Video MCP Server

Analyze videos: extract frames, transcribe audio, generate storyboard breakdowns.

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Video MCP server?

Most AI and media services work still happens through a UI a human drives. Video MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. Analyze videos: extract frames, transcribe audio, generate storyboard breakdowns.

The short version

Analyze videos and generate storyboard breakdowns. Extracts frames via scene detection, transcribes audio with Whisper, analyzes visuals with Claude Vision, and computes 8-field stylistic fingerprints.

  • Frame Extraction — — Scene-detection-based keyframe selection (or fixed intervals)
  • Audio Transcription — — Timestamped transcription via OpenAI Whisper
  • Visual Analysis — — Per-frame descriptions using Claude Vision
  • Stylistic Fingerprint v3 — — 8-field deterministic classification (rendering class, world type, character strategy, narrative structure, visual abstraction, visual density, camera language, tonal positioning)
  • Storyboard Output — — Combined shot-by-shot breakdown as .docx or .md

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 5 tools. What each one is for:

  • video_analyze — Full pipeline: download, extract frames, transcribe, analyze, fingerprint, storyboard
  • video_extract_frames — Extract representative frames using scene detection or fixed intervals
  • video_transcribe — Transcribe audio with OpenAI Whisper
  • video_fingerprint — Generate 8-field Stylistic Fingerprint v3 classification
  • video_check_deps — Verify all required dependencies are installed

Getting it running

Installation goes through your MCP client rather than a global install: point it at video-analyzer-mcp on PyPI and it is fetched when the client starts. The copy-paste blocks for Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor are further down this page.

What it needs from you

Configuration is passed through the environment: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

  • Python 3.10+ - FFmpegbrew install ffmpeg (macOS) or apt-get install ffmpeg (Linux) - ANTHROPIC_API_KEY — set as an environment variable

How it compares

Among the AI and media services options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. Video's toolset — video_analyze, video_extract_frames, video_transcribe and 2 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by BrightWayAI; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Video's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
video_analyzeFull pipeline: download, extract frames, transcribe, analyze, fingerprint, storyboard
video_extract_framesExtract representative frames using scene detection or fixed intervals
video_transcribeTranscribe audio with OpenAI Whisper
video_fingerprintGenerate 8-field Stylistic Fingerprint v3 classification
video_check_depsVerify all required dependencies are installed

How to install the Video MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "video-analyzer": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["video-analyzer-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

  • Python 3.10+ - FFmpegbrew install ffmpeg (macOS) or apt-get install ffmpeg (Linux) - ANTHROPIC_API_KEY — set as an environment variable
VariableDescriptionRequired
ANTHROPIC_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Video to video analyze.
  • Use Video to video extract frames.
  • Use Video to video transcribe.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Video to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 5 tools (video_analyze, video_extract_frames, video_transcribe, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Video directly.