MASTER CLASS FOR J AND L CUT & Post Production tools

Your First Edit in DaVinci Resolve: A Simple Guide

DaVinci Resolve can be intimidating, but basic editing is straightforward. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to get you started.

1. Start a New Project

• Open Resolve.

• Click "New Project" and give it a name.

• Click "Create."

2. Import Your Media

• Go to the Media page (folder icon at the bottom).

• In the "Media Storage" panel, find your video files.

• Drag and drop your clips into the "Media Pool" in the center.

3. Build Your Timeline

• Go to the Edit page (timeline icon).

• Drag and drop your first clip from the Media Pool onto the timeline area at the bottom. This creates your timeline.

  
  

• Drag and drop more clips to add them to your timeline.

4. Edit Your Clips

• Rearrange: Click and drag clips on the timeline to change their order.

• Trim: Hover your mouse over the beginning or end of a clip until the cursor changes, then click and drag to shorten or lengthen it.

• Cut:

  • Place the red line (playhead) where you want to cut.

    
    

  • In the toolbar above the timeline, find the Blade Tool icon (it looks like a razor blade) and click it. You can also press 'B' on your keyboard.

    
    

  • Click the clip where you want to cut it.

  • Switch back to the Selection Tool (arrow icon or 'A' key) to move the clips.

• Delete: Select a clip and press the Delete key.

  
  

5. Export Your Video

• Go to the Deliver page (rocket ship icon at the bottom).

• File Name: Give your video a name.

• Location: Click "Browse" to choose where to save it.

• Format: Choose MP4 for a widely compatible file.

• Click "Add to Render Queue."

• Click "Render All" on the right to start exporting your video.

That's it! You've successfully completed a basic edit in DaVinci Resolve.

MASTERING J AND L CUT IN POST PRODUCTION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyH-a964kAs examples of J & L Cut

https://www.pexels.com/search/videos/ariel%20city/ free stock video - videos that are royalty free not under copyright.

https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/search/ free stock audio - audio that is not under copyright

https://www.google.com/search?q=royalty+free+music&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS998US998&oq=royalty+free+music+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYjwIyBwgAEAAYjwIyBwgBEAAYgAQyBwgCEAAYgAQyBwgDEAAYgAQyBwgEEAAYgAQyBggFEEUYQDIGCAYQRRhAMgYIBxBFGEDSAQg1MzQzajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on - on google you can pick from these royalty free music websites. or write your own music.

What makes a L-cut or J-cut work is the combination of dialogue and imagery.

1. For an L-cut, the dialogue of the entertainer continues as the camera cuts to another video.

2. For a J-cut, the dialogue plays while we see environmental videos (B-roll), but then cuts to the source of the dialogue.

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J-cuts and L-cuts are similar, but different.

By definition, J-cuts are scene transitions where the audio of the next scene precedes the picture change.

In an L-cut, the audio carries over from the previous scene into the following one, despite visual changes.

The visual cut itself should remain the same, however audio is either brought in early from the next clip (a J-cut) or the audio from the previous clips stays under the new clip (a L-cut).

Frequently asked questions about film cuts

• What is a J-cut? 

• A J-cut is where audio from the upcoming clips plays under the old clip.

• What is an L-cut? 

• An L-cut is where the audio from the previous clip plays under the new clip.

• How many types of cuts are there? 

• While there are some universal basic types of cuts like standard, match, hard and J- and L-cuts, there are really an endless amount of cuts available for creative video editors.

• Should I avoid using jump cuts? 

• Unless you are using them for thematic effect, you should avoid using jump cuts as they can be disorienting and seem unprofessional in most videos.

Hopefully this primer on film cuts has given you a good basic understanding of how editing works for most film and video projects. 

At the end of the day, the best cuts for your projects will be the ones which help you tell your story in the most direct, and creative, way possible. Mix and match your cuts to finesse your storyline, and when in doubt, experiment.