J Cut vs. L Cut: Simple Editing Techniques to Improve Your Videos | Artlist — Artlist Blog

Highlights

Split edits (J and L cuts) are key to an immersive edit as they are motivated by the way we experience the real world.

There are lots of great reasons to use them, but especially to add realism to dialogue scenes, to make transitions both seamless and motivated and even to add humor into an edit.

They are as simple as they are important, requiring just a few clicks on any NLE.

What is a split edit?

A split edit is the umbrella term given to 2 similar types of cut - the J cut and the L cut. These cuts are defined by allowing the audio and video of a clip to transition at different times.

When a clip's audio enters before the video, it forms a "J" shape on the editor's timeline and therefore earns the name J cut.

Therefore, when a clip's audio transitions in after the video, it makes an L cut.

Why are split edits so important?

There is a strong rationale behind why this technique makes such a difference to the viewing experience. The J and L cuts reflect how we experience the real world.

  1. The video and audio of typing on the laptop play together.
  2. The audio of a car driving past transitions in first.
  3. The video of looking out the window follows after the audio.

That's a J cut, and it might look like this on a timeline:

For an L cut:

  1. The video and audio of looking out the window at the car play together.
  2. The video returns to the laptop screen (the audio of the car passing persists).
  3. The car's audio then fades away (only the sound of typing is heard).

The point is since the visual and auditory parts of our real-world experience constantly overlap, we should let our video editing do the same.

Examples of J cuts and L cuts in films

Realistic conversation

The first and arguably most important benefit of split edits is making conversations feel natural. They allow interruptions to feel like interruptions and help maintain the pace of conversations.

The Coen brothers have all but mastered dialogue editing. For example, in No Country for Old Men, J and L cuts are used to effectively draw the audience into the mounting tension throughout.

Motivated transitions

Split edits can create a bridge between different shots, making transitions more impactful. In Saving Private Ryan, a long J cut using the sound of waves highlights a narrative connection.

Comedic effect

Split edits can also add humor to a scene through the cut alone. An example is from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, where the L cut delivers the joke, emphasizing the character's absence from class.

How to do split edits in your NLE

In any NLE, the technique is simple. Once you have your clips, you can control your audio and video separately. Simply right-click the clip whose audio you want to adjust independently and select the appropriate option to unlink or detach the audio.

Wrapping up

The editor's secret weapon is the split edit, which can add realism, emotion, comedy and cohesiveness to any project. Give split edits a try and experience the power of J and L cuts for yourself.