# CartCut

Connects your AI agent to the CartCut desktop video editor. Edit timelines, trim footage by transcript, and style captions directly via chat prompts.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 818
- Author: cartesiancs
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/cartesiancs/cartcut/tree/HEAD/packages/mcp-bridge
- Updated: 2026-10-21
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/cartcut

## What it does

This package serves as a local stdio bridge between an MCP client and the CartCut video editor running on your machine. The assistant interacts directly with your open project: cutting clips based on spoken transcripts, styling captions, and adjusting scene transitions. All edits register in CartCut's native history, so standard ⌘Z shortcuts revert changes instantly.

CartCut hosts its internal MCP server on `http://127.0.0.1:9826/mcp`. No project files leave the local environment because traffic stays strictly on that loopback address. The bridge picks up the authentication token automatically from the application's `config.json` file, or reads it from the `CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN` environment variable.

Setup requires Node.js 18 or newer alongside an active CartCut instance. If the editor closes while a command is running, the bridge returns an error instead of replaying the payload. That stops the tool from corrupting your timeline with repeated edits.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add cartcut -e CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN=<CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN> -- npx -y @cartesiancs/cartcut-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add mcp-bridge --env CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN=<CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN> -- npx -y @cartesiancs/cartcut-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp-bridge": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@cartesiancs/cartcut-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN": "<CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "mcp-bridge": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@cartesiancs/cartcut-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN": "<CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN=<CARTCUT_MCP_TOKEN> mcp-bridge npx -y @cartesiancs/cartcut-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- cut video scenes based on spoken transcript text
- generate and align captions across the project timeline
- apply clip transitions and visual effects without manual cuts
- undo automated agent edits using native desktop shortcuts

## Example prompts
- Trim all silent pauses from the interview track using the transcript.
- Generate captions for the selected clip and place a zoom effect on the intro.
- Cut out the mistake around minute two and insert a crossfade transition.

## Similar
- [REA](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/rea.md) — MCP server · ★ 386989
- [GitHub](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/github.md) — MCP server · ★ 33918
- [Netdata](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/netdata.md) — MCP server · ★ 81115
- [browser-use](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/browser-use.md) — MCP server · ★ 119160
- [Codebase Memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/codebase-memory.md) — MCP server · ★ 47392
- [mcp-server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 43872

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md