I dont know a ton about effects but coming from an moxf8, adjusting the portamento time on any patch, drastically affected the sound. On the MODX8 there seems to be no effect by adjusting the knob. Is there a switch in the settings somewhere that I'm missing?

Coming from the MOXF, it is likely you are simply missing a setting. Assuming you were applying portamento to a VOICE in the MOXF, you probably are missing the fact that simply turning a Knob assigned to Portamento Time doesn’t necessarily do the trick in your new MODX.

Playing the MODX can be like playing multiple MOXF simultaneously. If you have a specific Performance you want to address we’ll be happy to help you setup and understand how the Portamento function works. It’s all about individual control over all the Parts you are controlling.

Hint: there is a Master Portamento Switch for the Performance (found on the top COMMON level of the architecture), plus it is addressable individually within each Part, separately. You describe adjusting a Knob... well, turning a Knob assigned to Portamento Time does not necessarily do any thing... for example, turning the Knob that affects Portamento Time would do nothing if the Portamento Switches are not turned On... both the Part the Part Portamento Switch and the overall Performance Master Portamento Switch need to be On.

From the HOME screen:
Press [EDIT]
Touch “General”
Here you’ll find the “Master Switch” for Portamento and the Performance Portamento Time.

But additionally, there is an individual Portamento Switch and Time parameter for each individual Part. (This allows each Part to move at its own Time and across its own distance).
In the lower left corner of the Edit screen you can touch “Common” and select an indidivual Part
Select “Part 1”
Then navigate to the Part’s Portamento settings:
If an AWM2 (sampled) Part — Touch “Part Settings” > “Pitch”
If an FM-X Part — Touch “Pitch/Filter” > “Pitch”

Here you will find both the Master Switch and the individual Part Switch and individual Part Portamento Time.
The Master Switch for Portamento is repeated for convenience, turning it On or Off anywhere does the same thing (convenient redundancy)... once you understand it is the same Master Switch found at the top level of the architecture, it means you don’t have to go back to COMMON to switch it On or Off for the entire Performance.

Each Part has its own Portamento Switch, Time, etc.

Ok thanks Got it. It looks like by default the common switch is enabled but the switch for each individual part is off.

That’s correct... when you have KBD CTRL (Keyboard Control) active you can, on a per Part basis, activate or deactivate the Part Portamento on demand. A Foot Switch set to send cc65 allows you turn the Part Portamento Switch On/Off as required for the Parts you wish to apply it. The Master Switch defaults to ON, and you can activate the individual Part Switches, as you require.