# A-roll

Canonical URL: https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/a-roll
Last updated: 2026-10-08

> Definition: A-roll is the primary footage of a video: the shots that carry the story, usually a person speaking to camera or an interview. Everything else, from cutaways to graphics, is layered over or between it.

A-roll is the footage your video can't exist without. In a talking-head video it's you speaking to the camera. In an interview it's the subject answering questions. In a product demo it's often the screen recording that the voiceover follows. Editors build the story on the A-roll first, then add B-roll, graphics and music on top.

## Where does the term A-roll come from?

The term comes from film editing, where footage was physically split across two reels. In A/B roll editing, the main shots went on the "A" reel and the alternate shots on the "B" reel, so a transition could run from one to the other. The film is gone, but the names stuck: A-roll for the main story, B-roll for the supporting shots.

## How is A-roll used in short-form and YouTube videos?

In short-form and YouTube videos, A-roll is usually one person talking, cut tight. The editing work on A-roll is mostly subtraction: removing false starts, repeated takes, long pauses and filler words so the line of thought moves quickly. That produces [jump cuts](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/jump-cut), which editors then hide or embrace with [B-roll](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/b-roll), [punch-in zooms](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/punch-in-zoom) or captions.

| | A-roll | B-roll |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The main footage that carries the story | Supporting footage cut in over or between it |
| Typical shots | Talking head, interview, demo screen recording | Cutaways, product shots, stock clips, screenshots |
| Audio | Usually the audio you keep | Usually muted under the A-roll's sound |
| Editing job | Choose the best takes, tighten the pacing | Illustrate, cover cuts, add variety |

## What's an example of A-roll?

Say a founder records a two-minute take explaining a new feature. That take is the A-roll. The editor cuts the warm-up ("hey everyone, so today..."), removes a fumbled sentence and tightens the pauses, which leaves a 50-second version of the founder talking. Clips of the feature in use, cut in over the explanation, are the B-roll.

## How do you edit A-roll in Vidiyo?

In Vidiyo you edit A-roll by asking for it in chat. Vidiyo transcribes the footage on your Mac, and the assistant reads the transcript and looks at the actual frames before it cuts. You can ask it to keep the best take of a repeated line, remove ums and pauses, or start on the strongest sentence. Picture and dialogue stay in one clip, so trims keep them in sync, and every change lands on a real timeline you can adjust by hand. See [silence and filler word removal](https://getvidiyo.app/features/silence-and-filler-word-removal) for how pause removal works.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between A-roll and B-roll?

A-roll is the main footage that carries the story, usually someone talking. B-roll is supporting footage cut in over or between it to show what's being described, hide cuts and add variety.

### Is a screen recording A-roll?

It can be. In a product demo where the voiceover follows what happens on screen, the screen recording carries the story, so it's the A-roll. A face-cam bubble over it then plays a supporting role.

### Do short-form videos need B-roll, or is A-roll enough?

Plenty of Shorts and Reels are pure A-roll: one person, tight cuts and captions. B-roll helps when you describe something the viewer can't see, or when a long run of talking needs a visual break.

## Related terms

- [B-roll](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/b-roll)
- [Talking-head video](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/talking-head-video)
- [Jump cut](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/jump-cut)
- [Rough cut](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/rough-cut)

## Where Vidiyo does this

- [Edit video by chatting](https://getvidiyo.app/features/chat-video-editing)
- [Remove silences and filler words automatically](https://getvidiyo.app/features/silence-and-filler-word-removal)