Fairlight FX · Echo · Resolve 21
Echo in Fairlight
A live-interface guide to Fairlight Echo: separate Delay Time and Feedback Delay for each stereo channel, signed feedback, L→R/R→L cross-feedback, filtering and output control.
Primary repeat timing per channel.
Separate timing in the feedback path.
L→R · R→L
1. Interface anatomy
Echo is a richer feedback network than the basic Delay window
All ranges below are read from the supplied Resolve 21 UI. The screenshot's current values illustrate one setup only — they are not a house preset for dialogue, music or SFX.
Input Format
The live screenshot is set to Stereo. Echo then exposes distinct Left Channel and Right Channel timing/feedback blocks.
Low Cut / High Cut
The visible Filter ranges are Low Cut 20 Hz–5 kHz and High Cut 100 Hz–20 kHz. Filtering the echoes helps keep repeats from covering the dry source.
Feedback High Ratio
0–100% in the Feedback section. Treat it as part of the feedback-tone behavior and judge it by listening to how the repeat train evolves rather than by copying a fixed percentage.
Left / Right Delay Time
0 ms–1.2 sec per channel. This sets the primary repeat timing visible in the upper event graph.
Feedback Delay
0 ms–1.2 sec per channel. Unlike the basic Delay plug-in, Echo exposes a separate time control in the feedback path, so the spacing of later returns can be shaped independently from the first delayed event.
Feedback
−100% to +100% for each channel in the visible UI. Large magnitudes can build a dense or unstable tail quickly; increase carefully while watching output level.
L→R Feedback
−100% to +100%. Routes feedback energy from the left delay network toward the right side, enabling alternating or cross-coupled repeat structures.
R→L Feedback
−100% to +100%. The mirror cross-feedback path from right to left. Using both cross paths strongly can create complex stereo circulation, so check level and mono behavior.
Dry/Wet · Level
Dry/Wet controls the processed balance and Level trims output from −24 dB to +6 dB in the visible UI. Level-match before judging whether the effect improves the mix.
2. Signal flow
Primary repeat, feedback delay and cross-channel return are three different decisions
1 · First repeat
Set Delay Time for the first clearly audible event on each side.
2 · Feedback spacing
Use Feedback Delay to determine how the returning loop is spaced after the initial event.
3 · Loop strength
Feedback controls how strongly each side continues to regenerate. Keep enough headroom for accumulation.
4 · Cross the sides
L→R and R→L feedback create movement between channels. Add cross-feedback last so you can hear what it contributes.
3. Practical workflows
Echo is especially useful when the repeats themselves become part of the sound design
Alternating stereo echo
Use different L/R Delay Times and introduce cross-feedback gradually. This can move successive echoes across the stereo field instead of stacking them in one place.
Sparse dialogue throw
Automate the effect on a final word or phrase, keep feedback restrained, and filter the echo so it sits behind the dry dialogue rather than masking the next line.
Sound-design recursion
Separate Feedback Delay plus cross-feedback lets you build patterns that are less regular than a simple one-line delay. Monitor output closely because regeneration can grow quickly.
Filtered depth
Use Low Cut/High Cut to push echoes away from the source spectrum. This is useful for transitions, atmospheric SFX and dialogue treatments where clarity must survive.
4. Failure modes
Most Echo problems are routing, feedback or masking problems
Runaway feedback
High feedback and cross-feedback can accumulate rapidly. Reduce feedback first, then output level; do not rely on the master limiter to rescue an unstable loop.
Echo masks the next line
Shorten the tail, lower feedback, filter more aggressively or automate the effect only where the dialogue has space.
Stereo sounds impressive, mono collapses
Cross-coupled and asymmetric timing can change dramatically when summed. Always monitor a mono check before committing to delivery.
Copying screenshot values
The values visible in the live screenshot were useful to identify controls and ranges, not to define a universal Echo preset.
5. Echo vs Delay
The UI itself shows why these deserve separate pages
Delay is the simpler stereo repeat processor: L/R Delay Time, L/R Feedback, High Ratio, Stereo Blend and output. Echo exposes a second time domain for the feedback path and explicit cross-feedback between channels. That makes Echo the better fit when the repeat network itself is part of the creative design.
Delay
Independent L/R delay times and feedback with Stereo Blend. Faster to configure for basic repeats, width and delay throws.
Echo
Adds per-channel Feedback Delay and explicit L→R / R→L cross-feedback for more complex repeat structures.
Current Blackmagic Fairlight documentation is used for the present plug-in/insert workflow. Blackmagic's own release history also identifies Echo as a FairlightFX processor. The exact Resolve 21 Echo controls, ranges, graph layout and cross-feedback labels described here come from the supplied live interface screenshot rather than from an older manual screenshot.