Disable Linked Selection by clicking on the icon in your Timeline panel to independently select the audio or video.
Last updated on
19 October 2025
Learn how to make J and L cuts to keep video and audio flowing seamlessly across scenes.
J and L cuts are typically used during dialogue scenes to smoothly transition between two scenes or shots with different audio content. Both are a type of split edit, or a scene transition from one scene to another, where the audio and visuals shift at different times. J and L cuts derive their names from the shapes they create on the post-production timeline.
- J cut: In a J cut, the next scene’s audio plays before the image changes. This creates an anticipation effect and can be useful when introducing a new character or location before the visual cue appears.
- L cut: In an L cut, the audio from the previous scene continues to play over the video of the next scene. This creates an overlapping effect, which helps maintain continuity and creates a smooth transition between scenes.
Learn how to use J and L cuts for dialogue scenes.
Use the Ripple Edit tool to remove space between the clips.
- To make a J cut edit, select and drag the preceding clip to where you want the next clip’s audio to overlap with the footage.
- To make an L cut edit, stretch the video footage of the next clip over the audio track of the preceding clip.
