Rescanzo vs DaVinci Resolve IntelliSearch
DaVinci Resolve 21 added AI IntelliSearch: it finds objects, faces and words from dialogue in the Media Pool, and the 21.1.2 update in October 2026 made its analysis faster on newer Macs. Here's what it covers, what it doesn't, and where Rescanzo fits.
Features checked 28 October 2026
| Rescanzo | DaVinci Resolve 21 IntelliSearch | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | macOS on Apple Silicon and Windows 10/11 | macOS, Windows and Linux |
| What it searches | Any folder on disk, before import | Clips in the open project, after AI Clip Analysis |
| Search by what's in the frame | Yes, queries in Russian or English | Objects and actions; in CineD's tests it couldn't handle composition queries such as "wide shot" |
| People | No separate face recognition; describe the person instead | Yes, with Identify Faces |
| Speech search | Pro mode, Russian and English | Transcripts across the project (Transcript Only) |
| Where processing runs | Low and Mid fully on your computer; Pro sends short fragments to be checked, not stored | On your computer, with models from the Extras Download Manager |
| Where results go | A ready FCPXML timeline for DaVinci Resolve, and also Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, VEGAS Pro and CapCut | Media Pool results with In and Out; searches can be saved as Smart Bins |
| Cost | Tokens per search: Low 1, Mid 2, Pro 2 plus 1 per cloud minute; 50 tokens on sign-up | Studio only according to third-party reviews: DaVinci Resolve Studio, $295 one-time |
Where Resolve is stronger
IntelliSearch lives right in the Media Pool: beyond the models there's nothing to install, and a search can be saved as a Smart Bin. It recognises faces, which Rescanzo doesn't, and Studio is a one-time purchase with nothing to pay per search. Resolve also runs on Linux. If you already own Studio and your footage is in the project, start with IntelliSearch.
Where Rescanzo helps
IntelliSearch only knows the open project, and third-party reviews list it as a Studio feature, with the analysis button greyed out in the free version. Rescanzo works with free DaVinci Resolve too: it searches the folder itself and hands Resolve a timeline you bring in with File › Import › Timeline. Its description search takes Russian queries, and for hard queries Pro mode has a cloud AI double-check what was found.
How to choose
Own Studio and the footage is already in the project: use IntelliSearch, it's paid for. On the free version of Resolve, searching before import, or cutting in several apps: try Rescanzo. The 50 starter tokens cover about 25 Mid searches, enough to compare both on your own footage.
Questions and answers
What changed in Resolve 21.1.2?
The October 27, 2026 update makes IntelliSearch analysis faster on newer Macs. What it can find and where it searches haven't changed.
Can I use both?
Yes. A Rescanzo timeline imports into the same project you search with IntelliSearch.
Try it on your own footage
A new account gets 50 tokens: that's 25 searches in Mid mode.