# opencut-controller

Controls the OpenCut video editor through MCP and Playwright, including projects, timelines, media, text, audio and export. Requires a patched legacy editor.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 9
- Author: JXUE0
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/JXUE0/opencut-controller
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/opencut-controller

## What it does

opencut-controller connects an AI client to OpenCut through Playwright. It exposes 161 MCP tools for projects, scenes, playback, tracks, clips, effects, keyframes, media, text, audio and export. The server also provides resources for live editor state and ready-made MCP prompts.

It supports local `stdio` and HTTP Streamable transport. Setup requires `pnpm` or Bun: `pnpm install` installs dependencies and fetches the Playwright Chromium binary. Run `pnpm run patch-editor ../opencut-classic` to modify the local editor, then start OpenCut on port `3001`. The controller cannot control OpenCut without the patched legacy editor `OpenCut-app/opencut-classic`.

Claude Code can register the server with `claude mcp add opencut-controller -- npx -y opencut-controller`. HTTP mode listens on port `3002`, and remote access can use `MCP_AUTH_TOKEN`. Time values use seconds, while element volume uses dB.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add opencut-controller -- npx -y opencut-controller
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add opencut-controller -- npx -y opencut-controller
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "opencut-controller": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "opencut-controller"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "opencut-controller": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "opencut-controller"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add opencut-controller npx -y opencut-controller
```

## When to use it
- create and save an OpenCut project
- place clips on the timeline
- add text overlays and clip effects
- import media and set element volume
- export a project to MP4 or WebM

## Example prompts
- Create an OpenCut project, import the media files, and arrange them on the timeline.
- Trim the selected clip, add a text overlay, and prepare the project for export.
- Export the current edit to MP4 and inspect the timeline state.

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