J-cut

J 컷

The next scene’s sound begins first; the picture follows a moment later.

Also known as: J editaudio pre-lap
···
html
<div class="stage j-demo">
  <div class="monitor">
    <div class="shot hall"><i class="door"></i><i class="lamp"></i><span>SHOT A · HALL</span></div>
    <div class="shot room"><i class="window"></i><i class="lamp"></i><span>SHOT B · ROOM</span></div>
    <div class="cue">B AUDIO ARRIVES FIRST</div>
  </div>
  <div class="timeline">
    <div class="track-row"><b>PICTURE</b><div class="lane"><i class="clip video-a">A · HALL</i><i class="clip video-b">B · ROOM</i><i class="cut"></i><i class="playhead"></i></div></div>
    <div class="track-row"><b>AUDIO A</b><div class="lane"><i class="clip sound-a waveform">VOICE</i><i class="cut"></i><i class="playhead"></i></div></div>
    <div class="track-row"><b>AUDIO B</b><div class="lane"><i class="clip sound-b waveform">ROOM TONE</i><i class="cut"></i><i class="playhead"></i></div></div>
    <div class="note"><i></i> NEXT SOUND LEADS THE PICTURE CUT</div>
  </div>
</div>
css
.j-demo{position:absolute;inset:0;overflow:hidden;background:var(--bg)}
.monitor{position:absolute;inset:5% 6% 55%;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--surface)}
.shot{position:absolute;inset:0;overflow:hidden;padding:8px;color:#fff;font:700 clamp(8px,1vw,12px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.08em}
.hall{background:linear-gradient(118deg,#233b39 0 27%,#52665c 27% 50%,#192a2a 50%);animation:hall-shot 4s steps(1,end) infinite}
.room{background:linear-gradient(145deg,#a86b42,#513c3a 64%,#263d46);opacity:0;animation:room-shot 4s steps(1,end) infinite}
.door{position:absolute;right:18%;bottom:0;width:22%;height:80%;border:1px solid #ffffff8c;border-bottom:0;background:linear-gradient(90deg,#172523,#8b7359 75%,#172523)}
.window{position:absolute;right:16%;top:14%;width:24%;height:54%;border:1px solid #ffffffad;background:linear-gradient(145deg,#d7bd8b,#799698)}
.lamp{position:absolute;left:23%;top:25%;width:13%;aspect-ratio:1;border-radius:50%;background:#f7d891;box-shadow:0 0 0 8px #f7d89122}
.shot span{position:absolute;left:10px;bottom:8px;text-shadow:0 1px 4px #000}
.cue{position:absolute;right:8px;top:8px;padding:4px 6px;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--surface);color:var(--fg);font:700 clamp(7px,.9vw,11px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.06em;opacity:0;animation:cue 4s linear infinite}
.timeline{position:absolute;left:6%;right:6%;top:49%;bottom:6%;display:grid;grid-template-rows:repeat(3,minmax(0,1fr)) auto;gap:4px}
.track-row{display:grid;grid-template-columns:clamp(50px,8vw,96px) 1fr;gap:6px;align-items:stretch;min-height:0}
.track-row>b{display:flex;align-items:center;color:var(--muted);font:700 clamp(7px,1vw,11px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.07em}
.lane{position:relative;overflow:visible;min-width:0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}
.clip{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;display:flex;align-items:center;overflow:hidden;padding:0 5px;white-space:nowrap;color:var(--fg);font:700 clamp(7px,1vw,12px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.025em}
.video-a{left:0;width:54%;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--surface)}
.video-b{left:54%;width:46%;border:1px solid var(--line);background:var(--surface)}
.sound-a{left:0;width:54%;border:1px solid var(--accent-2);background:var(--surface)}
.sound-b{left:31%;width:69%;border:1px solid var(--accent);background:var(--surface)}
.waveform:after{content:"";position:absolute;inset:27% 4px;background:repeating-linear-gradient(90deg,transparent 0 4px,currentColor 4px 5px,transparent 5px 8px);opacity:.34;pointer-events:none}
.sound-a:after{color:var(--accent-2)}.sound-b:after{color:var(--accent)}
.cut{position:absolute;z-index:2;left:54%;top:-2px;bottom:-2px;width:1px;background:var(--fg);opacity:.72}
.playhead{position:absolute;z-index:3;top:-3px;bottom:-3px;left:0;width:2px;background:var(--accent);animation:playhead 4s linear infinite}
.note{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;color:var(--muted);font:700 clamp(7px,1vw,11px) ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.05em}
.note i{width:7px;aspect-ratio:1;border-radius:50%;background:var(--accent);animation:blink 4s linear infinite}
@keyframes hall-shot{0%,53.9%{opacity:1}54%,100%{opacity:0}}
@keyframes room-shot{0%,53.9%{opacity:0}54%,100%{opacity:1}}
@keyframes cue{0%,28%{opacity:0}32%,54%{opacity:1}61%,100%{opacity:0}}
@keyframes playhead{from{left:0}to{left:100%}}
@keyframes blink{0%,30%,62%,100%{opacity:.35}38%,53%{opacity:1}}

The next scene is still out of view, but its sound arrives first. It is like hearing a voice from behind a door before the picture shows who is speaking; your ear gets a beat ahead of your eye.

On the timeline, move the next shot’s audio earlier than its picture cut. Keep the outgoing picture until the edit point, and let the new audio overlap beneath it.

A J-cut specifically brings in the next shot’s sound before its picture. A sound bridge is broader: music or an effect can connect shots too. A long pre-lap may make the unseen place confusing, so start short and adjust by ear.

When to use

Use it to ease into a conversation or a new location and hint at what comes next. Letting the next space be heard first can soften an abrupt cut.

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