Apple Final Cut Express 4 - Manual (Page 368)

368 Part VI Rough Editing
The source clip is inserted into the sequence with the default transition.
Performing an Overwrite Edit
Since this is the most commonly used edit type, it occupies the biggest overlay area in
the Canvas. If you drag a clip into any part of the Canvas to the left of the Edit Overlay,
an overwrite edit is performed.
With this type of edit, the source clip overwrites any clip items starting at the sequence
In point for the duration of the source clip. No clip items are rippled forward, so the
duration of your sequence remains the same. You can perform an overwrite edit with
one or more source clips.
For example, suppose you have a sequence clip of a comedian making a joke, but
there’s a long pause after the joke while the comedian stands there waiting for a
reaction. You can overwrite the pause using a source clip of an audience laughing. To
do this, you position the playhead at the frame right after the comedian finishes telling
the joke, and then perform an overwrite edit. The pause is covered by the clip of the
audience laughing.
Before an insert with
transition edit
After an insert with
transition edit
New clip is inserted
with transition
A B D
D
C
A C
Before edit
After edit