# Extract a frame every N seconds from a video

**Use case:** 

Grab one still every N seconds from a video file, for thumbnails, previews, dataset building or vision models. Each frame comes with its timestamp and a public image link, plus a free contact sheet of all frames. Example: Big Buck Bunny (10 minutes), one frame every 30 seconds, 20 frames for about $0.05. No scene scan is charged in this mode.

## Input

```json
{
  "videoUrls": [
    "https://archive.org/download/BigBuckBunny_124/Content/big_buck_bunny_720p_surround.mp4"
  ],
  "mode": "interval",
  "sceneThreshold": 0.3,
  "minSceneSeconds": 1,
  "fastScan": false,
  "intervalSeconds": 30,
  "frameCount": 12,
  "maxFramesPerVideo": 20,
  "skipBlankFrames": true,
  "transcribe": false,
  "language": "auto",
  "imageFormat": "jpeg",
  "maxWidth": 1280,
  "quality": 85,
  "contactSheet": true,
  "maxVideoMinutes": 120,
  "maxFileSizeMb": 1000,
  "requestHeaders": {}
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "url": {
    "label": "URL",
    "format": "link"
  },
  "fileName": {
    "label": "File"
  },
  "durationSec": {
    "label": "Duration (s)",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "sceneCount": {
    "label": "Scenes",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "frameCount": {
    "label": "Frames",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "contactSheetUrl": {
    "label": "Contact sheet",
    "format": "image"
  },
  "billed": {
    "label": "Billed"
  },
  "note": {
    "label": "Note"
  },
  "error": {
    "label": "Error"
  }
}
```

## How it works

### 1. Sign up on Apify or log in

The Video to Scenes — Scene Detection, Keyframes, Transcript Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "Extract a frame every N seconds from a video". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/YT3UFLBHHifWTLf9U) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "Extract a frame every N seconds from a video" task

The Video to Scenes — Scene Detection, Keyframes, Transcript Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like video links, what to extract, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "Extract a frame every N seconds from a video" output

Monitor the progress in real time. You will be notified as soon as your dataset is complete and ready for review. Each result includes data such as URL, file, duration (s), and more.

### 4. Integrate into your workflow

The final output is delivered in JSON, CSV, or Excel format, ready to be plugged into your workflow. You can also [run the "Extract a frame every N seconds from a video" task via API](https://apify.com/saliga/video-to-scenes.md).

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [Video to Scenes — Scene Detection, Keyframes, Transcript](https://apify.com/saliga/video-to-scenes.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/saliga/video-to-scenes.md) to learn more, explore other use cases, and run it yourself.


## How to integrate an Actor?

This Task's input is already configured above. Use it as-is rather than inventing a new one.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For full API examples (JavaScript, Python, CLI, MCP, OpenAPI), see this Task's Actor page: https://apify.com/saliga/video-to-scenes.md

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).