Cutting on the beat makes an edit feel intentional. It works best with music that has a clear pulse.
1. Know the tempo
If you generated the track, you already know the BPM because you asked for it. Otherwise, tap along with a BPM tool. Beat length in seconds is 60 divided by BPM: 0.5 seconds at 120 BPM, about 0.67 seconds at 90 BPM.
2. Mark the beats
Most editors let you add markers while playback runs. Tap the marker key on every beat, or every downbeat (the first beat of each bar), for the whole track. Some editors can detect beats automatically, but check the results.
3. Choose shot lengths in beats
Think in beats rather than seconds. Fast montages might cut every beat; calmer sequences every bar or every two bars. Changing the cutting rate at section changes, for example doubling it in the chorus or drop, adds energy.
4. Use structure
Music has sections: intro, verse, build, drop, breakdown. Map them to the story of your edit. Put your biggest shot on the drop or chorus. Use the breakdown for a breather or a reveal.
5. Cut slightly early
Cutting a frame or two before the beat often feels more in sync than cutting exactly on it, because viewers react to the change in picture. Experiment.
6. Do not cut on every beat
Constant beat cuts become predictable. Hold a shot through a bar, then hit an accent hard. Contrast keeps it interesting.
Generate music around your edit
If your edit already exists, generate music to fit it: "build from 0:00 to 0:28, drop at 0:28, 128 BPM". Our BPM guide suggests tempos by purpose.
Written by the Sonvela editorial team with AI drafting assistance, then checked against the sources linked in the text. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.