Gemini Media MCP

MCP server for generating images and videos using Google Gemini and VEO models.

Quick start

uvx gemini-media-mcp setup

The setup wizard walks you through the whole onboarding flow end-to-end:

1. Pick a credential mode: Gemini API (images + video, easier to set up) or Vertex AI (images + video, adds GCS output and Vertex-only features).

2. Enter your API key, or your Google Cloud project plus a service account JSON (file path or inline paste).

3. Choose where generated media should be written (defaults to ~/gemini-media).

4. Optionally set a VIDEO_GCS_BUCKET for large video output, and auto-populate GCS_ALLOWED_BUCKETS.

5. Validate your credentials with a live check (constructs a Google GenAI client and lists models to confirm the key/credentials actually authenticate). Validation failures are non-fatal — you can continue anyway.

6. Print a ready-to-paste Claude Desktop JSON block. On macOS, the wizard can also merge the block directly into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (existing servers are preserved and the prior file is backed up to .bak).

For scripted use, all prompts can be supplied via flags:

uvx gemini-media-mcp setup --non-interactive --mode=gemini --api-key=AIzaSy...

If you prefer to configure everything by hand, the manual steps are below.

Related MCP server: Nano Banana MCP

Setup

Prerequisites

• For images and video with the simplest setup: a Gemini API key (setup instructions). Veo 3.1 video works on the paid Gemini API tier, and Veo 3.1 Lite is served exclusively through the Gemini API.

• For images and video with GCS output and Vertex-only features (e.g. the generate_audio flag): a Google Cloud project with the Vertex AI API enabled and a service account with Vertex AI permissions (setup instructions)

Environment Variables

For Vertex AI (images + video, GCS output, Vertex-only features):

export GOOGLE_GENAI_USE_VERTEXAI=true
export GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT=your-project-id
export GOOGLE_CLOUD_LOCATION=us-central1
export GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=/path/to/service-account.json

→ See Vertex AI Setup for detailed instructions

Alternatively, for the Gemini API (images + video, including Veo 3.1 on the paid tier):

export GEMINI_API_KEY=your-api-key

→ See Gemini API Setup for detailed instructions

Optional security hardening:

# Restrict gs:// fetches and output_gcs_uri to specific buckets.
# If unset and VIDEO_GCS_BUCKET is not set, gs:// fetches log a warning.
export GCS_ALLOWED_BUCKETS=bucket-a,bucket-b

Local file:// and bare-path inputs are always restricted to DATA_FOLDER. HTTP(S) fetches reject hosts that resolve to private, loopback, link-local, or metadata IPs, and downloads are capped at 50 MB.

Claude Desktop Configuration

Add to your Claude Desktop config (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gemini-media": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["gemini-media-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "GOOGLE_GENAI_USE_VERTEXAI": "true",
        "GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT": "your-project-id",
        "GOOGLE_CLOUD_LOCATION": "us-central1",
        "GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS": "/path/to/service-account.json"
      }
    }
  }
}

Or using Docker (note: DATA_FOLDER must be set to the host path, with matching volume mount):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gemini-media": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run", "--rm", "-i",
        "-e", "GOOGLE_GENAI_USE_VERTEXAI=true",
        "-e", "GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT=your-project-id",
        "-e", "GOOGLE_CLOUD_LOCATION=us-central1",
        "-e", "GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=/credentials.json",
        "-e", "DATA_FOLDER=/Users/yourusername/gemini-output",
        "-v", "/path/to/service-account.json:/credentials.json:ro",
        "-v", "/Users/yourusername/gemini-output:/Users/yourusername/gemini-output",
        "cxoagi/gemini-media-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

This writes files to your host path and returns paths like /Users/yourusername/gemini-output/images/abc.png that Claude Desktop can open directly. The DATA_FOLDER directory will contain images/ and videos/ subdirectories.

Available Tools

generate_image

Generate images using Gemini or Imagen models.

Parameters:

• prompt (required): Text description of the image

• model: Pick by use case. GA (stable) — preferred in production:

  • gemini-3.1-flash-image (Nano Banana 2) — fast, 4K output, up to 14 reference images

  • gemini-3-pro-image (Nano Banana Pro) — 4K, reasoning, thought_signature for multi-turn editing

  • gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image — cheapest; the recommended migration target from the legacy model

  • gemini-2.5-flash-image (Nano Banana) — default; now considered legacy by Google (migrate to gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image)

  Note: imagen-3.0-generate-002 was shut down on 2025-11-10 and is no longer available. The Imagen 4.x models (imagen-4.0-fast-generate-001, imagen-4.0-generate-001, imagen-4.0-ultra-generate-001) are deprecated with a scheduled shutdown of 2026-08-17; prefer the Gemini image models above.

• image_uri: Input image URI for image-to-image generation

• image_base64: Base64 encoded input image

• aspect_ratio: Output aspect ratio (e.g. 1:1, 16:9, 9:16)

• person_generation: Policy for generating people (e.g. allow_adult, dont_allow)

Gemini 3.x Image Parameters (for gemini-3-pro-image and gemini-3.1-flash-image):

• reference_image_uris: List of up to 14 reference image URIs for multi-image composition

  • Up to 6 object images for high-fidelity inclusion

  • Up to 5 human images for character consistency across scenes

• image_size: Output resolution (1K, 2K, 4K) - must use uppercase K

• thinking_level: Reasoning depth (low for fast, high for complex generation)

• media_resolution: Input image processing quality (MEDIA_RESOLUTION_LOW, MEDIA_RESOLUTION_MEDIUM, MEDIA_RESOLUTION_HIGH)

• thought_signature: For multi-turn editing workflows - pass back the signature from previous responses

generate_video

Generate videos using VEO models. Video works on both credential modes: Veo 3.1 runs on the paid Gemini API tier as well as on Vertex AI. Vertex AI additionally provides GCS output and some Vertex-only features (e.g. the generate_audio flag). Veo 3.1 Lite is served exclusively through the Gemini API.

Parameters:

• prompt (required): Text description of the video

• model: Model to use:

  • veo-3.1-generate-001 (default): Highest quality, 4/6/8s duration, audio support

  • veo-3.1-fast-generate-001: Faster generation with audio support

  • veo-3.1-lite-generate-preview: Most cost-effective, 4/6/8s, audio; text-to-video and image-to-video only (no extension, reference images, first/last-frame, or 4K). Served via the Gemini API only; Vertex AI projects may return 404 for this model.

• aspect_ratio: 16:9 (default) or 9:16

• resolution: Output resolution, 720p, 1080p, or 4K (4K not supported on Veo 3.1 Lite)

• duration_seconds: Video duration (4/6/8s)

• include_audio: Enable audio generation

• person_generation: Policy for generating people (e.g. allow_adult, dont_allow)

• audio_prompt: Audio description

• negative_prompt: Things to avoid in the video

• seed: Random seed for reproducibility

• image_uri: First frame image URI for image-to-video generation

• draft (default false): When true, routes the request to gemini-omni-flash-preview for a fast 720p draft instead of Veo. Iterate cheaply, then re-run with draft=false to finalize on Veo. See Fast drafts vs. high-fidelity.

Additional Parameters:

• last_frame_uri: Last frame image URI for first+last frame control

  • When combined with image_uri, generates smooth transitions between frames

• reference_image_uris: List of up to 3 reference image URIs for subject preservation

  • Preserves the appearance of a person, character, or product in the output video

  • Note: Only supports 8-second duration (automatically enforced)

  • Cannot be used together with first/last frame inputs

• extend_video_uri: URI of existing VEO-generated video to extend

  • Extends the final second of the video and continues the action

  • Can be chained multiple times for longer videos (up to ~148s total)

  • Note: Cannot be used together with other image inputs

Generation Modes (automatically selected based on inputs):

• text_to_video: Text-only prompt

• image_to_video: First frame image input

• first_last_frame: First and last frame control

• reference_to_video: Reference images for subject preservation (8s only)

• extend_video: Extend existing video

generate_video_omni

Fast conversational video generation via Google's gemini-omni-flash-preview (Interactions API). This is the fast/cheap path — ideal for drafts and rapid iteration. The high-fidelity Veo tools remain the path for final renders (1080p/4K, seeds, first/last frame). See Fast drafts vs. high-fidelity.

Parameters:

• prompt (required): Text description of the video

• image_uris: List of image URIs to condition on (optional)

• input_video_uri: A video to edit (optional)

• aspect_ratio: 16:9 (default) or 9:16

• duration_seconds: Video duration, 3–10 (default 6)

• previous_interaction_id: Continue editing a prior omni result (optional)

Notes:

• 720p only, 24fps

• No seed or negative_prompt support

• The response includes an interaction_id for multi-turn editing (pass it to edit_video or back into previous_interaction_id)

edit_video

Conversational edit of a previously omni-generated video. Because omni holds the video context server-side (background interactions are retained ~14 days on Vertex AI; longer on the paid Gemini API), you describe only the change — no need to re-supply the source video.

Parameters:

• previous_interaction_id (required): The interaction_id from a prior generate_video_omni response

• prompt (required): The edit instruction (e.g. "make the sky stormy")

• aspect_ratio: 16:9 (default) or 9:16

• duration_seconds: Video duration, 3–10 (default 6)

loop_extend

Convenience wrapper that extends a Veo-generated video multiple times in one call. Each Veo extension adds ~7s, and can be chained up to 20 times.

Parameters:

• video_uri (required): The Veo-generated video to extend

• prompt: What the video continues with (default: "continue the action")

• times: Number of ~7s extensions to apply, 1-20 (default: 1)

• model: Veo model to use (default veo-3.1-generate-001; Lite is not supported)

• aspect_ratio: 16:9 (default) or 9:16 — must match the source video

• include_audio: Generate audio on the extended sections (default true; Vertex only)

• output_gcs_uri: GCS URI for output (optional; required on Vertex)

Notes:

• Veo 3.1 / Veo 3.1 Fast only (not Lite)

• 720p

Fast drafts vs. high-fidelity

There are two video paths, and you choose based on where you are in the workflow:

• gemini-omni-flash-preview (fast/cheap) — 720p, 24fps, conversational multi-turn editing. Great for drafts, storyboards, and iteration. No seeds, no negative prompts, no first/last-frame control. Reached via generate_video_omni, edit_video, generate_video(draft=true), and generate_clip(animatic=true).

• Veo 3.1 / Fast / Lite (high-fidelity) — up to 1080p/4K, seeds for reproducibility, first/last-frame control, reference images, and extension. The path for final renders. Reached via generate_video (default) and loop_extend.

Typical workflows:

• draft → finalize: run generate_video(draft=true) to preview quickly on omni, then re-run the same prompt with draft=false to render the final on Veo.

• animatic → final: run generate_clip(animatic=true) to render each beat via gemini-omni-flash-preview as a fast storyboard preview of the whole reel, then re-run with animatic=false (the default) to commit to full Veo renders.

Note: generate_clip's new animatic parameter (default false) renders each beat through gemini-omni-flash-preview instead of Veo, so you can preview an entire reel cheaply before committing to full Veo renders.

Google Vertex AI and Gemini Access

Vertex AI Setup

Vertex AI gives you images and video plus GCS output and Vertex-only features. If you only need images and video without those extras, the Gemini API is simpler to set up.

Step 1: Create a Google Cloud Project

1. Go to the Google Cloud Console

2. Click the project dropdown at the top of the page

3. Click "New Project"

4. Enter a project name and click "Create"

5. Note your Project ID (you'll need this later)

Step 2: Enable Vertex AI API

1. In the Cloud Console, go to "APIs & Services" > "Library" (or visit API Library)

2. Search for "Vertex AI API"

3. Click on "Vertex AI API" in the results

4. Click the "Enable" button

5. Wait for the API to be enabled (this may take a minute)

Step 3: Create a Service Account

1. Go to "IAM & Admin" > "Service Accounts" (or visit Service Accounts)

2. Click "Create Service Account" at the top

3. Enter a name (e.g., "gemini-media-mcp") and description

4. Click "Create and Continue"

5. In the "Grant this service account access to project" section:

   • Click the "Select a role" dropdown

   • Search for "Vertex AI User"

   • Select "Vertex AI User" role

   • Click "Continue"

6. Click "Done" (you can skip the optional "Grant users access" section)

Step 4: Download Service Account Key

1. In the Service Accounts list, find the account you just created

2. Click the three dots (⋮) in the "Actions" column

3. Select "Manage keys"

4. Click "Add Key" > "Create new key"

5. Select "JSON" as the key type

6. Click "Create"

7. The JSON key file will automatically download to your computer

8. Important: Move this file to a secure location and note the path (e.g., ~/credentials/gemini-media-service-account.json)

9. Security Note: Never commit this file to version control or share it publicly

Step 5: Update Configuration

Use the following values in your configuration:

• GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT: Your Project ID from Step 1

• GOOGLE_CLOUD_LOCATION: us-central1 (or your preferred region)

• GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS: Full path to the JSON key file from Step 4

Gemini API Setup

The simplest way to generate both images and video:

1. Visit Google AI Studio

2. Sign in with your Google account

3. Click "Create API Key"

4. Copy your key (starts with AIzaSy...)

5. Set the environment variable: export GEMINI_API_KEY=your-api-key

Note: The Gemini API supports Veo 3.1 video generation on the paid tier, and Veo 3.1 Lite is available only through the Gemini API. Vertex AI adds GCS output and some Vertex-only features (e.g. the generate_audio flag), but is not required for video.

Contributing

Development Setup

uv sync

Running Tests

uv run pytest

Code Quality

# Type checking
uv run basedpyright src/ tests/

# Linting and formatting
uv run ruff check src/ tests/
uv run ruff format src/ tests/

# Pre-commit hooks
uv run prek

Building Docker Image

docker build -t gemini-media-mcp .

# With specific version
docker build --build-arg VERSION=1.0.0 -t gemini-media-mcp:1.0.0 .

License

MIT