Surge XT portamento supports constant-rate glide, glissando quantization, and envelope retrigger at scale degrees

The Portamento slider in Surge XT sets the glide time. Context menu options extend control significantly. Constant rate mode makes pitch slide at a fixed rate per octave, so large intervals take longer than small ones — this matches how many acoustic instruments glide. When off (default), portamento time is constant regardless of interval size. Glissando quantizes the glide path to pitch degrees (semitones), creating a staircase effect. Retrigger at scale degrees fires the FEG and AEG envelopes each time the gliding pitch crosses a scale degree, useful for legato phrasing that still articulates each step. Portamento can be tempo-synced. Curve options (Logarithmic, Linear, Exponential) shape the pitch trajectory.

Examples

For a Minimoog-style glide: Constant rate on, Linear curve. For chromatic pitch staircase between notes: Glissando on. For articulated legato lines: Retrigger at scale degrees on.

Assessment

What is the difference between Portamento with ‘Constant rate’ on vs. off when playing an interval of a minor second vs. a major seventh? Describe what Glissando does to the glide path.