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