@videobuff-app/mcp

MCP server that lets Claude Desktop and Claude Code drive VideoBuff — a browser-based video editor — through natural language.

What it does

Exposes VideoBuff's automation API (~30 tools: add/split/trim clips, text, transforms, color grade, transitions, export, …) as MCP tools. Claude talks to the MCP server, the server relays commands to VideoBuff running in your browser, and the edits happen live.

Install

1. Open videobuff.app and click Connect with Claude — you'll get a pairing token.
2. Add the server to your Claude client config.

Claude Desktop

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) / %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "videobuff": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@videobuff-app/mcp"],
      "env": {
        "VIDEOBUFF_BEARER_TOKEN": "vb_pair_xxxxxxxxxxxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

claude mcp add videobuff \
  --env VIDEOBUFF_BEARER_TOKEN=vb_pair_xxxxxxxxxxxx \
  -- npx -y @videobuff-app/mcp

Restart the client. In a new chat, ask Claude to "list VideoBuff tools" to confirm the connection.

Environment

| Variable | Default | Purpose | | --- | --- | --- | | VIDEOBUFF_BEARER_TOKEN | (required) | Token from the Connect flow. | | VIDEOBUFF_MCP_URL | https://videobuff.app/api/mcp | Relay endpoint. | | VIDEOBUFF_TELEMETRY | 1 | Set to 0 to disable anonymous usage telemetry. |

Use cases

Three concrete workflows. Paste the prompt into Claude with this MCP server connected and a VideoBuff tab paired.

1. Add a caption title to a clip

"Import intro.mp4 from my Desktop, drop it on the timeline at 0s, then add a text clip that says 'Quarterly Review — Q1 2026' at the start. Center it, 72pt, white."

Tools used: videobuff_import_assets, videobuff_add_asset_to_timeline, videobuff_add_text_clip, videobuff_update_text_clip.

Why it matters: placing a branded title normally walks you through three panels (import → text tool → style). The prompt collapses it to one sentence.

2. Trim a long recording and export for social

"The clip keynote-full.mp4 is already on the timeline. Split it at 01:12 and 01:34, keep only that middle segment, then set the aspect ratio to 9:16 and export as MP4."

Tools used: videobuff_split_clip, videobuff_remove_clip, videobuff_set_aspect_ratio, videobuff_export_to_blob.

Why it matters: Claude tracks the clip IDs that shift around after each split — the part that's easy to miscount by hand.

3. Batch-tweak every clip in a project

"Look at the current project. For every video clip, add a short fade-in transition at its start. Skip audio-only clips."

Tools used: videobuff_get_project_info, videobuff_update_clip_transition.

Why it matters: loop-over-clips chores are exactly what the GUI makes tedious. Claude reads the timeline, iterates, and reports what it changed.

Testing & sample data

VideoBuff has no sign-up — pairing is the only credential. To evaluate the server end-to-end without a production account:

1. Bring any small media file (a 5–30s MP4 is enough). The editor accepts MP4 / MOV / WebM / PNG / JPEG / MP3 / WAV via drag-and-drop.
2. Open a fresh editor tab: https://videobuff.app/editor. The project starts empty; nothing is persisted server-side — reloading the tab resets state.
3. Pair: click the Connect with Claude button in the toolbar. The dialog shows a vb_pair_… bearer token; copy it into VIDEOBUFF_BEARER_TOKEN.
4. Drive from Claude: with the MCP server configured (see Install), try any of the three use-case prompts above against your uploaded media.

A hosted reviewer sandbox with pre-loaded sample clips is on the roadmap — until then, any local media file works.

Support

• Bug reports / feature requests: https://github.com/hooligan-inc/videobuff-sdk/issues — maintained by Hooligan Inc., typically triaged within one business day.
• Usage questions / partnership inquiries: contact form at https://videobuff.app/legal (choose the Usage Question or Other category). Goes to the same team inbox.
• Security disclosure: please do not open a public issue. Use the contact form with category Other and mention [security] in the subject; we'll reply with a secure channel.

License

MIT © Hooligan Inc.