SuperCollider MCP Server

# Using SuperCollider MCP with Claude Desktop & Claude Code ## Option 1: Claude Desktop ### Step 1: Find Your Config File The config file location depends on your OS: **macOS**: ``` ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json ``` **Windows**: ``` %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json ``` **Linux**: ``` ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json ``` ### Step 2: Edit the Config Open the file in a text editor. If it doesn't exist, create it with this content: ```json { "mcpServers": { "supercollider": { "command": "node", "args": [ "/Users/bradanderson/Development/supercolider-mcp/dist/index.js" ] } } } ``` **⚠️ IMPORTANT**: Replace `/Users/bradanderson/Development/supercolider-mcp/dist/index.js` with the **absolute path** to your project! To get the absolute path: ```bash cd /Users/bradanderson/Development/supercolider-mcp pwd # Copy this output # Then append /dist/index.js ``` ### Step 3: Restart Claude Desktop Completely quit and restart Claude Desktop (not just close the window). ### Step 4: Verify It's Working In a new conversation with Claude, ask: > "Can you check if the SuperCollider MCP server is available? Run sc_health_check" Claude should be able to: - See the `sc_health_check` tool - Run it and confirm SuperCollider is installed - Boot the server with `sc_boot` - Play sounds with `sc_play_synth` ### Step 5: Try It Out! > "Boot SuperCollider and play a bell sound at C5" You should hear a bell! 🔔 --- ## Option 2: Claude Code (CLI) Claude Code automatically discovers MCP servers in your project. ### Step 1: Add MCP Config to Your Project Create a `.claude/mcp.json` file in your project root: ```bash cd /Users/bradanderson/Development/supercolider-mcp mkdir -p .claude ``` Create `.claude/mcp.json`: ```json { "mcpServers": { "supercollider": { "command": "node", "args": ["./dist/index.js"] } } } ``` ### Step 2: Build the Project ```bash npm run build ``` ### Step 3: Start Claude Code in This Directory ```bash cd /Users/bradanderson/Development/supercolider-mcp claude ``` Claude Code will automatically discover and load the MCP server! ### Step 4: Test It In Claude Code, try: > "Run sc_health_check to verify SuperCollider is installed" > "Boot SuperCollider and play a kick drum" --- ## Example Prompts to Try Once connected, try these with Claude: ### Basic Sounds - "Boot SuperCollider and play a bell sound" - "Play a kick drum, then a snare" - "Play a high-pitched sine wave at 880 Hz" ### Musical Phrases - "Create a simple 4-beat drum pattern" - "Play a melody using bell sounds: C4, E4, G4, C5" - "Make an atmospheric soundscape" ### Advanced - "Boot SuperCollider, play a sweep from 100Hz to 2000Hz, then stop all sounds" - "Create a techno kick drum pattern with hi-hats" - "Execute this SuperCollider code: { SinOsc.ar([440, 442], 0, 0.2) }.play;" --- ## Troubleshooting ### "MCP server not found" in Claude Desktop 1. Check the config file path is correct for your OS 2. Verify the absolute path to `dist/index.js` is correct 3. Make sure you **restarted** Claude Desktop (quit completely) 4. Check Claude Desktop logs: - macOS: `~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log` - Windows: `%APPDATA%\Claude\Logs\mcp*.log` ### "Command failed" or connection errors 1. Verify Node.js is installed: `node --version` 2. Check the project built successfully: `ls dist/index.js` 3. Test the server manually: ```bash cd /Users/bradanderson/Development/supercolider-mcp echo '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/list"}' | node dist/index.js ``` Should output a list of tools. ### SuperCollider-specific issues If Claude connects but can't boot SuperCollider: 1. Ask Claude to run: `sc_health_check` 2. Follow any instructions it provides 3. Check SuperCollider is installed: `which sclang` (Mac/Linux) ### Permission errors On macOS, you might need to give Terminal/Claude Desktop microphone access: - System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Privacy → Microphone - Enable for Terminal and/or Claude --- ## Multiple MCP Servers You can run multiple MCP servers at once! Your config can look like: ```json { "mcpServers": { "supercollider": { "command": "node", "args": ["/path/to/supercollider-mcp/dist/index.js"] }, "midi": { "command": "node", "args": ["/path/to/midi-mcp/dist/index.js"] }, "filesystem": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/you/Documents"] } } } ``` --- ## Development Workflow For active development: 1. **Terminal 1**: Watch mode ```bash npm run dev ``` 2. **Terminal 2**: Test with inspector ```bash npm run inspector ``` 3. When ready, update Claude Desktop: ```bash npm run build # Restart Claude Desktop ``` --- ## Environment Variables in Claude Desktop If you need to set `SCLANG_PATH` for Claude Desktop to see it: **macOS/Linux** - Add to Claude Desktop config: ```json { "mcpServers": { "supercollider": { "command": "node", "args": ["/path/to/dist/index.js"], "env": { "SCLANG_PATH": "/custom/path/to/sclang" } } } } ``` **Windows** - Same structure: ```json { "mcpServers": { "supercollider": { "command": "node", "args": ["C:\\path\\to\\dist\\index.js"], "env": { "SCLANG_PATH": "C:\\custom\\path\\to\\sclang.exe" } } } } ``` --- ## Next Steps Once you have it working: 1. **Explore the tools**: Ask Claude "What SuperCollider tools do you have?" 2. **Make music**: Have Claude compose something creative 3. **Integrate with MXF**: Connect to your Model Exchange Framework 4. **Build more MCP servers**: MIDI, DAW control, etc. Happy music making! 🎵