Final Cut Pro 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