Fairlight FX · Chorus · Resolve 21
Chorus in Fairlight
A control-by-control guide to the current Chorus plug-in in DaVinci Resolve 21 Fairlight: short delay, voice separation, width, modulation, feedback, blend and output — documented from the live interface.
Delay Time · Voice Separation
Frequency · Pitch · Level
Feedback · Blend · Dry/Wet
1. Interface anatomy
Every visible Chorus control in the current Resolve 21 UI
Ranges below are read directly from the supplied Resolve 21 screenshot. The exact values shown in the screenshot are an example plug-in state, not a recommended preset. Where the live UI shows an unlabeled selector or icon, this guide describes only what can be verified visually instead of inventing a name.
Input Format
The screenshot is set to Stereo. That matches the separate left/right response displays and the stereo-oriented width/blend controls.
Delay Time · 2.5–30 ms
The Chorus delay section exposes a short delay range. In chorus-style processing, very small timing offsets are what separate the processed voices from the dry source rather than creating obvious long echoes.
Voice Separation · 0–100%
A dedicated voice-separation control is visible below Delay. Treat it as a spacing/thickening control and judge it in context rather than chasing one universal percentage.
Width Expansion · 0–100%
The live UI exposes a separate Width Expansion control. Increase it with a mono check nearby: a wide chorus can feel impressive in stereo while becoming weaker after fold-down.
Modulation waveform buttons
Six waveform-style buttons are visible. The screenshot proves the selector exists, but this page does not assign undocumented waveform names to the icons. Audition shapes by motion character rather than by guessing labels.
Bipolar modulation slider · −1…1
The Modulation block contains an unlabeled bipolar slider with −1 / 0 / 1 marks. Because the current public Blackmagic page does not define that control by name, it is intentionally left undescribed beyond its visible range.
Frequency · 0.01–4.00 Hz
Controls modulation speed. Slow values create gradual movement; faster values make the modulation more obvious. Set it while listening to the whole mix, not solo only.
Pitch · 0–100%
The current Chorus UI exposes a Pitch amount in the Modulation block. Use small changes first when naturalness matters; stronger values move the effect toward an audible pitch-modulated texture.
Modulation Level · 0–99
A separate Level control sits beside Frequency and Pitch. Use it together with the modulation parameters and A/B the result rather than assuming it is an output gain control.
Feedback Amount · −99…+99%
Signed feedback can greatly change density and resonance. Move it conservatively because feedback can turn a subtle thickener into an obvious resonant effect very quickly.
Feedback Blend · 0–100%
Blend is a second feedback-related control visible below Amount. Evaluate Amount and Blend together because they shape how the repeated/modulated component rejoins the stereo output.
Dry/Wet · Output Level
The Output section exposes Dry/Wet and Level (−24 to +6 dB). After choosing the effect character, level-match bypass and processed signal before deciding that the effect sounds 'better'.
2. What Chorus is for
Thickness and movement without turning the source into a long echo
Background music
Add width and slow movement to pads, guitars or synthetic layers when a static stereo image feels narrow.
Designed vocals
Use a restrained blend for doubling-like thickness, or stronger modulation for a deliberate effected vocal. Keep intelligibility as the priority.
SFX / ambience
Widen synthetic ambience or sound-design layers without relying on reverb alone. Check whether the motion helps the scene rather than simply making it bigger.
Parallel color
A lower Dry/Wet value can preserve the dry transient and intelligibility while adding moving side information around it.
3. Practical workflow
Build the effect in layers, then level-match
Start subtle
Set Dry/Wet low enough that the original attack and articulation remain obvious.
Set timing
Use Delay Time and Voice Separation to establish thickness before chasing width.
Add motion
Choose a waveform icon and set Frequency, Pitch and Modulation Level by ear.
Shape stereo
Use Width Expansion and Blend, checking mono as you increase spatial complexity.
Control gain
Adjust Feedback carefully, then level-match Output against bypass.
4. Chorus vs nearby tools
Choose by the job, not by effect name
Chorus
Best when you want thickness, multiple-voice character and moving stereo width from very short delays plus modulation.
Flanger
More obviously resonant and sweep-like. The current Flanger UI emphasizes Rate, Depth, feedback and High Ratio instead of Chorus' voice/pitch controls.
Delay
Use Delay when discrete repeats and explicit timing are the point. Chorus uses much shorter timing offsets and continuous modulation.
Reverb
Reverb builds a sense of acoustic space and decay. Chorus changes multiplicity, pitch/time movement and width instead.
Current Blackmagic Fairlight documentation confirms the current Fairlight FX architecture: more than 25 Fairlight FX for repair, creative sound design and mixing, clip or mixer-channel application, and up to six plug-ins on a track. The exact Chorus controls and visible ranges on this page are documented from the supplied Resolve 21 interface screenshot; unlabeled controls are not given invented names.