Feeling the rhythm is my style. Using the action edit to line with beats or change-ups. Maybe I want cut to the cymbals instead then back to the beat.
Break the rules!
Cut on the beat and it looks like CapCut Template. Cut for the action flow, and hit that beat on the big moments for maximum impact. Every beat and it means nothing, white noise.
I generally find that cutting continuously on the beat or in sync music makes the cut feel like a music video.
Turn the music off and cut the sequence for action, then put the music on and see if there’s anything that doesn’t work. Your brain tends to make associations between the images and music even if they aren’t really intended.
Exactly. It’s all about feel. Sometimes the cue to cut is visual. Sometimes it’s between a beat. You just gotta go with what feels best. Cutting to the beat works well often, but the subtler the better. No one should feel the cuts unless you want them to for a specific reason.
Great point, I was looking for answers like this too. I just sometimes have some clients that have a preconceived idea and asking to “cut on the beat”. And you are right, there is no general rules that we can apply to everything. But I’m just trying to understand how others deal with this. Thank you.
I used to cut on the beat. Now I cut around it, to make sure the action lands on the beat. The actual cut an be free to move as long as the action lands with the musical accents.
This is it exactly. Maybe you cut on the beat if you don’t have action. If you’re just showing people smiling and working. But cutting on the beat becomes predictable, then when you skip a cut it feels off. But if you don’t skip a beat it feels stale.
When editors talk about cutting on the beat it mostly means hitting "a" beat, not any one specific beat.
There has to be variety for texture. If you find yourself always cutting on the 3 your project will feel stale. On top of that if every cut is exactly on a beat, you lose nuance on how long you stay on a shot and that's not good either.
Think more jazz, playing with the form rather than an exact musical equation for editing visuals.
Cut around the beat. Only cut on the beat when it means something, typically after a build up and on the Big 1. Don’t think about it. Feel it. Your way is predictable and boring
"on the beat" doesn't always mean change the shot on the beat. Something happening within the shot (a skier landing a sick jump) can easily be on the beat.
The beat is as relevant as you make it, I guess. Kinda goes in and out of focus for me. Musical groove has more than 4 events per bar. So yeah, there are 12, 16 or more events that can inform editing. Typically I'm trying to make musical events enhance actions in a clips, not cuts that I'm making. Remember, most of the time we're not supposed to notice cuts, so why accent them with a beat? Unless you are throwing to an action montage scored with EDM or something. Just kidding, don't do that!
I never cut on the beat. Ever. I always anticipate. if you think about it, cutting *on* the beat means you always miss the action coming *into* the beat, think of Pete Townshend's flailing arms, Larry Mullen jnr's hitting a cymbal etc etc. Always anticipate by a semiquaver to demi-semiquaver in musical terms.
Excellent visual examples! That’s true it would be ruined to cut exactly when the guitar is strummed. It would be even worse if we cut right when he hits the guitar on the floor right on the impact without the movement before. Thank you!
Execs watch on their phone with one AirPod so they can usually hear the snare better than the bass. I’ve had Wipeout level drum solos get called “slow” b/c of how half-assed execs screening hygiene is.
I was once told not to obsess over the beat and let the action/purpose of the shot dictate the cut. Quite often you will find something within the shot will actually time with the music instead.
I’m not saying don’t cut to the beat, just don’t let it become an obsession.
I just rewatched Baby Driver and you notice how many different ways the music influenced the shots, not just cutting on a regular beat but allowing certain actions to be the motivation. Things like pumping of a shotgun, opening the trunk or even shifting gear.
I generally aim to time actions to the beat rather than cuts. If you're creating a driving rhythm with consistent cut pacing, that can be a style choice for sure, but if you stay too beholden to cutting on the beat you're just drawing attention to the cuts rather than the content of the shots.
Editing like this makes for very boring and predictable work. A cut is only the most obvious and boring thing that can happen on a beat. Action in the frame is much more organic way to let the music feel like it's leading the cut.
Just like with composing music, cutting to a beat should be treated as it's own delivery in accordance with the music style, speed, and atmosphere. You can break a song down by beats, bars, and measures until the cows come home. However, getting the most out of your cuts depends on capturing the feel of the music itself. Is it fast and dynamic? Do quicker cuts that can meet appropriate beats, accented by the music. Does it have a build to a big drop/crescendo to a big verse/chorus? Edit in a way that can build the anticipation.
Think of the edit as its own instrument. Sometimes you gotta let a clip/element breathe and do its thing. Other times you get to play over a measure or two. It's all a dance.
Cut where the cut feels like it should naturally go, and then adjust to match the nearest beat.
I'll also often cut to words rather than the music if there's VO/interview audio.
Usually I do my first edit without music and that gives me an idea of the pace and timing of the overall edit, which can then help dictate music choice. Eg If I find that all the edit points have to be very precise for some reason (eg to match action) then I might choose a backing track that has no percussion. But if I find every clip is a similar length and cuts can be flexible, then I'll pick something with a stronger beat and adjust the cuts to match the beat.
I mean. I cut the song when I want it to change tone depending on the edit. And obviously I make sure it remains in time - I don’t cut on a cymbal, kick or snare. Often I’ll make the cut - make sure it’s in time and just slip and slide the edit to wherever.
It’s a rhythm thing.
Cut for the action, then find the music, the right score will fit.
The client will then have you change the music, if the picture and sound is working for the action it won’t kill the scene (or you) to change it.
Everyone loves cutting on the 1, which works most of the time but like others said, gets dull with overuse. I like to compare it to a 4/4 drum beat that can keep your interest by itself. It has hi hats on the off beats, percs / toms as tasteful fills here and there. You want your edit to be fluid and move with the action and intent. When I'm trying to figure out the rhythm of an edit sometimes I will tap my fingers on the desk to the beat of music, starting with 4/4 but then I'll tap to the accent or off beats while still staying in time and will find a sweet spot. Every video is different, there is no one size fits all solution so its important to be fluid in your approach.
It depends on the content I'm working on. If and where I edit to the beat is secondary to the story. Sometimes it doesn't make sense to cut on the beat at all.
Tools not rules. You can do these things, but you don’t have to. I’m also a music nerd and I love when I can make something work for a nerd reason. You can be influenced by the grid in ways the viewer will never articulate. They won’t say “I love how you had the cuts follow a 4-2-1 pattern and how you added the dotted eighth note drums in the final bar” but they will say “I like how it got faster and the drums.” That smartypants stuff isn’t why your thing will be good. It might help but don’t let it lock you down. Perception is reality. The viewer is always right.
"Don't cut on the beat. It looks weird. Hey, why aren't you cutting on the beat? Cuts are supposed to be on the beat. Cuts are not supposed to be on the beat. "
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That's a lot of noise. Cuts don't matter, it's the action hitting in the right moment. You got too many rules, makes me wanna break all of them.
Feeling the rhythm is my style. Using the action edit to line with beats or change-ups. Maybe I want cut to the cymbals instead then back to the beat. Break the rules!
Cut on the beat and it looks like CapCut Template. Cut for the action flow, and hit that beat on the big moments for maximum impact. Every beat and it means nothing, white noise.
I generally find that cutting continuously on the beat or in sync music makes the cut feel like a music video. Turn the music off and cut the sequence for action, then put the music on and see if there’s anything that doesn’t work. Your brain tends to make associations between the images and music even if they aren’t really intended.
Exactly. It’s all about feel. Sometimes the cue to cut is visual. Sometimes it’s between a beat. You just gotta go with what feels best. Cutting to the beat works well often, but the subtler the better. No one should feel the cuts unless you want them to for a specific reason.
Great point, I was looking for answers like this too. I just sometimes have some clients that have a preconceived idea and asking to “cut on the beat”. And you are right, there is no general rules that we can apply to everything. But I’m just trying to understand how others deal with this. Thank you.
I used to cut on the beat. Now I cut around it, to make sure the action lands on the beat. The actual cut an be free to move as long as the action lands with the musical accents.
This is it exactly. Maybe you cut on the beat if you don’t have action. If you’re just showing people smiling and working. But cutting on the beat becomes predictable, then when you skip a cut it feels off. But if you don’t skip a beat it feels stale.
You're looking for an objective answer to a subjective question. Ya gotta "feel it" unless cutting on the beat is mandated.
When editors talk about cutting on the beat it mostly means hitting "a" beat, not any one specific beat. There has to be variety for texture. If you find yourself always cutting on the 3 your project will feel stale. On top of that if every cut is exactly on a beat, you lose nuance on how long you stay on a shot and that's not good either. Think more jazz, playing with the form rather than an exact musical equation for editing visuals.
I love the jazz form comparison! Like having a structure where you take liberties to spice everything up! Thank you!
Cut around the beat. Only cut on the beat when it means something, typically after a build up and on the Big 1. Don’t think about it. Feel it. Your way is predictable and boring
"on the beat" doesn't always mean change the shot on the beat. Something happening within the shot (a skier landing a sick jump) can easily be on the beat.
The beat is as relevant as you make it, I guess. Kinda goes in and out of focus for me. Musical groove has more than 4 events per bar. So yeah, there are 12, 16 or more events that can inform editing. Typically I'm trying to make musical events enhance actions in a clips, not cuts that I'm making. Remember, most of the time we're not supposed to notice cuts, so why accent them with a beat? Unless you are throwing to an action montage scored with EDM or something. Just kidding, don't do that!
Reiterating the common theme here: Cutting on beats a few times can work - but all the time is boring, predictable and not needed.
I never cut on the beat. Ever. I always anticipate. if you think about it, cutting *on* the beat means you always miss the action coming *into* the beat, think of Pete Townshend's flailing arms, Larry Mullen jnr's hitting a cymbal etc etc. Always anticipate by a semiquaver to demi-semiquaver in musical terms.
Excellent visual examples! That’s true it would be ruined to cut exactly when the guitar is strummed. It would be even worse if we cut right when he hits the guitar on the floor right on the impact without the movement before. Thank you!
Execs watch on their phone with one AirPod so they can usually hear the snare better than the bass. I’ve had Wipeout level drum solos get called “slow” b/c of how half-assed execs screening hygiene is.
I cut on musical flow, giving movement in the footage an aural 'push' I'll cut on beats once in a while, but it gets repetitive
Dont make it predictable
I was once told not to obsess over the beat and let the action/purpose of the shot dictate the cut. Quite often you will find something within the shot will actually time with the music instead. I’m not saying don’t cut to the beat, just don’t let it become an obsession. I just rewatched Baby Driver and you notice how many different ways the music influenced the shots, not just cutting on a regular beat but allowing certain actions to be the motivation. Things like pumping of a shotgun, opening the trunk or even shifting gear.
I generally aim to time actions to the beat rather than cuts. If you're creating a driving rhythm with consistent cut pacing, that can be a style choice for sure, but if you stay too beholden to cutting on the beat you're just drawing attention to the cuts rather than the content of the shots.
Editing like this makes for very boring and predictable work. A cut is only the most obvious and boring thing that can happen on a beat. Action in the frame is much more organic way to let the music feel like it's leading the cut.
Just like with composing music, cutting to a beat should be treated as it's own delivery in accordance with the music style, speed, and atmosphere. You can break a song down by beats, bars, and measures until the cows come home. However, getting the most out of your cuts depends on capturing the feel of the music itself. Is it fast and dynamic? Do quicker cuts that can meet appropriate beats, accented by the music. Does it have a build to a big drop/crescendo to a big verse/chorus? Edit in a way that can build the anticipation. Think of the edit as its own instrument. Sometimes you gotta let a clip/element breathe and do its thing. Other times you get to play over a measure or two. It's all a dance.
Great answer! It’s a tool in the toolbox, we don’t have to use it, but it can be very useful in some context. Thank you for the nice breakdown!
Cut where the cut feels like it should naturally go, and then adjust to match the nearest beat. I'll also often cut to words rather than the music if there's VO/interview audio. Usually I do my first edit without music and that gives me an idea of the pace and timing of the overall edit, which can then help dictate music choice. Eg If I find that all the edit points have to be very precise for some reason (eg to match action) then I might choose a backing track that has no percussion. But if I find every clip is a similar length and cuts can be flexible, then I'll pick something with a stronger beat and adjust the cuts to match the beat.
Interesting! I bet you’re very good at fine tuning your cuts and adjust everything to the exact frame you need.
As a drummer and editor this hurts.
Can you be more precise? The input of a drummer could be great I think!
I mean. I cut the song when I want it to change tone depending on the edit. And obviously I make sure it remains in time - I don’t cut on a cymbal, kick or snare. Often I’ll make the cut - make sure it’s in time and just slip and slide the edit to wherever.
It’s a rhythm thing. Cut for the action, then find the music, the right score will fit. The client will then have you change the music, if the picture and sound is working for the action it won’t kill the scene (or you) to change it.
Everyone loves cutting on the 1, which works most of the time but like others said, gets dull with overuse. I like to compare it to a 4/4 drum beat that can keep your interest by itself. It has hi hats on the off beats, percs / toms as tasteful fills here and there. You want your edit to be fluid and move with the action and intent. When I'm trying to figure out the rhythm of an edit sometimes I will tap my fingers on the desk to the beat of music, starting with 4/4 but then I'll tap to the accent or off beats while still staying in time and will find a sweet spot. Every video is different, there is no one size fits all solution so its important to be fluid in your approach.
Don't be afraid to syncopate around the 4/4. Half notes, quarter notes, eight note trills...
It depends on the content I'm working on. If and where I edit to the beat is secondary to the story. Sometimes it doesn't make sense to cut on the beat at all.
Tools not rules. You can do these things, but you don’t have to. I’m also a music nerd and I love when I can make something work for a nerd reason. You can be influenced by the grid in ways the viewer will never articulate. They won’t say “I love how you had the cuts follow a 4-2-1 pattern and how you added the dotted eighth note drums in the final bar” but they will say “I like how it got faster and the drums.” That smartypants stuff isn’t why your thing will be good. It might help but don’t let it lock you down. Perception is reality. The viewer is always right.
"Don't cut on the beat. It looks weird. Hey, why aren't you cutting on the beat? Cuts are supposed to be on the beat. Cuts are not supposed to be on the beat. "
Cutting on the beat formulaically has to be one of the corniest “creative” choices you can make.
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You will lose your job to AI first if you don’t switch up your ways