Premiere Pro MCP Server

Trim Clip

trim_clip

Trims one clip's source in or out point, verifies the visible timeline edge, and keeps linked audio/video in sync by default while refusing unsafe edits before changing anything.

Instructions

Trim exactly one source in/out point and verify the corresponding visible timeline edge. Requires accessible physical media duration from ffprobe; unknown duration or linked partners using different source files refuse before mutation. Refuses retimed clips, extensions that would overlap the neighbouring clip on the same track, and, by default, trims that would leave effect keyframes outside the visible clip. Linked audio/video partners get the same trim by default (include_linked), applied as the same offset from each partner's own source point so a J/L cut or slipped audio stays in sync; every clip is checked before any is changed. To set a clip's timeline length or extend a still image, use set_clip_duration. Existing host Out padding below one sequence frame may be preserved or reduced, but never used to create additional padding.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`node_id`	Yes	Node ID of the clip to trim
`include_linked`	No	Also apply the edit to the clip's linked audio/video partners, as Premiere does with linked selection (default: true).
`new_in_seconds`	No	New source in-point in seconds (relative to the clip's source media). Specify exactly one edit point.
`idempotency_key`	No	Optional client-chosen key (1-128 chars of A-Z a-z 0-9 . _ : -) for this intended edit. Pass a fresh key per edit and reuse it only when retrying that same edit, for example after a client-side timeout. A repeat with the same tool, key and arguments is not run again: while the first call is running it fails with IDEMPOTENCY_IN_PROGRESS (poll get_last_operations); after it finished it returns the original outcome marked replayed. A definite failure with nothing applied (receipt outcome not_applied) may be retried with the same key. Reusing a key with different arguments fails with IDEMPOTENCY_KEY_REUSED. Scoped to this MCP session (the stdio server process or one HTTP session) and held in memory only (200 keys, 1 hour); it does not survive a restart or reconnect. Read-only invocations are never deduplicated.
`keyframe_policy`	No	How to handle effect keyframes beyond the trimmed visible range: reject (default) leaves the timeline unchanged; preserve explicitly keeps them and reports their count; hold_last_value keeps them too but makes every animated numeric parameter hold the value it had at the edge. Trimming into an animation adds a key at the new edge with the value sampled there before the trim; extending past keyframes adds keys at the old and new edge with the old edge's value so the revealed range stays flat. It refuses before mutation if keyframes would be revealed, a value cannot be sampled, or a non-numeric/colour parameter would need a key. Each parameter is read back at the new edge; key writes that do not verify report committed_unverified.
`new_out_seconds`	No	New source out-point in seconds (relative to the clip's source media). Specify exactly one edit point.
`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.

Changed4 schema fields changedv1.25.0Oct 24, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / idempotency_key

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Optional client-chosen key (1-128 chars of A-Z a-z 0-9 . _ : -) for this intended edit. Pass a fresh key per edit and reuse it only when retrying that same edit, for example after a client-side timeout. A repeat with the same tool, key and arguments is not run again: while the first call is running it fails with IDEMPOTENCY_IN_PROGRESS (poll get_last_operations); after it finished it returns the original outcome marked replayed. A definite failure with nothing applied (receipt outcome not_applied) may be retried with the same key. Reusing a key with different arguments fails with IDEMPOTENCY_KEY_REUSED. Scoped to this MCP session (the stdio server process or one HTTP session) and held in memory only (200 keys, 1 hour); it does not survive a restart or reconnect. Read-only invocations are never deduplicated.",
+  "maxLength": 128,
+  "minLength": 1,
+  "pattern": "^[A-Za-z0-9._:-]+$",
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / keyframe_policy / description

Previous value: -"How to handle effect keyframes beyond the trimmed visible range: reject (default) leaves the timeline unchanged; preserve explicitly keeps them and reports their count."New value: +"How to handle effect keyframes beyond the trimmed visible range: reject (default) leaves the timeline unchanged; preserve explicitly keeps them and reports their count; hold_last_value keeps them too but makes every animated numeric parameter hold the value it had at the edge. Trimming into an animation adds a key at the new edge with the value sampled there before the trim; extending past keyframes adds keys at the old and new edge with the old edge's value so the revealed range stays flat. It refuses before mutation if keyframes would be revealed, a value cannot be sampled, or a non-numeric/colour parameter would need a key. Each parameter is read back at the new edge; key writes that do not verify report committed_unverified."

changedInput schema / properties / keyframe_policy / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "reject",
-  "preserve"
-]New value: +[
+  "reject",
+  "preserve",
+  "hold_last_value"
+]

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 / properties / expected_cep_target

Added value: +{
+  "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"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / expected_project_path

Added value: +{
+  "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"
+}

Changed3 schema fields changedv1.18.6Sep 30, 2026

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

addedInput schema / properties / include_linked

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Also apply the edit to the clip's linked audio/video partners, as Premiere does with linked selection (default: true).",
+  "type": "boolean"
+}

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."

Changed2 schema fields changedv1.14.9Sep 8, 2026
- addedInput schema / properties / new_in_seconds / minimum
```
Added value: +0
```
- addedInput schema / properties / new_out_seconds / minimum
```
Added value: +0
```

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"
+}

Changed3 schema fields changedv1.11.3Aug 19, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / keyframe_policy

Added value: +{
+  "description": "How to handle effect keyframes beyond the trimmed visible range: reject (default) leaves the timeline unchanged; preserve explicitly keeps them and reports their count.",
+  "enum": [
+    "reject",
+    "preserve"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / new_in_seconds / description

Previous value: -"New in-point in seconds (relative to clip's source media)"New value: +"New source in-point in seconds (relative to the clip's source media). Specify exactly one edit point."

changedInput schema / properties / new_out_seconds / description

Previous value: -"New out-point in seconds (relative to clip's source media)"New value: +"New source out-point in seconds (relative to the clip's source media). Specify exactly one edit point."

Changed1 schema field changedv1.4.0Jul 27, 2026
- removedInput schema / additionalProperties
```
Removed value: -false
```
First observedv1.1.1May 28, 2026

TDQS

A4.8/5.0

Behavior5/5

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

Beyond the annotations, it discloses pre-mutation refusals, linked audio/video synchronization behavior, all-partner prechecks, keyframe policy outcomes, and host Out padding constraints. The mutation is consistent with readOnlyHint=false and destructiveHint=false, and the optional idempotency key adds retry semantics rather than contradicting the annotations.

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

Conciseness4/5

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

The purpose is front-loaded and the description is appropriately dense for a complex mutation tool, with no obvious filler. It is somewhat long and run-on, but the added clauses mostly earn their place by documenting edge-case behavior.

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

Completeness5/5

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

Given the complexity, full schema coverage, annotations, and output schema, the description covers the key operational constraints an agent needs: prerequisites, refusals, linked behavior, keyframe handling, alternative tool routing, and padding behavior.

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

Parameters4/5

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

Schema coverage is 100%, so the schema already carries parameter definitions. The description still adds meaningful behavior for include_linked, explaining that linked partners receive the same offset from their own source points, and it clarifies keyframe_policy semantics, though much of the detail also appears in the schema.

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 states a precise verb and resource: trim exactly one source in/out point and verify the visible timeline edge. It also distinguishes this tool from set_clip_duration, so an agent can route between them without opening both schemas.

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

Usage Guidelines5/5

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

It explicitly names the alternative for setting timeline length or extending a still image (set_clip_duration) and lists several when-not conditions such as unknown duration, retimed clips, overlaps, and keyframe cases. This gives clear selection guidance, not just implied usage.

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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