When AI analysis finishes, Selects delivers an assembly cut. This is not raw footage. It is a structured, cleaned-up version of your content with unnecessary parts and long pauses already removed.
What the assembly cut includes
Selects takes your full footage and produces a tightened version. Dead air, long silences, and clearly unusable segments are cut automatically. If your footage contains retakes, Selects groups them and places the best take on the timeline. The other takes are still accessible if you want to swap them in.
The assembly cut preserves your footage in its original order. Topics and subtopics are identified and labeled in the left panel. Speaker labels appear in the transcript on the right.
Before You Start Editing
After reviewing your assembly cut, take care of these setup steps before choosing an edit direction:
Configure speakers, cameras, and audio. Assign speaker names, set camera roles, and choose your primary audio source. [See: Multicam Settings]
Check names and terms. Review and correct any names or terminology the AI may have misidentified during transcription. [See: Check Names and Terms Before Editing]
Remove silence and filler words. Use the AI Cleanup tools to cut dead air and filler words like "um" and "uh" from your timeline. [See: AI Cleanup Tools]
Comparing with Original Footage
Turn on "Compare with source" to see your assembly cut side by side with the original footage. This shows exactly which parts were removed, and you can restore any cut section by adding it back.
When making edits in this view, pay attention to whether you are working on the original footage or the draft. Deleting a section from the wrong one can cause confusion.
Assembly cut vs. draft
The assembly cut is your baseline. It is always available as a reference, even after you generate additional drafts.
A draft is what you get after choosing an edit direction. It is a more refined version built on top of the assembly cut, shaped by your prompt, script, or reference video. You can create multiple drafts and compare them, but the assembly cut remains your anchor point.
Choosing Your Edit Direction
Once you're ready, choose how to proceed:
Before choosing an edit direction, spend a few minutes reviewing the assembly cut. Check that the topics make sense, scan the transcript for key moments, and get a feel for the overall structure.
This review helps you decide which edit direction fits your project:
If you want AI to build a draft for you, choose Suggest an edit and write a prompt describing what you want. [See: Prompt Your Edit Direction]
If you already have a written script, choose I have a script and paste it in. [See: Edit with a Script]
If you want to match the style of an existing video, choose Match a YouTube video (Beta). [See: Match a YouTube Video Style]
If you prefer to build the edit yourself from the assembly cut, choose I'll do it myself. [See: Start from Scratch]