Fairlight FX · Multi Effect · Resolve 21
Chain FX in Fairlight
Chain FX is Fairlight's multi-effect workflow for grouping several plug-ins, including their settings, into one reusable chain. In Resolve 21 it appears under the Multi Effect category.
Conceptual diagram. The live menu screenshot below is the source of truth for the current Resolve 21 effect name and category.
1. Verified location
Chain FX is present in Resolve 21 → Multi Effect
The live Resolve 21 menu shows Chain FX as the Multi Effect entry. Blackmagic describes it as a way to collect a favorite group of plug-ins with individual settings and save the chain for reuse.
2. Why it exists
Choose the processor because the problem matches it
The value of Chain FX is not another sound effect but a manageable processing package. Blackmagic states that one Chain FX can contain up to six effects, can be saved as a preset, and multiple Chain FX instances can be combined in channel effect slots for longer chains.
01
Build a repeatable dialogue or voice-over chain.
02
Save processing as a preset instead of recreating every insert manually.
03
Pack up to six effects into one Chain FX and use multiple instances when a longer chain is justified.
3. Common mistakes
Do not make the chain more complicated than the signal needs
Wrong job
Do not turn Chain FX into a pile of processors without a purpose.
Too much processing
Respect order: Fairlight processes plug-ins sequentially, so reordering changes the result.
No A/B context
Move heavy chains into the Cache/Bounce workflow when realtime playback becomes expensive.
4. Related guides
Place this tool inside the wider Fairlight workflow
The live Resolve 21 mixer menu supplied for this encyclopedia is the source of truth for the effect name and category. Blackmagic's current Fairlight and What's New documentation is used for product-level workflow facts. Exact plug-in controls are deliberately omitted until a live window has been captured.