What is B-Roll Footage and Why Is It So Important?
B-Roll is the extra footage you see alongside the main shots (A-Roll) in a video. It helps you enhance your videos and allows your viewers to understand your story better.
In short, they’re additional shots that provide context, add visual interest, and help your audience understand the video's message.
@jera.bean Replying to @nancyb9800 WHAT IS B-ROLL? #contenttips #videotips #filmingtips #tiktoktips ♬ original sound - Jera Bean TikTok Expert
A-Roll Vs. B-Roll
A-Roll is the primary footage in a video. It includes the main subject, such as interview shots, people talking directly to the camera, or any main content that drives the story. It focuses on delivering the narrative or core message of your video.
B-Roll is the extra footage in a video that includes all the additional clips and shots that provide context and visual interest to complement the A-Roll. It enhances the storytelling by showing what is being talked about, making the video more engaging and visually appealing.
Now that we’ve understood A-Roll and B-Roll, let’s see the difference between A-Roll and B-Roll with examples:
Example 1: Imagine you’re shooting a cooking tutorial. Your A-Roll would be you explaining the recipe, while your B-Roll could include close-ups of chopping vegetables, simmering sauces, and the final dish being plated.
Example 2: If you’re recording your travel vlog, your A-Roll might be you narrating your experience. B-Roll, in this case, could include exciting shots of the landscapes, bustling market scenes, or locals walking around.
Example 3: Let’s say you’re making a video about your morning routine. Your main footage (A-Roll) is you talking to the camera about your day. But your B-Roll could be clips of you making coffee, brushing your teeth, or putting your shoes on the rack.
Example 4: If you’re a fitness freak and filming a fitness tutorial, your A-Roll will be you explaining the workout. Your B-Roll could show close-ups of specific exercises, people working out, or equipment being used.
Here’s an example of A-Roll and B-Roll. The first image is the A-roll (the main video) and the second image is the B-roll (supporting video).
Why B-Roll Is Important for Your Videos?
- Improves Storytelling in Your Videos- B-roll takes your video to the next level by adding visual context. It lets your audience see what you’re explaining instead of just hearing it. This makes your video more engaging and easier to understand.
- Retains Audience Engagement- People have short attention spans. B-Roll can help your audience by adding variety to your video and breaking the monotony. It will refresh your viewers’ eyes every few seconds, keeping them hooked.
- Brings Professionalism to Your Videos- Using high-quality B-Roll in your videos can make them look polished and professional. It shows the effort you’ve put into your production, which can help build trust and credibility with your audience.
- Provides Smooth Transitions- Awkward cuts in videos can be jarring. B-Roll helps smooth out transitions in your video, making it flow seamlessly. It serves as a buffer between different parts of your video.
- Highlights Key Points- They’re useful for highlighting key points in your videos. For example, if you’re talking about a product feature, show a close-up shot of that feature in action. This visually strengthens your message in your videos.
What Are The Different Types of B-Roll in a Video?
As a content creator, when you’re looking to create professional and engaging videos, understanding the different B-Roll can significantly elevate your content.
Here are the main types of B-Roll you should know about:
Generic B-Roll
Generic B-Roll refers to video footages that you can use across multiple videos and contexts because of its broad and non-specific nature.
Example: Think of shots like people walking in a park, a busy city street, or close-ups of hands typing on a keyboard.
When to Use: Generic B-Roll can fill gaps in your main footage, add context, or enhance storytelling without taking away from the primary message. It’s ideal for adding visual interest during transitions or voiceovers.
Specific B-Roll
Specific B-Roll is footage that is directly related to your main content. It is often shot with a particular purpose in mind.
Example: If your main video is a cooking tutorial, specific B-Roll might include close-ups of chopping vegetables, stirring a pot, or the final dish presentation. This type of B-Roll makes your content more immersive and informative.
When to Use: Specific B-Roll is used to provide detailed visuals that support and highlight key points in your narrative. It makes your content more immersive and informative.
Stock Footage
Stock footage is pre-recorded video clips that you can license and use in your projects.
Example- Websites like Shutterstock or Getty Images have a variety of stock footage. They offer aerial shots of cities and clips of natural landscapes.
When to Use- Stock footage is useful when you need high-quality visuals quickly. It’s especially handy if you don’t have the resources to shoot specific scenes yourself. You can use it to add variety in your videos without a big production budget.
Custom Footage B-Roll
Custom B-Roll footage is a video content shot specifically for your project. It is tailored to meet your exact needs.
Example: For a behind-the-scenes video on your YouTube channel, custom footage would consist of clips showing your filming setup, interactions with your team, and candid moments that highlight your creative process.
When to Use- Use custom footage when you want each shot to be unique and perfectly aligned with your vision. This type of B-Roll ensures that your content is original and stands out. It’s ideal for brand-centric videos, personal vlogs, or any project where authenticity and personalized content are important.
How to Add B-Roll to Your Videos Easily with BIGVU?
Adding your custom B-Roll to your videos is a cakewalk with BIGVU. Even if you’re a beginner and do not know how to shoot B-Rolls for your videos, there’s no need to worry.
BIGVU supports hundreds of royalty-free images and videos from Pixabay that you can use as a B-Roll for your videos.
Let’s see how you can add them-
Step 1- Upload your video to BIGVU and click on the “edit” button.
Step 2- Select your take and click on the three dots. A pop-up will appear. Select ‘Open Video Maker’ to upload or add B-Roll to your videos.
Step 3- Now, click on the ‘upload’ icon on the left sidebar and select ‘Upload’ on the top to import your image or video file. If you don’t have one, choose the ‘Pixabay’ option to get a royalty-free file for your video.
Step 4- Drag and drop your uploaded photo or video onto the small photo in the storyboard to add it to your chosen timeframe.
Step 5- Once you’ve added your media to your video as a B-Roll, you can delete it by clicking on the three-dot menu of the related segment and selecting ‘Remove Media’.
Why Choose BIGVU to Add B-Rolls to Your Videos?
No doubt, adding B-Roll video footages improves the storytelling in your videos and keeps your viewers engaged.
But think about it…
As a creator, if your main video (A-Roll) does not look professional, no matter how eye-catching your B-Roll is, your viewers won’t find your videos interesting.
There could be many reasons for it-
- Your videos lack captions, causing most viewers to simply scroll past them since they prefer watching videos on mute.
- Your video script does not align with your brand voice and often goes off track from the topic while speaking.
- You fumble while speaking on camera and lose eye contact with it. As a result, you either need to record multiple takes or end up with an unprofessional video.
BIGVU is a complete video editing package that helps you record, edit, and publish videos all from a single app only. No need to juggle between multiple apps for different video editing needs, which ultimately saves your time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of B-Roll?
B-Roll is the extra footage used in videos to provide context, add visual interest, and help the audience understand the story. It accompanies the main shots in the video.
Where can I find B-roll footage for my videos?
You can find B-roll footage from stock footage websites, video marketplaces, or by shooting your own footage specifically for B-roll purposes. Make sure to choose high-quality footage that aligns with the tone and message of your video.
How can B-roll videos impact SEO for videos?
Adding relevant B-roll footage to your videos can boost user engagement, extend watch time, and decrease bounce rates. These positive signals have a direct impact on SEO.
Why is B-roll important for my videos?
B-rolls enhance the viewing experience by adding variety and breaking up the main footage. They cover edits, provide visual interest, and make the video more engaging. B-rolls also establish the setting and create smooth transitions.
Conclusion
Who doesn’t want to make their videos more dynamic and compelling by adding stunning visuals to them?
B-Rolls does the same…
It elevates the quality and engagement of your videos by giving a professional touch to your content. Even if you’re just starting out, you can try experimenting by adding B-Rolls to your videos.
Just remember, it should be relevant to your original video.
BIGVU makes it super-easy for you to add B-Roll, even if you’re a beginner. So try it now.
