MASTER CLASS FOR J AND L CUT
- Amanda Nuir Myrdal
- Sep 13, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 16
The J-Cut: "Sound Before Picture"
In a J-Cut, the audio of the upcoming scene starts playing before the video cuts over to it.
The Shape: On the timeline, the audio track stretches out to the left underneath your current video clip, forming the letter "J".
Why use it? It mimics how we react in real life. If you hear a loud crash in another room, your ears register the sound before your eyes turn to look at it. It builds anticipation and guides the viewer naturally into the next shot.
The L-Cut: "Picture Before Sound"
In an L-Cut, the audio of the current scene continues playing after the video has already transitioned to the next clip.
The Shape: On the timeline, the audio track extends to the right underneath the next clip's video, forming the letter "L".
Why use it? L-Cuts are the holy grail of reaction shots. If Character A is talking, you can cut the video to Character B rolling their eyes while Character A's voice continues to play. It keeps the viewer grounded in the emotional flow of the scene.
MASTERING J AND L CUT IN POST PRODUCTION
Step-by-Step: How to Make J & L Cuts in DaVinci Resolve
Making these cuts on the Edit Page of DaVinci Resolve is incredibly easy once you know the secret shortcut to bypass your linked clips.
Step 1: Align Your Clips
Place your two video clips back-to-back on your timeline. By default, DaVinci Resolve links the video and audio of each clip together, meaning if you try to trim one, the other moves with it.
Step 2: Temporarily Bypass the Link
Instead of completely unlinking your audio and video (which can lead to accidentally throwing your clips out of sync later), use the Alt/Option modifier trick.
Hold the Alt key (Windows) or Option key (Mac).
With this key held down, click only the edit point of either the video or the audio track you want to adjust. You will see just that single track light up in green or red.
Step 3: Slide to Create Your Shape
While still holding Alt / Option (or with your Selection tool active), hover your mouse over the edge of the clip to grab the edit point:
To make a J-Cut: Hold Alt/Option and drag the video edit point of the second clip to the right (shortening the video starting point) or drag the audio of the second clip to the left (starting the sound earlier).
To make an L-Cut: Hold Alt/Option and drag the video edit point of the second clip to the left, which covers the tail end of your first clip's video while letting its audio continue to play underneath.
Step 4: Soften the Audio Edits
Whenever you split-cut audio, there is a risk of a microscopic "pop" or "click" at the cut point.
Hover your mouse over the top corner of your edited audio clip until you see a tiny white handle appear.
Click and drag that handle inward slightly to apply a subtle fade-in or fade-out. This blends the room tones of both environments seamlessly.
Quick Tips for Editors
Don't overdo it: Keep your split edits brief—usually 1 to 3 seconds is more than enough to create a natural visual flow.
Trust your ears over your eyes: If a transition feels smooth when you close your eyes and just listen to the audio, the edit is working.
Watch the Sync Indicators: If you accidentally move an audio clip out of its sync alignment, Resolve will display a red box with a number (like +15 or -12) telling you exactly how many frames out of sync the track is. Hold Alt/Option and slide it back until that red warning disappears.
The J-Cut Examples
The Wolf of Wall Street (The Chest Chant Scene)
What to watch for: Pay close attention at the very beginning of the scene transition. While the video is still showing Jordan Belfort looking around the restaurant, the thumping sound of the chest beat begins to bleed in. Only after a couple of seconds does the camera cut to reveal where the sound is coming from.
At 0:41 – The camera is focused on a close-up of Jordan’s face as he quietly processes what Mark has just said.
The Transition – While the camera is still locked onto Jordan’s reaction, you suddenly hear a low, rhythmic thumping and humming noise begin on the soundtrack.
Step 3: Spot the Visual Cut
At 0:43 – Two seconds after you first hear the humming, the video finally cuts to a wider shot of the table. Only now do your eyes confirm what your ears already registered: Mark Hanna is intensely thumping his chest and chanting right in the middle of a quiet, upscale restaurant.
How to analyze this J-Cut in the clip:
Start at 2:40 – The elderly veteran is walking through the Normandy American Cemetery with his family. The soundtrack is dominated by a very quiet, emotional brass score by John Williams and the gentle rustling of the wind.
At 3:15 – As the camera slowly moves in close on the veteran’s eyes as he breaks down, listen to the background wind. You will hear the sound design begin to shift. The high-pitched whistling of the cemetery wind morphs into a low, deep rumbling sound.
By 3:30 – While we are still looking at the veteran's face in the modern day, the low rumble of the ocean tide and the distant, muffled "thud-thud-thud" of heavy artillery completely take over the audio track.
At 3:36 – The video finally cuts to the ocean, showing the Higgins landing crafts heading toward Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944.
This is the exact moment Steven Spielberg and sound designer Gary Rydstrom use a J-cut to transport the audience directly into the character's memory before showing it on screen.
How to analyze this L-Cut in the clip:
Start at 1:10 – Darth Vader is cornering Luke Skywalker on the gantry. He says: "Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father."
At 1:20 – Luke replies, "He told me enough! He told me you killed him!" The camera is on a tight close-up of Luke's exhausted, angry face.
At 1:24 – The video cuts to Darth Vader as he delivers the iconic blow: "No. I am your father."
At 1:28 (The L-Cut) – Right as Vader finishes saying "father," the video immediately cuts back to Luke’s stunned, horrified face. However, the audio of Vader’s massive, mechanical, echoing breathing mask continues to dominate the soundtrack over the shot of Luke.
By extending Vader's terrifying breathing over Luke's reaction, the edit creates an L-cut that makes the audience feel Luke's world shattering in real-time. It emphasizes that Vader's presence is still completely overwhelming Luke, even when Vader isn't physically visible on screen.
How to analyze this L-Cut in the clip:
Start at 1:40 – Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) begins pacing around the bowling alley, towering over a terrified Eli Sunday (Paul Dano). As Daniel explains his "drainage" metaphor, the camera cuts back and forth between them.
At 2:03 (The L-Cut Begins) – Daniel screams, "I drink your milkshake!" and makes a loud slurping sound. Just as he starts explaining the metaphor ("If you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake..."), the camera cuts to a reaction shot of Eli cowering on the floor.
The Audio Extension – While the camera stays glued to Eli’s face, Daniel’s booming, echoing voice continues to deliver the lines over him. The editor forces you to watch Eli digest his complete defeat while Daniel's taunts ring in his ears.
At 2:15 – The camera finally cuts back to Daniel to show him aggressively gesturing with his hands as he yells, "I drink it up!"
Why this edit is so powerful:
By holding the visual on Eli while keeping Daniel's loud, echoing audio active, the editor uses an L-cut to establish pure psychological dominance. We don't need to see Daniel saying the words to feel his power; seeing the sheer terror they inflict on Eli tells the entire story.
free stock video - videos that are royalty free not under copyright.
free stock audio - audio that is not under copyright
on google you can pick from these royalty free music websites. or write your own music.
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