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Final Cut Pro MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides comprehensive remote control of Final Cut Pro via AppleScript and JXA automation. Supports 99 tools covering editing, AI-powered features, color grading, 360/VR, and more.

Requirements

  • macOS 15.6+

  • Final Cut Pro 12.0+

  • Node.js 18+

  • Accessibility permissions for System Events (System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility)

Setup

npm install
npm run build

Claude Desktop Configuration

Add to your Claude Desktop claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "finalcutpro": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/finalcutpro-mcp/dist/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Tools (99 total)

Library & Project Inspection

Tool

Description

get_libraries

Get all open libraries with names, IDs, file paths, and event counts

get_events

Get all events within a specific library

get_projects

Get all projects within an event with sequence/timeline details

Project Management

Tool

Description

new_library

Create a new library

new_event

Create a new event in the current library

new_project

Create a new project

close_library

Close the current library

project_properties

Open project properties/settings inspector

snapshot_project

Create a snapshot (backup) of the current project state

duplicate_project

Duplicate the current project with different settings

Playback & Navigation

Tool

Description

playback

Control playback (play/pause, stop, play from start, selection, fullscreen, reverse, loop)

navigate

Timeline navigation (jump to start/end, next/previous edit/clip/marker/frame, forward/backward 10 frames)

set_playback_speed

Set playback speed (0.5x to 32x, forward and reverse)

go_to_timecode

Navigate to a specific timecode position

Timeline Editing

Tool

Description

blade

Cut/split clips at the playhead position

edit_insert

Insert media (insert, append, overwrite, connect, replace modes)

delete_selection

Delete clips (ripple delete, replace with gap, selection only)

clipboard

Copy, cut, paste, paste as connected

selection

Select all, deselect all, select clip at playhead

undo_redo

Undo or redo actions

trim

Trim clip edges (start, end, to playhead, extend edit, join)

nudge

Nudge clips in any direction

insert_placeholder

Insert placeholder or gap clip

create_compound_clip

Create compound clip from selection

create_storyline

Create/collapse/lift connected storylines

change_duration

Open change duration dialog

rename_clip

Rename the selected clip

detach_audio

Detach audio from video, creating separate clips

merge_clips

Merge adjacent clips into one

break_apart_clip

Break apart compound/multicam clips into components

adjustment_layer

Add an adjustment layer above the current clip

anchored_storyline

Create and manage anchored storyline spines

Effects & Transitions

Tool

Description

add_transition

Add default cross dissolve transition

add_effect

Add default video or audio effect

add_color_correction

Add color correction (color board, wheels, curves, HSL, HDR, etc.)

add_title

Add title (basic title, lower third)

manage_effects

Copy/paste/remove effects and attributes

add_mask

Add mask (shape, color, or AI object mask)

effect_presets

Save and manage color/video/audio effect presets

AI / Machine Learning Features

Tool

Description

object_tracking

AI object tracking and segmentation masks using neural networks

cinematic_editor

AI cinematic mode editor for iPhone Cinematic video focus decisions

detect_beats

AI automatic beat detection and beat grid for music/audio

transcribe_to_captions

AI audio-to-captions transcription

auto_reframe

AI automatic reframing for different aspect ratios

image_playground

Apple's AI Image Playground for generating/editing images

Speed / Retiming

Tool

Description

retime

Change clip speed (slow 50/25/10%, fast 2x/4x/8x, reverse, freeze, hold, ramps, rewind)

retime_quality

Set retime quality (normal, frame blending, optical flow, ML-based)

show_retime_editor

Toggle the retime editor panel

speed_editor

Advanced speed blade, custom speed, and conform speed

Color Grading

Tool

Description

color_board

Full color board control (color/exposure/saturation tabs, pucks, nudge, reset)

color_channels

Change viewer color channel display (all, R, G, B, alpha)

color_correction_nav

Navigate between corrections, apply from previous clips

match_color

Match color between clips for consistent grading

compare_frame

Before/after comparison viewer for color corrections

Markers & Keywords

Tool

Description

add_marker

Add marker (standard, to-do, chapter, standard and edit)

delete_markers

Delete markers (selected or in selection range)

rate_clip

Rate clips (favorite, unfavorite, reject)

add_keyword

Apply keyword group (1-9)

set_role

Set clip role (video, titles, dialogue, music, effects)

open_keyword_editor

Open keyword editor panel

Captions & Subtitles

Tool

Description

captions

Caption operations (create, add/edit, extract, split, resolve overlaps)

import_captions

Import captions file (SRT, SCC, ITT, etc.)

export_captions

Export captions from project

Audio

Tool

Description

adjust_volume

Adjust volume (up, down, zero, silence)

solo

Solo/unsolo clip audio

audio_operations

Enhance audio, match audio, align to video, fades, crossfades

audio_fade_management

Remove fades, crossfade aligned clips

Keyframe Animation

Tool

Description

keyframes

Add, delete, copy, cut, paste keyframes; navigate between keyframes; nudge values

Variants / Auditions

Tool

Description

variants

Create, navigate, finalize, and group clip variants/auditions

Multicam

Tool

Description

switch_angle

Switch multicam angle (1-16, with cut-and-switch option)

create_multicam_clip

Create multicam clip from selection

360 / VR / Spatial Video

Tool

Description

spatial_video

Stereoscopic modes (left/right eye, anaglyph, difference, superimpose), 360 navigation (tilt, pan, roll), FOV control, horizon display, HMD latching

Tools & Interface

Tool

Description

select_tool

Switch editing tool (select, trim, blade, position, hand, zoom, range, crop, distort, transform, cinematic)

toggle_snapping

Toggle timeline snapping

toggle_panel

Show/hide panels (inspector, timeline, effects browser, video scopes, audio meters, precision editor, etc.)

zoom_timeline

Zoom timeline (in, out, fit, fit vertical, subframes)

window_layout

Switch window layout preset (default, organize, color & effects, dual displays)

go_to_panel

Navigate focus to a specific panel

clip_appearance

Change clip display style (title only, waveform, thumbnails, etc.)

av_edit_mode

Set A/V edit mode (both, video only, audio only)

timeline_history

Navigate timeline hierarchy (close current, close others, reveal ancestor)

video_output

Toggle external A/V output for broadcast monitoring

custom_overlay

Toggle custom overlay display (safe zones, etc.)

Media Organization

Tool

Description

reveal_in_finder

Reveal source media in Finder

transcode_media

Open transcode dialog

consolidate_files

Consolidate media files

relink_files

Relink original or proxy media

analyze_and_fix

Run analyze and fix on clips

synchronize_clips

Synchronize clips (align audio/video)

duplicate_detection

Find and navigate duplicate clips, make clips unique

Import / Export

Tool

Description

import_media

Open import media dialog

import_xml

Import FCPXML file (by path or dialog)

export_xml

Export project/event as FCPXML

share

Share/export project (default destination or Compressor)

render

Render timeline (all or selection)

FCPXML Generation

Tool

Description

generate_fcpxml

Programmatically generate FCPXML 1.11 with clips, transitions, titles, and effects

Generic Command Execution

Tool

Description

execute_menu_command

Execute any FCP menu command by path

send_shortcut

Send any keyboard shortcut to FCP

find

Open Find dialog or Find and Replace for titles

How It Works

The server communicates with Final Cut Pro through three mechanisms:

  1. JXA (JavaScript for Automation) - Read-only queries for library/event/project inspection via FCP's AppleScript dictionary

  2. AppleScript with System Events - Menu navigation and keyboard shortcuts for editing operations

  3. FCPXML - Programmatic timeline creation via FCP's XML interchange format

The server automatically manages FCP focus — it activates FCP before commands that need it and restores the previously focused app afterward.

License

MIT

Install Server
A
security – no known vulnerabilities
F
license - not found
A
quality - confirmed to work

Resources

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