8.4Great
Portal is a granular synthesis FX plugin from Output that transforms any audio input into playable, musical granular effects.
Plugin comparison
Portal vs FabFilter Saturn 2
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
Effect / FabFilter
FabFilter Saturn 2
8.7Great
FabFilter Saturn 2 is a multiband distortion and saturation plug-in with 28 distortion styles and extensive modulation options.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, FabFilter Saturn 2 comes out ahead (8.7). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Portal | FabFilter Saturn 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149 | — |
| Dubspot Score | 8.4 | 8.7 |
| Formats | VST, VST3, AU, AAX | VST, VST3, Audio Units (AU), CLAP, AAX Native, AudioSuite |
| Presets | 250+ presets for instant playability | — |
| 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 | — |
| Modulation | Scale-based pitch modulation, Time Stretch, Pitch Shift, and Humanize controls | — |
| Apple Silicon | Native Apple Silicon compatibility (M1, M2 and beyond) as of v1.2.0 | — |
| Distortion styles | — | 28 different models |
| Multiband processing | — | Up to 6 bands with optional linear phase processing |
| Crossover slopes | — | 6, 12, 24, and 48 dB/oct |
| Modulation sources | — | 16-step XLFOs, XY controllers, envelope generators, envelope followers, and MIDI sources |
| Modulation matrix | — | 50 slots |
| Platforms | — | Windows (64-bit and 32-bit) and macOS (64-bit only) |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.