# What is A-roll?

> A-roll is the main footage of a video, such as a person talking to camera. See how it differs from B-roll and a worked example for a 30-second ad.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-06
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/a-roll

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A-roll is the main footage of a video: the shot that carries the story, usually a person speaking to camera. B-roll is the extra footage you cut over it.

## A-roll and B-roll

| | A-roll | B-roll |
|---|---|---|
| What | The main shot, such as a creator talking | Cutaway footage that supports it |
| Carries | The message and the voice | Proof and pace |
| In a UGC ad | The creator on camera | Product shots, results, the setting |

## A worked example

Say your UGC ad runs 30 seconds. The creator talks to camera for all 30 seconds, so the voice track is your A-roll. You decide that 18 seconds of the ad shows cutaways.

30 − 18 = **12 seconds** of the creator on screen.

18 / 30 x 100 = **60%** of the screen time is B-roll.

The voice still runs for 30 seconds. That works because the voice carries on under the cutaways. This is an [L-cut](/glossary/l-cut).

## How to shoot A-roll

1. Record the whole script in one go.
2. Leave a one-second pause between lines so cuts are easy.
3. Keep the frame steady and the eyes on the lens.
4. Record a second take of the hook.

## How to edit it

Cut the pauses and stumbles first. See [jump cut](/glossary/jump-cut). Then lay cutaways over the A-roll wherever a line needs proof. For briefs and scripts, see [how to make UGC ads](/guides/how-to-make-ugc-ads) and [video ad script examples](/templates/ad-script-examples).

Marxx's [AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) lets you cut a talking clip by its transcript, and its assistant can add B-roll. We make Marxx.

## FAQ

### Is A-roll always a person talking?

No. It is whatever carries the story: a demo, an interview or a voiceover over a main scene.

### Is A-roll the same as UGC?

No. UGC is a style of ad. A-roll is the role a shot plays inside any video.

### Can an ad have no B-roll?

Yes. A short, direct talking shot can work on its own. Add cutaways when a line needs proof.

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