Premiere Pro MCP Server

Get Playhead Position

get_playhead_position

Read-onlyIdempotent

Retrieves the current playhead (CTI) position in the active sequence so editors can inspect timing, sync edits, and make informed timeline decisions.

Instructions

Get the current playhead (CTI) position in the active sequence

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`expected_cep_target`	No	Optional reviewed CEP sequence/clip identity and exact tick ranges. Checked before every generated command; UXP refuses this CEP-only guard.
`expected_project_path`	No	Optional absolute saved-project path. Every generated CEP command refuses before its body when the active project differs or is unsaved. UXP commands refuse this CEP-only guard; local-only tools do not inspect Premiere. Omit to keep existing behavior.

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description
`ok`	Yes	Whether the tool completed successfully.
`data`	No	Tool-specific result data when ok is true; on failure, diagnostic detail when the tool provides it.
`tool`	Yes	The registered MCP tool name.
`error`	No	Failure detail when ok is false.
`receipt`	No	Versioned common mutation receipt; success never implies rendered verification.
`idempotency`	No	Present when idempotency_key deduplicated this call: replayed is true when the original outcome was returned instead of running again.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed1 schema field changedv1.25.0Oct 24, 2026

addedOutput schema / properties / idempotency

Added value: +{
+  "additionalProperties": true,
+  "description": "Present when idempotency_key deduplicated this call: replayed is true when the original outcome was returned instead of running again.",
+  "type": "object"
+}

Changed3 schema fields changedv1.24.0Oct 12, 2026

addedInput schema / additionalProperties
```
Added value: +false
```

addedInput schema / properties

Added value: +{
+  "expected_cep_target": {
+    "additionalProperties": false,
+    "anyOf": [
+      {
+        "required": [
+          "sequence_id"
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        "required": [
+          "source_item"
+        ]
+      }
+    ],
+    "description": "Optional reviewed CEP sequence/clip identity and exact tick ranges. Checked before every generated command; UXP refuses this CEP-only guard.",
+    "properties": {
+      "backend": {
+        "const": "cep",
+        "description": "Backend namespace for these IDs.",
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "clip": {
+        "additionalProperties": false,
+        "description": "Optional exact reviewed timeline clip.",
+        "properties": {
+          "effect": {
+            "additionalProperties": false,
+            "description": "Reviewed effect and parameter identity checked before mutation.",
+            "properties": {
+              "display_name": {
+                "description": "Optional exact host display name.",
+                "maxLength": 512,
+                "minLength": 1,
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "match_name": {
+                "description": "Effect match name from host inspection.",
+                "maxLength": 512,
+                "minLength": 1,
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "parameter_index": {
+                "description": "Inspected zero-based parameter index.",
+                "maximum": 255,
+                "minimum": 0,
+                "type": "integer"
+              },
+              "parameter_name": {
+                "description": "Exact inspected parameter name.",
+                "maxLength": 512,
+                "minLength": 1,
+                "type": "string"
+              }
+            },
+            "required": [
+              "match_name",
+              "parameter_index",
+              "parameter_name"
+            ],
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "end_ticks": {
+            "description": "Exact expected exclusive timeline end ticks.",
+            "pattern": "^-?\\d{1,30}$",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "in_ticks": {
+            "description": "Exact expected source In ticks.",
+            "pattern": "^-?\\d{1,30}$",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "node_id": {
+            "description": "Stable CEP node ID.",
+            "maxLength": 512,
+            "minLength": 1,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "out_ticks": {
+            "description": "Exact expected exclusive source Out ticks.",
+            "pattern": "^-?\\d{1,30}$",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "project_item_id": {
+            "description": "Expected source project-item node ID.",
+            "maxLength": 512,
+            "minLength": 1,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "start_ticks": {
+            "description": "Exact expected timeline start ticks.",
+            "pattern": "^-?\\d{1,30}$",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "track_index": {
+            "description": "Expected zero-based track index; identity still checked.",
+            "maximum": 255,
+            "minimum": 0,
+            "type": "integer"
+          },
+          "track_type": {
+            "description": "Expected media track group.",
+            "enum": [
+              "video",
+              "audio"
+            ],
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "node_id",
+          "track_type",
+          "track_index"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "project_document_id": {
+        "description": "Exact Premiere project document ID observed during review.",
+        "maxLength": 512,
+        "minLength": 1,
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "sequence_id": {
+        "description": "Stable expected active sequence ID.",
+        "maxLength": 512,
+        "minLength": 1,
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "source_item": {
+        "additionalProperties": false,
+        "description": "Reviewed source identity for a source-only operation.",
+        "properties": {
+          "media_path": {
+            "description": "Optional exact source-media path.",
+            "maxLength": 4096,
+            "minLength": 1,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "node_id": {
+            "description": "Exact project-item node ID.",
+            "maxLength": 512,
+            "minLength": 1,
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "node_id"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "backend"
+    ],
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  "expected_project_path": {
+    "description": "Optional absolute saved-project path. Every generated CEP command refuses before its body when the active project differs or is unsaved. UXP commands refuse this CEP-only guard; local-only tools do not inspect Premiere. Omit to keep existing behavior.",
+    "maxLength": 4096,
+    "minLength": 1,
+    "type": "string"
+  }
+}

addedOutput schema / properties / receipt

Added value: +{
+  "additionalProperties": true,
+  "description": "Versioned common mutation receipt; success never implies rendered verification.",
+  "type": "object"
+}

Changed1 schema field changedv1.18.6Sep 30, 2026

changedOutput schema / properties / data / description

Previous value: -"Tool-specific result data when ok is true."New value: +"Tool-specific result data when ok is true; on failure, diagnostic detail when the tool provides it."

Changed1 schema field changedv1.14.9Sep 8, 2026
- removedInput schema / properties
```
Removed value: -{}
```

Changed2 schema fields changedv1.14.4Aug 29, 2026

changedInput schema / $schema

Previous value: -"http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"New value: +"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema"

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+  "additionalProperties": false,
+  "properties": {
+    "data": {
+      "description": "Tool-specific result data when ok is true."
+    },
+    "error": {
+      "description": "Failure detail when ok is false.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "ok": {
+      "description": "Whether the tool completed successfully.",
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "tool": {
+      "description": "The registered MCP tool name.",
+      "minLength": 1,
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "ok",
+    "tool"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

First observedv1.1.1May 28, 2026

TDQS

A3.8/5.0

Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

The annotations already declare this as read-only, idempotent, non-destructive, and not open-world. The description adds that the reading applies to the active sequence and is the CTI position, but it does not mention behavior when no active sequence exists or other edge cases.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single front-loaded sentence with no redundant or wasted language. It communicates the core operation and scope efficiently.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's simplicity, the read-only annotations, the output schema, and complete schema descriptions, the definition is largely complete. A minor gap is that it does not state what happens if there is no active sequence, but this is not a major omission for an agent selecting the tool.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so the two optional guard parameters are fully documented in the schema. The description adds no parameter-specific meaning beyond what the schema already provides, which is appropriate for a baseline score.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description names a specific verb and resource: get the current playhead (CTI) position. It also scopes the result to the active sequence, making it clearly distinct from sibling mutation tools such as set_playhead_position and navigation tools such as navigate_playhead.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Usage is implied by the purpose: call this when the current playhead position in the active sequence is needed. However, the description does not explicitly state when to use this versus siblings like get_clip_at_playhead, get_source_monitor_position, or navigate_playhead.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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