Detect video intervals that are (almost) completely black. Can be useful to detect chapter transitions, commercials, or invalid recordings.

The filter outputs its detection analysis to both the log as well as frame metadata. If a black segment of at least the specified minimum duration is found, a line with the start and end timestamps as well as duration is printed to the log with level info. In addition, a log line with level debug is printed per frame showing the black amount detected for that frame.

The filter also attaches metadata to the first frame of a black segment with key lavfi.black_start and to the first frame after the black segment ends with key lavfi.black_end. The value is the frame’s timestamp. This metadata is added regardless of the minimum duration specified.

The filter accepts the following options:

black_min_duration, d

Set the minimum detected black duration expressed in seconds. It must be a non-negative floating point number.

Default value is 2.0.

picture_black_ratio_th, pic_th

Set the threshold for considering a picture "black". Express the minimum value for the ratio:

nb_black_pixels / nb_pixels

for which a picture is considered black. Default value is 0.98.

pixel_black_th, pix_th

Set the threshold for considering a pixel "black".

The threshold expresses the maximum pixel luminance value for which a pixel is considered "black". The provided value is scaled according to the following equation:

absolute_threshold = luminance_minimum_value + pixel_black_th * luminance_range_size

luminance_range_size and luminance_minimum_value depend on the input video format, the range is [0-255] for YUV full-range formats and [16-235] for YUV non full-range formats.

Default value is 0.10.

The following example sets the maximum pixel threshold to the minimum value, and detects only black intervals of 2 or more seconds:

blackdetect=d=2:pix_th=0.00