The Mr Black TrancePortal is a shimmer echo pedal from boutique maker Mr. Black, unveiled in May 2016. It combines a modulated delay with octave pitch-shifting, so repeats carry a shimmering, pitch-shifted character as they decay. MusicRadar's Michael Astley-Brown described it as the maker's "latest oddball creation" and reported it available now at launch for $179.951.
Mr. Black marked the TrancePortal "PRODUCTION DISCONTINUED. --SOLD OUT--" on 10 February 2018, so the original run is no longer made. The maker's product page remains up and links to the pedal's manual2.
What it does
Mr. Black's own product page makes no attempt at a neutral description: "Words cannot be found to express the sound of this pedal. It is breathtaking, and entirely unique." The same sentiment ran in the launch coverage, where the maker was quoted saying "I truly cannot find words to express the sound of this pedal."21
In practical terms, the pedal is an echo whose repeats are lightly modulated and shifted in octave pitch, placing it in the shimmer echo family alongside delay pedals with pitch-shifting features. Mr. Black has since built other pitch-focused pedals, including the Mini Octaves polyphonic octave generator and the High-Five instant power chord generator1.
The controls
Three controls handle the ethereality, as MusicRadar put it1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the overall level of the effect |
| Regen | Sets the amount of repeat regeneration |
| Time | Sets the delay time, spanning 20 to 650 ms |
The delay range runs up to 650 ms, covering everything from tight, near-doubled echoes to long, spacious ones, with the modulation and octave shifting applied across that span1.
Versions and pricing
A Throwback Special version of the TrancePortal has also appeared on the maker's product pages. It is built to order with a 1 to 5 business day build time, and is listed at a regular price of $219.95, on sale for $199.953.
| Version | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| TrancePortal | $199.95 regular price (maker page, 2026-10-26); $179.95 at 2016 launch | Production discontinued and sold out, February 201821 |
| TrancePortal Throwback Special | $219.95 regular, $199.95 sale | Built to order, 1 to 5 business day build time3 |
Videos
Jack Deville
Frederick Ashworth
Questions
Does the Mr Black TrancePortal run on a battery?
Yes. MusicRadar's 2016 news item on the pedal lists 9V battery/power supply operation, so the TrancePortal could be powered either by a 9V battery or by a 9V power supply. No current draw figure was published for the pedal.
Is the Mr Black TrancePortal true bypass?
Yes. MusicRadar described the pedal as including true bypass switching among its useful real-world features, so the effect is removed from the signal path entirely when the pedal is off.
What is the delay time range of the TrancePortal?
The TrancePortal spans 20 to 650 ms of delay time, according to MusicRadar's launch coverage. That range covers short slapback-style echoes through to longer, more spacious repeats, shaped by the time control.
Is the Mr Black TrancePortal discontinued?
Yes. Mr. Black marked the TrancePortal as production discontinued and sold out on 10 February 2018, according to the maker's product page. The pedal launched in May 2016 and was available for less than two years.
How much did the Mr Black TrancePortal cost?
MusicRadar reported the TrancePortal available at launch in May 2016 for $179.95. The maker's product page later listed it at a regular price of $199.95. The Throwback Special version was listed at $219.95 regular, on sale for $199.95.
Sources (3)
- Mr Black puts you in a TrancePortal with "breathtaking" shimmer echo guitar effects pedal, MusicRadar, 2016-05-12
- TrancePortal, Mr. Black, 2018-02-10
- TrancePortal Throwback Special, Mr. Black
