# Show what the words cannot show alone.

B-roll gives the main story visual context. Choose a shot because it explains a spoken idea or shows an action, then place it without disrupting the underlying performance.

Source: https://vibeclip.ai/skills/b-roll/
Updated: 2026-11-01

This is an original VibeClip workflow brief, not an installable Agent integration. Use it with the editing tools you have available. VibeClip is in development.

## Inputs

- A stable A-roll cut or narration track
- Available cutaway footage and its provenance
- Statements that need visual explanation or supporting evidence

## Copy this brief

Plan B-roll for this spoken edit using the supplied footage. For each cutaway, identify the sentence it supports, source in/out range and intended duration. Keep the spoken audio continuous underneath unless the scene needs natural sound. Distinguish factual evidence from illustrative footage and flag any missing shot. Avoid unrelated stock footage just to fill the frame. Keep cutaways independently editable.

## Review the result

- [ ] Each cutaway has a clear connection to the spoken idea.
- [ ] Illustrative footage is not presented as factual evidence.
- [ ] Source shot duration covers the intended edit.
- [ ] Audio transitions remain coherent under the picture changes.

## Identify the visual gap

Listen to the A-roll and mark moments where seeing something would improve understanding. A hands-on task, a location or an example can benefit from a cutaway. A personal reaction or important qualification may work better with the speaker still visible.

## Match the shot to the sentence

Create a simple cutaway list containing the sentence, source file, source in/out time and editorial purpose. Check the actual footage rather than relying on its filename. A shot labeled “dashboard” may show an obsolete interface or a different feature from the one being discussed.

Use illustrative footage carefully. A generic city scene can establish atmosphere; it does not prove a claim about a particular event. Keep that distinction clear in the script and any required labeling.

## Leave room for the action

A useful shot needs enough time to be recognized. If the action is longer than the available passage, choose its meaningful section or adjust the structure. Do not repeatedly stretch short clips without checking motion and source quality.

A cutaway can also bridge a visual jump in the A-roll while the spoken audio remains continuous. Listen under the transition: changing the picture does not repair a clipped word or an abrupt room-tone boundary.

## Review the full sequence

Watch once with the sound off to check visual continuity and again with sound to judge the relationship between picture and speech. Remove cutaways that create a second, unrelated story. Keep source references so later changes can be made without searching the entire media library.

## Reference

The public [ChatCut skills library](https://chatcut.io/skills) provides related speech-led editing examples. Pair this brief with [talking-head editing](/skills/talking-head/) or [explainer planning](/skills/explainer-video/).