Explain me the concept of starting Audio before Image for cuts

[yabyum]

So I never really figured this one out, even though I know it's used heavily. Often times I will hear audio from a different shot starting before the visual cut happens...

Any good tips / articles about this? Trying to improve on my editing. Thanks!

 

[David Jimerson]

It's called a J-cut.

Not to be spammy, but if you watch the sample reel from the Sound DVD here:

http://www.wrightsvillebeachstudios.com/sound_new.html

I explain it a bit at the end, with visual examples from the timeline.