is remarkable! I was genuinely impressed and somewhat surprised that it’s not a standard feature in other advanced delay plugins.
What I Wasn’t Crazy About
It’s a Touch Pricey
In a market flooded with plugins and developers often engaging in a “race to the bottom” strategy to maximize sales, Output’s Portal stands out at its nearly $150 price point. Output is not following the trend of aggressive pricing, opting for a premium and exclusive positioning of the plugin.
By now, you’ve likely gathered my overall opinion on this plugin, and I firmly believe that the $150 price tag is entirely justified, even in 2024 when numerous other delay options are available. However, it’s important to acknowledge that $150 is a significant investment, and this plugin falls into the premium category, demanding a premium price for access.
Delve into ‘Creative Tools for Remixing: Enamour Shares His Five Favorite Plugins for Flipping Tracks’ – a resource for producers looking for innovative plugins to enhance their remixes. Gain insights into Enamour’s top picks and elevate your remixing skills. ️
It Can Seem Overly-Complicated At First
Thank goodness for presets, because if this delay was initialized every time you open it and you had to build up your patches from scratch, I would be lost entirely. A lot is going on on the surface and underneath the hood of this plugin, and it’s easy to get lost in the sea of parameters.
This can seem double true when scrolling through the presets, having drastically different effects on the sound that jumps from tight and dialed in to seemingly sending the sound out into the universe’s outer reaches with off-grid timings and syncopated modulations.
But as I said before, luckily, the preset library is there to be your north star as you learn the inner workings of the plugin and allows you to slowly unpack all of the vast amounts of uses and creative options packed within because without them new users might seem wholly lost.
Final Thoughts On Output’s Portal
Its expansive preset library dispenses with the usual intimidation of granular synthesis, Portal offers an array of well-crafted soundscapes at your fingertips. From ambient textures to rhythmic patterns, Portal pushes the envelope, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary. It’s an asset for any producer looking to infuse originality into their tracks, backed by a user interface that marries depth with usability.
Portal is a statement at its price—a declaration that quality and depth come at a premium in an era of cutthroat competition. Yet, it’s a price point that speaks to the discerning creator who understands the value of nuanced control and sonic diversity. This plugin might seem complex, but its intuitive design quickly turns apprehension into artistry, making it an indispensable tool in the audio production landscape.
Learn More About Portal While Supporting Our Team Of Writers Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Plugin Boutique Right Here
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
