FRCTL GRNi is a $34.99 launch granular sampler instrument with two blendable layers, MPE, 52 presets, and a 10-slot FX rack. VST3, AU, CLAP, standalone. Windows, macOS, Linux.
Plugin comparison
FRCTL GRNi vs Portal
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which synth to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.4Great
Portal is a granular synthesis FX plugin from Output that transforms any audio input into playable, musical granular effects.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | FRCTL GRNi | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $34.99 launch / $44.99 | $149 |
| Dubspot Score | — | 8.4 |
| Formats | VST3, AU, CLAP, standalone | VST, VST3, AU, AAX |
| Type | Granular sampler instrument | — |
| Layers | 2, grain-by-grain BLEND | — |
| Sample import | WAV, AIFF, FLAC, OGG, MP3; 60 s/layer at 48 kHz | — |
| Voices | 16 voices, 64 grains | — |
| Modulation | 3 LFOs, 3 envelopes, 4 macros, step sequencer | Scale-based pitch modulation, Time Stretch, Pitch Shift, and Humanize controls |
| FX | 10-slot reorderable rack | — |
| MPE | Per-note bend, pressure, slide | — |
| Presets | 52 factory, 7 categories | 250+ presets for instant playability |
| OS requirements | Windows 10/11, macOS Intel + Apple Silicon, Linux | — |
| Version | 1.0.0 (September 2026) | — |
| Control | — | Circular XY control linked to granular parameters |
| Built-in FX | — | 7 built-in FX plus a master compressor and filter |
| Time manipulation | — | Powerful time manipulation engine with tempo-synced grain delay |
| Apple Silicon | — | Native Apple Silicon compatibility (M1, M2 and beyond) as of v1.2.0 |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.