What is the main difference between a cut and a ripple edit in Premiere Pro?

A cut in Premiere Pro removes a section of a clip from the timeline without affecting the position of other clips. This means that when you perform a cut, the surrounding clips remain in their original positions, and there is a gap left in the timeline where the cut was made. This is particularly useful when you want to take out a part of the footage but keep the timing and structure of the rest of your edit intact.

On the other hand, a ripple edit is different because it not only removes a section of a clip but also automatically closes the gap created by that removal. This means that all subsequent clips will shift to fill in the space, preserving the timing of the overall sequence without leaving any empty space.

Understanding the distinction between a cut and a ripple edit is essential for effective editing in Premiere Pro, as it allows you to manipulate your clips more precisely based on the needs of your project.