A/B Effect Comparison

diagnostic technique where an editor evaluates an editorial choice by playing a sequence back-to-back, once with an effect (a specific cut, sound cue, color grade, etc.) and once without. This direct comparison isolates the impact of the single variable, allowing for a clear-eyed judgment of its contribution to the scene's emotional or narrative goals. It is a fundamental method for escaping tunnel vision and confirming that a change is truly an improvement.