# What is a rough cut?

> A rough cut is the first assembly of a video: the right clips in the right order, not yet polished. See the stages, a worked timing example and tools.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-08
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/rough-cut

---

A rough cut is the first full assembly of a video: the right clips in the right order, with no polish. Colour, sound design and fine trims come later.

## The stages

| Stage | Goal | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Rough cut | Get the story and order right | Place clips, cut the pauses |
| Fine cut | Get the timing right | Trim, add cutaways and captions |
| Final cut | Get it ready to upload | Colour, sound, export |

## A worked example

Say your script runs 45 seconds but your ad must be 30 seconds. Your rough cut comes out at 38 seconds.

38 − 30 = **8 seconds** to trim in the fine cut.

You know the order works, so you trim the weakest lines and shots first. Do not polish anything before the length is right.

## How to make one

1. Put your [A-roll](/glossary/a-roll) on the timeline in script order.
2. Cut the pauses, stumbles and false starts.
3. Drop in cutaways where a line needs proof.
4. Watch it once from start to end without stopping.
5. Note the lines that drag, and trim them in the next pass.

## Tools that speed it up

Premiere Pro (now called Adobe Premiere) lets you make rough cuts by copying and pasting transcript text. That comes from Adobe's product page (checked 3 Nov 2026). This is [text-based video editing](/glossary/text-based-video-editing).

Marxx's [AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) can cut by transcript. It can also fit a cut to a target duration and finish a cut in a chosen style. We make Marxx.

## FAQ

### What is the difference between a rough cut and a final cut?

A rough cut has the right order. A final cut has the right timing, colour, sound and captions.

### How long should a rough cut be?

Longer than the final ad. Trim from it, so you can drop the weakest parts.

### Do I need a rough cut for a 15-second ad?

Yes, but it takes minutes. The same order-then-polish method keeps short edits tidy.

---
- [More Video editing articles](https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/category/video-editing)
- [All articles](https://marxx.ai/library-glossary)