Hiding cuts with a split edit

A split edit is a cut where the transition between the audio and video is split to happen at different times.

There are two types of split edit, a J cut where we hear the audio from the next clip before we see the video, and an L cut where the audio from the previous clip is heard over the video of the next clip. They are named J and L cuts after the shape they make on the Timeline. The bottom of the J and L cuts is the audio, and the upright shape of the letter is the video, as the audio appears below the video on the Timeline.

Split edits are good for hiding an edit, as there is a softer transition than a straight cut (through cut), and our brains only have to deal with one sensory change at a time. With a straight cut, the video and audio change at the same time, whereas with a J or L cut, the audio changes at a different time in the video, which softens the edit and makes it less obvious.

With this exercise, we need some audio to play with...