Is a radio edit the same as a paper cut?

No. A paper cut is a written plan. A radio edit is the same plan, executed in the NLE, with the actual audio cut together so it plays back. The paper cut comes first; the radio edit is what you build from it.

Why work with audio before picture?

Story problems hide behind picture. If the cut works on audio alone, the picture only has to support it. If it does not work on audio, no amount of B-roll will save it.

Does every documentary need a radio edit?

Long-form interview-driven documentaries almost always benefit from one. Vérité films that lean on action and image often skip it because there is no narration to balance against the interview track.

How long should a radio edit take?

For a 60-minute documentary, a first-pass radio edit usually takes one to three weeks of editing once the paper cut is locked. Multiple passes are normal before the picture edit begins.

What is a radio edit, and how is it different from a paper cut?

5 min readUpdated May 27, 2026

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