FREE · PORTAL ALTERNATIVE · VST3 / AU
A free Portal alternative for turning loops into something else.
Output Portal ($149) is a granular FX plugin: it chops audio into grains and stretches, freezes and pitches them into textures. SCRAMBLE gets you the same 'what just happened to my loop' moment from a different engine: blur and freeze, shimmer, reverse swells, tape, delay and pitch, with a new chain every time you twist the cube.
Hear it.
Real loops through real AFTER HOURS presets, nothing else added. Tap DRY to hear the original.
Want to hear it on your own loop? Load it into SCRAMBLE in your browser.
Portal vs SCRAMBLE.
| PORTAL | SCRAMBLE. | |
|---|---|---|
| Granular engine | ✓ | – |
| Freeze / smear | ✓ | ✓ (MORE FX: BLUR) |
| Shimmer + reverse swells | – | ✓ (MORE FX: SHIMMER, SWELL) |
| Delay, reverb, tape, pitch | ✓ | ✓ |
| Half-time, tape stops, chops | – | ✓ |
| A new chain every click | Randomize | 43 quintillion |
| Price | $149 | Free · Bundle $49 |
Portal is a trademark of Output. SCRAMBLE isn't made by or affiliated with Output. Portal price is its list price, Nov 2026.
Textures, without the grain editor.
Blur
Smear and freeze a moment of your loop into a pad.
Shimmer
Octave-up reverb that turns keys into a glowing bed.
Swell
Reverse reverb that rises into the next hit.
Dark space
AFTER HOURS muffles, pitches down and drops it into a long dark room.
How to get the sound.
- Put SCRAMBLE on keys, a sample, a vocal or a pad and pick AFTER HOURS or MORE FX.
- Twist the cube until the texture fits.
- Pull MIX down to sit the texture behind the dry sound, or run it 100% for a full flip.
SCRAMBLE is out now, and it's free.
All 8 FX modes, the full cube, the sequencer and 237 presets. Mac + Windows, no card needed.
Questions
Is SCRAMBLE a granular plugin like Portal?
No. Portal is true granular synthesis with deep grain controls. SCRAMBLE uses blur, freeze, shimmer, reverse, tape and delay to get to new textures fast, and it's free.
Is it free?
Yes. All 8 FX modes and 237 presets are free. The $49 Bundle adds all 2,800 presets.
Can I use both?
Yes. It's a normal VST3 / AU plugin, so it sits in the same chain as Portal.
Does it work on Mac and Windows?
Yes. Mac gets VST3 and AU (Apple Silicon and Intel). Windows gets VST3 plus a standalone app. It loads in FL Studio, Ableton Live, Logic Pro and other DAWs. Not Pro Tools yet (no AAX).