mcp-video-editor
An MCP server with 59 tools for CapCut and OpenCut editing: tracks, clips, text, transitions and voiceover from Cursor and Codex.
- 80 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
Extended access
Why this level
- The server reads and overwrites project files and writes renders to disk, and voiceover sends text to an external service.
Install
- Works in
Manual install
npm installBuild from source: `npm run build`, then `bash scripts/install-unix.sh` or `scripts/install-windows.ps1`.
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The server reads and overwrites project files and writes renders to disk, and voiceover sends text to an external service.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
The server reads and writes CapCut and OpenCut project files over stdio. An agent manages projects, tracks and clips (`add_clip`, `split_clip`, `trim_clip`), captions and text style, transitions, filters and effects, audio with fade in and out, then prepares export parameters. `get_project_state` and `get_timeline` let it read the current state. There is a catalog of 20 effects tagged for face safety, voiceover through OpenAI or ElevenLabs (`generate_voice`), a shot library and video rendering with the Remotion, HyperFrames and Motion engines through `render_project`. Every write tool runs with `dryRun: true` by default and shows what would change until you pass `dryRun: false`.
Who it is for. Editors and short-video creators who assemble clips in CapCut or OpenCut and want an agent to take over cutting and captions.
Good fit when
- A caption track is added to a CapCut project and the text is styled from a template.
- Clips are cut and moved along the timeline, then the plan is reviewed without writing to disk.
- A narration is voiced through ElevenLabs and the MP3 lands in the export folder.
- One project is built through Remotion without opening the editor.
Not a fit when
- Editing happens in Premiere or Filmora, whose projects the server does not read.
- You need a finished video file from `export_project`, which only queues a request.
- CapCut is open and editing the same draft at that moment.
Example request
Open the CapCut project, trim the first clip to ten seconds, add a title at the two-second mark and show the plan without saving.MCP
- Transport
- stdio
- Authentication
- not required
Environment variables
MCP_VIDEO_EXPORT_DIR- Directory for renders and export tasks.
MCP_VIDEO_BACKUP_DIR- Directory for project backups.
Limitations
Only CapCut and OpenCut are supported. CapCut has no official API, the server edits the `draft_content.json` file, and the editor should be closed while writing or the file may be locked. The draft schema changes between CapCut versions, so new fields may go unread. `export_project` only queues a request and creates no video file, and real rendering goes through `render_project`. The timeline XML export for Premiere and Filmora is marked beta and has not been tested in the apps. Voiceover needs a key and network. Installation builds from source: `npm install`, `npm run build` and an installer script for the clients.
How to disable. Remove the `mcp-video-editor` entry from the client configuration (Cursor, Codex, Claude Desktop and others). Project backups stay in `MCP_VIDEO_BACKUP_DIR` and are deleted by hand.
FAQ
Which clients does it work with?
Cursor, Claude Desktop, Codex CLI, Antigravity, OpenCode, KiloCode, Qwen Code and ZCode CLI. Qwen Code and ZCode are edited by hand, merging the `mcpServers` block into the existing file.
What is dryRun?
A parameter on every write tool. It defaults to `true`: changes only update the in-memory cache and leave the project file alone until you pass `dryRun: false`.
Does it make backups?
Yes, with `dryRun: false` an existing file is copied before overwriting, and `delete_project` saves the whole project. Backups are never deleted automatically.
Where do finished renders go?
In `MCP_VIDEO_EXPORT_DIR`, by default `Videos\mcp-video-editor` in the user profile. Export tasks and voiceover MP3 files go there too.
Is Premiere supported?
No. There is a beta `export_timeline_xml` export to FCP7 XML, but import into Premiere and Filmora has never been tested, and text, stickers and transitions are lost in the exchange.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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README in short
The README covers capabilities in a tool table, documentation links, release history, the architecture, Windows and Unix installation, environment variables and limitations. The safety section explains the dryRun mode and backups.