# equalang-mcp

Translates files, subtitles, images, audio, and video while retaining their format. Use it when file translation or transcription should run through an MCP client.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 16
- Author: equalang
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/equalang/equalang-mcp
- Updated: 2026-10-12
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/equalang-mcp

## What it does

equalang-mcp exposes Equalang operations to an MCP client. It can translate PDF, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, EPUB, HTML, and TXT files while keeping their original format, tables, images, formulas, and page layout. SRT and VTT timing stays intact, while audio and video can become translated subtitles or transcripts in SRT, VTT, TXT, or JSON.

Its tools include `translate_file`, `transcribe_recording`, `translate_text`, `estimate_cost`, `check_job`, `cancel_job`, `get_credit_balance`, and `list_languages`. A long text can be sent as one item and split at sentence boundaries, up to 100,000 characters. Node 18 or later is required.

\`EQUALANG_API_KEY` is required for translation and transcription. The server can still start and expose its tools without the key, so put it in the client configuration or in `~/.config/equalang/.env`; an environment variable takes precedence.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `EQUALANG_API_KEY` — 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 equalang-mcp -e EQUALANG_API_KEY=<EQUALANG_API_KEY> -- npx -y @equalang/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add equalang-mcp --env EQUALANG_API_KEY=<EQUALANG_API_KEY> -- npx -y @equalang/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

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

### GitHub Copilot

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

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e EQUALANG_API_KEY=<EQUALANG_API_KEY> equalang-mcp npx -y @equalang/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- translate a PDF, DOCX, or PPTX without losing its layout
- create subtitles from an audio or video file
- transcribe a recording with timestamps
- translate text inside an image
- check a file's estimated translation cost first

## Example prompts
- Translate `contract.pdf` into French and preserve its layout.
- Create Russian subtitles for `interview.mp4` with the original line above each translation.
- Transcribe `standup.m4a` and include timestamps.

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