Kinocut — Claude Code MCP server for agent video editing
A local MCP server that lets an agent trim, caption and quality-check video through typed FFmpeg tools instead of guessed flags.
claude mcp add kinocut -- uvx kinocutWhat Kinocut does
Kinocut wraps FFmpeg in typed tools, so the agent calls named operations — trim, transcribe, subtitles, resize — rather than inventing command-line flags. Every edit leaves a Video Receipt, a record of what the agent actually did. There is a Python client and a kino CLI alongside the server.
The usual job is turning one recording into captioned vertical clips. Cut the strongest segment out of an interview or podcast, burn in subtitles, switch to 9:16, then run a release checkpoint before publishing. Manifests and review artifacts stay on disk, so an edit can be re-run or handed to a human for approval.
You need Python 3.11+ and FFmpeg on PATH. No FFmpeg means the server will not start, so check that first. Whisper and Hyperframes are optional extras for transcription and effects. It runs locally on macOS, Linux and Windows; this is not a hosted editor or a credit-metered service.
What it helps with
- cut the strongest segment out of a long interview
- burn captions into a clip and export an
.srtfile - turn a horizontal clip into a vertical Short or Reel
- quality-check an export before it goes out
- re-run the same edit from a script or CI job
Example prompts for the agent
- Trim
interview.mp4to 45 seconds starting at00:02:15, add burned captions and make it vertical. - Transcribe this clip into
captions.srtand burn the subtitles into the video. - Run a release checkpoint on the finished file and show me the thumbnail.
How to install Kinocut
Platform CLI
claude mcp add kinocut -- uvx kinocutuvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from kinocut <command>
Platform CLI
codex mcp add kinocut -- uvx kinocutuvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from kinocut <command>
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"kinocut": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"kinocut"
]
}
}
}uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from kinocut <command>
Config file
{
"servers": {
"kinocut": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"kinocut"
]
}
}
}uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from kinocut <command>
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add kinocut uvx kinocutuvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from kinocut <command>
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Kinocut
How do I install Kinocut in Claude?
Run claude mcp add kinocut -- uvx kinocut. Make sure FFmpeg is available on PATH beforehand.
What does Kinocut do?
It gives an agent typed tools for local video editing on top of FFmpeg: trimming, transcription, subtitles and aspect-ratio changes. Each operation produces a Video Receipt.
What does Kinocut need to run?
Python 3.11+ and FFmpeg on PATH. Whisper and Hyperframes are separate extras if you want transcription and effects.
