B-Roll

B-roll is supplementary video footage that is edited alongside the main (A-roll) footage to add visual interest, provide context, or cover edits. In a documentary or interview context, B-roll is the cutaway shots shown while a narrator speaks.

In product launch videos, B-roll is used sparingly. For screen-recording-based SaaS demos, B-roll is typically not needed. For founder-on-camera videos, B-roll might include: the founder's hands on a keyboard, the product running on a phone, a whiteboard, or screen captures of specific product moments.

AI video tools can generate relevant B-roll automatically from a product description, which removes the production burden for founders who want a more polished look without hiring a videographer.

For most early-stage SaaS launch videos, the demo footage IS the A-roll — there is no separate talking-head segment. In this case, B-roll is the cutaway product screens that illustrate points made in the voiceover or on-screen text.