# What is an L-cut?

> An L-cut keeps the last shot's sound playing over the next picture. See how it works, a worked timing example and how video ads use it to show the product.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-06
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/l-cut

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An L-cut is an edit where the picture changes to the next shot, but the sound of the last shot keeps playing. The viewer sees something new while the voice carries on.

## The L in L-cut

On the timeline, the first clip's audio runs past the picture cut. The shapes of the clips look like the letter L. The opposite edit is the [J-cut](/glossary/j-cut).

## A worked example

Say a creator talks to camera until 8.0 seconds. The picture cuts to a product close-up at 8.0 seconds, but the creator's voice runs on until 9.0 seconds.

| Time | Picture | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 8.0 s | Creator on camera | Creator speaking |
| 8.0 to 9.0 s | Product close-up | Creator still speaking |

The voice overlaps the product shot by 1.0 second. At 30 frames per second, that is **30 frames**.

## How to make one

1. Cut the picture where you want the new shot to appear.
2. Detach or unlink the audio of the first clip. The command name differs by editor.
3. Drag the end of that audio later, under the new picture.
4. Check that the next clip's own sound does not clash with it.

## When ads use it

- The voice names a feature while the screen already shows it.
- A pause in the main footage is covered, so the cut does not feel like a jump. See [jump cut](/glossary/jump-cut).
- The main footage is the [A-roll](/glossary/a-roll), and the new picture is cutaway footage.

## FAQ

### Is an L-cut harder than a plain cut?

Slightly. You work with the picture and the sound on separate tracks, so you must unlink them first.

### Can I use an L-cut with music?

Yes. Let the music from one scene carry into the next picture to join them.

### Should the voice always run long?

No. Let it run only as long as the new picture needs to land. Trim it until it feels natural.

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