Final Cut Pro MCP — 88 tools: FCPXML engine, live FCP control, media analysis, puppets.
Final Cut Pro MCP — 88 tools: FCPXML engine, live FCP control, media analysis, puppets.
fcp-mcp is a well-structured Final Cut Pro MCP server with proper dependency management and reasonable permissions scoping for its purpose. The server correctly uses defusedxml for XML hardening and avoids hardcoded credentials. However, there are notable code quality and input validation gaps: unsanitized subprocess calls for shell operations, insufficient validation of user-supplied JSON inputs, unsafe XML element attribute assignments, and missing error handling in critical paths. These issues create moderate security risks in production use. Supply chain analysis found 5 known vulnerabilities in dependencies (0 critical, 4 high severity). Package verification found 1 issue.
3 files analyzed · 15 issues found
Security scores are indicators to help you make informed decisions, not guarantees. Always review permissions before connecting any MCP server.
This plugin requests these system permissions. Most are normal for its category.
Set these up before or after installing:
Environment variable: FCP_MCP_OUTPUT_DIR
Add this to your MCP configuration file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"io-github-dreliq9-fcp-mcp": {
"env": {
"FCP_MCP_OUTPUT_DIR": "your-fcp-mcp-output-dir-here"
},
"args": [
"fcp-mcp"
],
"command": "uvx"
}
}
}From the project's GitHub README.
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:
| 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 |
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
$PATH (for media_* tools): brew install ffmpegcompressor_* tools)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]"
source .venv/bin/activate
python -c "import fcp_mcp; print(fcp_mcp.__version__)"
pytest tests/ -v
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"
}
}
}
Add the same config to your Claude Desktop config file:
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.jsonclaude mcp list # from terminal
/mcp # inside Claude Code
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.
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.
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.
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 pipelinespuppet_* 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.
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.
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
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
See the full gallery for tool sequences and workflow breakdowns. Sample prompts:
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
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]".
See ROADMAP.md for the full plan. Highlights:
qc-check, youtube-chapters, cleanup, rough-cut, beat-syncfcp-mcp was co-developed by Adam Steen and Claude (Anthropic).
MIT — see LICENSE.
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