fcp-mcp — Final Cut Pro MCP Server

The most capable MCP server for Final Cut Pro — 88 tools covering FCPXML editing, live FCP control, parametric puppets, and media analysis. One server, every layer.

You: "Open the library, find flash frames in the hero timeline, fix them, and bounce to ProRes."
Claude → fcp_open_library → fcpxml_detect_flash_frames → fcpxml_fix_flash_frames
       → fcp_import_xml → fcp_share → compressor_encode
Result: fixed FCPXML + ProRes master, verified in-app

Where the competition stops at one layer, fcp-mcp covers three:

• FCPXML engine — parse, edit, QC, generate, cross-NLE export — 49 tools
• Live FCP control — AppleScript-backed library/playback/menu/share — 20 tools
• Media analysis — ffprobe-backed scene/loudness/frame tools — 10 tools
• Parametric puppets — character animation presets in FCPXML — 7 tools
• Compressor — dispatch encodes to Apple Compressor — 2 tools

Available Tools (88 across 12 categories)

Category	Count	What it does
inspect	8	Parse, list clips/markers/effects/roles, analyze pacing, timeline stats, A/B diff
qc	10	Flash frames, gaps, duplicates, media links, frame rates, audio levels, safe zones, duration, schema, full QC report
edit	12	Markers, keywords, titles, audio, transitions, trim, split, delete, reorder, speed, role assign, reformat
heal	3	Fix flash frames, fill gaps, remove silence
batch	4	Markers, rename, role assign, apply transition across many clips
generate	4	New project/timeline, auto rough cut, montage from a shotlist
templates	3	List, apply, save FCPXML templates (reusable title/audio/role bundles)
io	5	Import SRT/EDL, export EDL + DaVinci Resolve XML + Premiere FCP7 XMEML
live	20	AppleScript-backed: library/events/projects, playback, menu/keyboard, share, discover effects & motion templates
puppet	7	Parametric character rigs in FCPXML with motion presets (walk, talk, wave, multi-scene composition)
media	10	ffprobe + ffmpeg: info, streams, EBU R128 loudness, silence, beat detection, scene detect, thumbnails, audio-to-MIDI
compressor	2	List Compressor settings, dispatch encode jobs

Project Structure

fcp-mcp/
├── src/fcp_mcp/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── __main__.py              # python -m fcp_mcp.server
│   ├── server.py                # FastMCP entry + all 88 tool handlers
│   ├── fcpxml/
│   │   ├── parser.py            # FCPXML → Python object tree
│   │   ├── writer.py            # object tree → FCPXML (lossless)
│   │   ├── models.py            # TimeValue, Timecode, Clip, Timeline, etc.
│   │   ├── time_utils.py        # rational-arithmetic timecode
│   │   ├── analysis.py          # pacing, flash frames, gaps, duplicates
│   │   ├── validator.py         # DTD-style structural validation
│   │   ├── generator.py         # programmatic project/timeline creation
│   │   ├── puppet.py            # character puppet system
│   │   └── diff.py              # timeline A/B comparison
│   ├── fcp_control/             # AppleScript bridge for live FCP control
│   ├── media/
│   │   └── ffprobe.py           # ffprobe wrapper for media analysis
│   ├── pipeline/                # multi-step workflows
│   └── utils/
│       ├── safe_xml.py          # defusedxml hardening
│       └── paths.py             # path resolution, expansion
├── tests/                       # 107 tests
├── examples/
│   ├── quickstart.py            # install verification
│   └── GALLERY.md               # workflow gallery with prompts
├── pyproject.toml
├── server.json                  # MCP Registry manifest
├── smithery.yaml                # Smithery directory config
├── LLM_GUIDE.md                 # operational guide for agents
├── WORKFLOWS.md                 # production recipes
├── CHANGELOG.md
├── ROADMAP.md
├── CONTRIBUTING.md
└── LICENSE

---

Setup

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10+
• macOS with Final Cut Pro (for live-control tools — FCPXML tools work anywhere)
• FFmpeg on $PATH (for media_* tools): brew install ffmpeg
• Apple Compressor (optional, for compressor_* tools)

Install

pipx install fcp-mcp

Or from source (for contributors):

git clone https://github.com/dreliq9/fcp-mcp.git
cd fcp-mcp
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -e ".[dev]"

Verify

source .venv/bin/activate
python -c "import fcp_mcp; print(fcp_mcp.__version__)"
pytest tests/ -v

Connect to Claude Code

claude mcp add-json fcp '{"type":"stdio","command":"fcp-mcp"}' --scope user

Or if you installed from source, point at your venv's Python:

claude mcp add-json fcp '{"type":"stdio","command":"/FULL/PATH/TO/.venv/bin/fcp-mcp"}' --scope user

Or edit ~/.claude.json directly:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fcp": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "fcp-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop

Add the same config to your Claude Desktop config file:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Verify connection

claude mcp list       # from terminal
/mcp                  # inside Claude Code

---

Key Features

Three layers in one server

Most FCP MCPs pick a lane. DareDev256/fcpxml-mcp-server is FCPXML-only. elliotttate/finalcutpro-mcp is AppleScript/JXA-heavy with thin FCPXML. fcp-mcp does both — and adds media analysis (ffprobe) and a parametric puppet system on top. An agent can open a library, inspect the active timeline, patch the XML, re-import, trigger Share, and dispatch a Compressor job — end to end.

Rational-arithmetic timecode

Time values are stored as fractions ("720/24s") and only collapsed to floats at display boundaries. Frame-accurate across 23.976 / 24 / 29.97 / 59.94 / drop-frame — no rounding drift when splitting, trimming, or concatenating.

Hardened XML parsing

All .fcpxml reads go through defusedxml via utils/safe_xml.py — XXE, billion-laughs, and external-entity attacks blocked by default. Size and depth limits enforced. validator.py runs structural schema checks before any destructive operation.

Cross-NLE export

Same timeline out to three targets:

• fcpxml_export_resolve — DaVinci Resolve-flavored XML (v1.9)
• fcpxml_export_fcp7 — Premiere-compatible XMEML (FCP7 format)
• fcpxml_export_edl — flat EDL for color-grading and archive pipelines

Parametric character puppets

puppet_* tools build animated character rigs entirely in FCPXML — no third-party motion templates required. Parts, keyframes, and presets (walk, talk, wave, multi-character compositions) emit standards-compliant XML that opens in any FCP.

QC before you cut

fcpxml_qc_report("hero.fcpxml")
  → flash frames (2 × 1-frame orphans at 00:12:03, 00:14:22)
  → audio-level warnings (3 clips peaking above -3dBFS)
  → offline media (1 stock clip missing)
  → safe-zone violations (title at y=0.94, outside 90% action safe)
  → frame-rate conflicts (none)

One call, full catalog of issues with timecodes, before the edit leaves your machine.

Live FCP control

When FCP is running, fcp_* tools wire through AppleScript:

fcp_open_library(...)
fcp_get_timeline_info()    → current project, active range, playhead
fcp_playback("play" | "pause" | "goto" | "in_out")
fcp_menu_command("File > Export > Export Using Compressor Settings...")
fcp_keyboard_shortcut("cmd+shift+e")
fcp_share("YouTube — 4K")
fcp_discover_effects()     → every installed effect/transition/title

---

Output Files

By default, modified FCPXMLs are written next to their input with a _modified suffix. Override per-call via the output_path parameter, or globally with:

export FCP_MCP_OUTPUT_DIR=/your/path

---

Examples

See the full gallery for tool sequences and workflow breakdowns. Sample prompts:

• "Run a full QC report on hero.fcpxml and fix every flash frame."
• "Convert these .srt captions into FCPXML title clips on the V2 track."
• "Take my assembly-edit XML and re-export it as a DaVinci Resolve XML for color."
• "List every clip on the timeline, then batch-assign the 'dialogue' role to all interview clips."
• "Open the active library, seek to the first marker, and dispatch a ProRes 422 HQ bounce via Compressor."
• "Build a 3-character puppet scene: one walking, one talking, one waving. 5-second timeline."

---

Architecture

Claude Code / Claude Desktop / any MCP client
        │
        │  stdio (JSON-RPC)
        ▼
   fcp-mcp server (fcp_mcp/server.py, FastMCP)
        │
        ├── fcpxml/parser + writer + models ← rational-arithmetic, defusedxml-hardened
        ├── fcpxml/analysis + validator     ← QC, pacing, flash frames, gaps
        ├── fcpxml/generator + puppet       ← programmatic timeline construction
        ├── fcpxml/diff                     ← A/B timeline comparison
        ├── fcp_control/ (AppleScript)      ← live FCP when available
        ├── media/ffprobe                   ← clip info, loudness, scenes, frames
        └── Compressor (CLI dispatch)       ← automated encodes
              │
              ▼
        .fcpxml (v1.11+) / EDL / DaVinci XML / FCP7 XMEML / ProRes / H.264

---

Troubleshooting

fcp-mcp: command not found — make sure the venv you installed into is on your PATH, or use the absolute path to the venv's bin/fcp-mcp in your MCP config.

ffmpeg: command not found on media_ calls* — brew install ffmpeg. FFmpeg is not bundled.

fcp_* tools return "Final Cut Pro is not running" — launch FCP first. Live tools require an active FCP process on macOS.

fcp_* tools fail silently on newer FCP versions — FCP's scripting surface is limited compared to pre-FCPX versions. Menu items and keyboard shortcuts are the reliable path; some JXA queries are gated behind Accessibility permissions (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → Claude/Terminal).

fcpxml_* tools complain about schema — Make sure your input is FCPXML 1.10+. Run fcpxml_validate first. For older exports, open and re-save the library in FCP 10.6+ before processing.

Tests failing on import — activate the venv and reinstall: pip install -e ".[dev]".

---

Planned Work

See ROADMAP.md for the full plan. Highlights:

• MCP Prompts — shipped: qc-check, youtube-chapters, cleanup, rough-cut, beat-sync
• Windows/Linux parity for FCPXML tools — live-control tools remain macOS-only
• Proxy/Resolve round-trip — proxy-aware offline/online workflows

---

Acknowledgments

fcp-mcp was co-developed by Adam Steen and Claude (Anthropic).

License

MIT — see LICENSE.