Definition
What is an L-cut?
An L-cut is a split edit in which audio from the outgoing shot continues to play after the video has cut to the next shot. The staggered clip edges often resemble the letter L on an editing timeline.
L-cuts let viewers hear a speaker while seeing a reaction, a detail, or the next location. Because the outgoing sound carries across the picture edit, it holds two shots together and allows visual storytelling to continue without interrupting the thought.
The technique is especially useful in conversations: an editor can stay with one character’s voice but cut to the listener’s expression. It is also used with narration, ambient sound, and music to create smoother transitions between scenes.
Example in the edit
An interviewee continues describing their first day at work while the picture cuts away from the interview to archival footage of the building they entered.
Why editors use it
L-cuts create continuity while freeing the picture from the person or action producing the sound. They help editors show reactions, context, and supporting footage at exactly the right moment.
Watch and learn
See the technique in context
Selected explanation by StudioBinder
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about L-cut
Why is it called an L-cut?
The outgoing audio extends beyond its picture edit, making the arrangement of video and audio clip edges look like an L on the timeline.
Is an L-cut the same as audio overlap?
An L-cut is a specific kind of audio overlap: sound from the outgoing shot continues under the incoming picture.
How long should an L-cut last?
Only as long as the outgoing sound remains useful. It may last a fraction of a second for smoothness or several seconds while the edit shows a reaction or B-roll.