Narrative Cut
A narrative cut is an edited version of raw footage that follows a coherent structure with proper pacing, removed dead air, and clean transitions.
It's not the final polish—but it's no longer raw footage either.
Where It Fits in Post-Production
| Stage | Description | |-------|-------------| | Raw footage | Unedited recording with all mistakes, pauses, and tangents | | Narrative cut | Structured edit with dead air removed, pacing improved | | Fine cut | Creative refinements, transitions, graphics added | | Final cut | Color graded, audio mastered, ready for delivery |
The narrative cut handles the tedious first-pass work so editors can focus on creative decisions.
What Makes a Good Narrative Cut
Clean pacing Dead air and unnecessary pauses removed. Content flows naturally.
Logical structure Follows the intended narrative or conversation arc.
Smooth transitions Cuts don't feel jarring or abrupt.
Audio consistency Levels normalized, obvious issues addressed.
Why It Matters
Creating a narrative cut manually from raw footage is the most time-consuming part of editing. For a 60-minute recording, expect 2-4 hours of first-pass work before creative editing even begins.
Automating narrative cut generation changes the math entirely.
Related Concepts
Content reviewed January 2026.