Online Tool Store
Scene Change Detector
Detect scene cuts in a video, see a thumbnail for each one, tune sensitivity and minimum scene length, then export a timecode list or CSV.
🔒 This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server.
Any format your browser can play — MP4 and WebM are safest. Nothing is uploaded.
How the Scene Change Detector works
- Add the video file; it is read locally, so length is limited by your device rather than an upload cap.
- Set sensitivity — low finds hard cuts, high also picks up fades and flash frames.
- Set a minimum scene length to suppress duplicate detections around a single transition.
- Detect scenes, then read the timecode list — each entry shows a thumbnail and a Go to button — or switch to CSV and copy or download the result.
The method
Detection samples frames at a rate tied to sensitivity, compares each sample to the one before it, and flags the moment the difference between them exceeds a threshold, which is what a hard cut looks like numerically.
cut when mean absolute frame difference > threshold, held for the minimum scene length
A fade produces a run of moderate differences rather than one spike, which is why it needs a lower threshold and grouping to be caught as one transition.
FAQ
Why does a camera flash register as a cut?
Because the frames genuinely differ enormously for one frame. A minimum scene length collapses these single-frame spikes, which is what that setting is for.
Will it find soft transitions?
Cross-fades and wipes are gradual, so raise sensitivity — at the cost of false positives on fast motion and lighting changes.
Can I see what each detected scene looks like?
Yes — the timecode list shows a thumbnail from the start of every scene, and its Go to button jumps the video preview there so you can check it without scrubbing manually.
Can I export the results?
Yes — copy the timecode list or CSV to your clipboard, or download it as a .txt or .csv file.
Is the video uploaded?
No. Frames are read in the browser, which is also why very long files are slow.
How we compare
| Feature | Online Tool Store | Cutsio | EditingTools.io | ArtPlayer.js Scene Splitter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs locally, no upload | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Adjustable sensitivity | ✓ | ✓ | 2 fixed algorithms | ✓ |
| Thumbnail preview per scene | ✓ | ✓ | Not stated | ✓ |
| CSV export of scene start/end | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Not stated — exports clips instead |
| No account or daily limit | ✓ | ✓ | Free tier: 15 min, 3 files/day | ✓ |
Scene Change Detector gives you the boundaries and a set of honest caveats — flashes and fast motion look like cuts to any frame-difference method, on this tool or any other.