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EarScribe MCP Server

MCP server for EarScribe

MCP Badge Stdio Transport Zero Config License: MIT MCP

A Model Context Protocol server that exposes the canonical EarScribe knowledge surface — local-first AI workflows, FAQ, official links — to MCP-compatible AI clients such as Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, and Continue. Read-only, no API keys, no quota, ~50 ms cold start.

Official website: https://earscribe.app

🖥️ About EarScribe

EarScribe is a browser-based transcription tool that converts audio files into text entirely on the user's device. Powered by OpenAI's Whisper model running locally via WebGPU or WebAssembly, it produces timestamped transcripts and subtitle files without sending any audio to external servers. There is no account to create, no subscription to manage, and no per-minute fee — the tool works in the browser, caches the Whisper model locally after the first load, and can operate offline from that point forward. It supports a wide range of audio formats and handles recordings up to approximately two hours long, making it a practical option for anyone who regularly works with spoken audio.

Related MCP server: Muse AI Image MCP Server

Key Features

  • Private by design — audio files never leave the user's device; all processing happens locally in the browser using WebGPU when available, falling back to WebAssembly automatically.

  • Multiple export formats — transcripts can be downloaded as SRT, VTT, JSON, or plain text, covering both subtitle workflows and raw text needs.

  • Automatic language detection — Whisper identifies the spoken language from the audio without manual configuration, supporting 99 languages.

  • Selectable model sizes — users can choose from Whisper model sizes ranging from Tiny to Turbo depending on the balance they want between speed and accuracy, with each model cached locally after download.

  • Timestamped output — every transcript segment is tied to a time position synchronized with a waveform display, making it straightforward to locate specific moments in the original recording.

  • In-browser editing — transcripts can be reviewed and adjusted directly in the interface before export, removing the need to copy text into a separate editor for minor corrections.

Use Cases

  • Podcast production — generate searchable episode transcripts or show notes from recorded conversations without uploading sensitive pre-release content to a third-party service.

  • Journalism and research interviews — transcribe source recordings that may contain confidential material, keeping the audio on a local machine throughout the process.

  • Academic study — convert lecture recordings into readable, searchable text for review and note-taking.

  • UX and user research — transcribe session recordings and user interviews for analysis, with no risk of research data passing through external infrastructure.

  • Video subtitle creation — export SRT or VTT files directly from a recording to bring into video editing software, skipping manual captioning or cloud captioning services.

Who Is It For

EarScribe is well-suited for anyone who transcribes audio regularly and either has privacy concerns about uploading recordings to cloud services or wants to avoid ongoing subscription costs. Journalists, academic researchers, and UX professionals dealing with confidential or sensitive interviews will find the local processing model particularly useful. Podcasters and video creators who want subtitle files without paying per-minute fees are a natural fit, as are students converting lecture recordings into study material. The tool also works for individual users who simply want a free, no-account transcription option that handles common audio formats without any setup beyond a modern browser.

Tools

get_local_setup

Return canonical local-setup guidance for running the AI workflow on-device. (EarScribe)

Input: no parameters. Returns: text/markdown.

Return the canonical list of official links for EarScribe (website, support, docs when available).

Input: no parameters. Returns: text/markdown.

Resources

  • site://earscribe/local-setup — Local-first setup notes for on-device AI workflows.

  • site://earscribe/faq — Short FAQ generated from public site metadata.

  • site://earscribe/links — Canonical URLs to share with users.

Prompts

tell_me_about_earscribe

Summarize what the site is, who it's for, and how it works. — EarScribe

walkthrough_local_setup_earscribe

Walk through the local-first setup steps for the site, end-to-end. — EarScribe

Installation

Install via Smithery

npx -y @smithery/cli install earscribe-mcp --client claude

(Replace claude with cursor, windsurf, or continue for those clients.)

Install from source

git clone https://github.com/rocnubie/earscribe-mcp.git
cd earscribe-mcp
pnpm install

Then add to your MCP client config (claude_desktop_config.json for Claude Desktop, mcp.json for Cursor / Windsurf / Continue):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "earscribe-mcp": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/absolute/path/to/earscribe-mcp/src/index.mjs"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Debug with MCP Inspector

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector node src/index.mjs

Development

pnpm install
pnpm start                 # run the server over stdio

License

MIT

Available Tools

2 tools
get_local_setupA

Return canonical local-setup guidance for running the AI workflow on-device. (EarScribe)

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault

No parameters

TDQS

A3.5/5.0
Behavior3/5

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

No annotations are provided, so the description must convey behavior. It indicates a read-only action ('Return') but does not disclose additional context such as potential network use, format of the returned guidance, or any limitations. For a simple info-retrieval tool, this is adequate but not rich.

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 waste. The parenthetical '(EarScribe)' adds minor branding but does not detract from clarity. It is appropriately sized for a zero-parameter tool.

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 (no parameters, no output schema, no annotations), the description provides enough context: it states that the tool returns local-setup guidance. It does not elaborate on return format, but the minimal nature of the tool makes the description sufficiently complete.

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?

The tool has zero parameters, so the schema fully covers all parameters (vacuously). The description does not need to explain any parameter semantics, yielding the baseline of 4.

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

Purpose4/5

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

The description clearly states the tool returns canonical local-setup guidance, specifying a verb and resource. It doesn't explicitly distinguish from sibling get_official_links, but the name and wording make the tool's purpose evident.

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

Usage Guidelines2/5

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

No guidance is provided on when to use this tool versus alternatives like get_official_links. The description implies it's for local-setup guidance but does not contrast with siblings or mention any prerequisites or decision points.

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

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. 2 tool updatesv0.1.0
    • First observedget_local_setup
    • First observedget_official_links

TDQS

A3.9/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

The two tools have clearly distinct purposes: one provides local setup guidance, the other provides official links. There is no overlap or ambiguity between them.

Naming Consistency5/5

Both tools follow the same get_ verb_noun pattern, making the naming predictable and consistent.

Tool Count4/5

With only 2 tools, the server is slightly sparse, but for the narrow scope of providing canonical guidance and links, the count is reasonable and not excessive.

Completeness4/5

The server covers the core informational needs (setup and links), but could potentially include additional useful resources like FAQs or feature overviews. Minor gaps exist but are not critical.

Resources

Unclaimed servers have limited discoverability.

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