# Agent and MCP

> Use the Palmier MCP server to connect agents to your Palmier projects.

## Overview

Palmier is a video editor built for AI agents. The app exposes a set of tools that allow agents to read and edit your video projects.

There are two ways to work with an agent in Palmier: use the in-app Agent or connect an external agent through the local MCP server.

The MCP server is best for integrating video editing into existing workflows and automations. The in-app Agent is designed for human review and back-and-forth iteration. Both approaches share the same editing instructions and tools, while Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor provide more capable agent harnesses for longer tasks.

## MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server exposes application tools to an LLM. While Palmier Pro is open, it runs a local MCP server that lets connected agents read and edit your Palmier projects.

### Connect to Claude Desktop

Palmier Pro includes an MCP Bundle (MCPB) that connects Claude Desktop to the local server with a few clicks.

![Palmier Pro Help menu with MCP Instructions](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/claude-desktop-step-1.webp)

_Step 1. Open Help and select MCP Instructions._

![Palmier Pro MCP settings with the Claude Desktop connector](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/claude-desktop-step-2.webp)

_Step 2. Select Install in Claude Desktop._

![Claude Desktop confirmation screen for installing the Palmier Pro connector](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/claude-desktop-step-3.webp)

_Step 3. Select Install._

The red warning appears because Anthropic has not yet verified the connector. The connector can access your Palmier project files, but it does not have access to everything on your computer.

### Connect to Claude Code

Run the following command in your terminal:

```
claude mcp add --transport http palmier-pro http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcp
```

![Claude Code confirming that the Palmier Pro MCP server was added](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/claude-code.webp)

_Add Palmier Pro as an HTTP MCP server from Claude Code._

### Connect to Codex

Run the following command in your terminal:
```
codex mcp add palmier-pro --url http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcp
```

Or open the Codex app, go to Settings, choose MCPs, and create a custom Streamable HTTP server.

![Codex app settings for adding Palmier Pro as a Streamable HTTP MCP server](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/codex.webp)

_Add Palmier Pro as a custom MCP server in the Codex app._

### Connect to Cursor

In Palmier Pro, open Help, choose MCP Instructions, then select Install in Cursor.

![Palmier Pro Help menu with MCP Instructions](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/claude-desktop-step-1.webp)

_Step 1. Open Help and select MCP Instructions._

![Palmier Pro MCP settings with the Cursor installer](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/cursor-step-2.webp)

_Step 2. Select Install in Cursor._

![Cursor confirmation screen for installing the Palmier Pro MCP server](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/cursor-step-3.webp)

_Step 3. Review the server configuration, then select Install._

Or install manually by adding this configuration to `~/.cursor/mcp.json`:

```
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "palmier-pro": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### Connect to another MCP client

Palmier MCP is compatible with other clients that support Streamable HTTP. Add `http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcp` as the server URL.

### Verify the connection

Ask the agent to list the active Palmier project or inspect the current timeline. A successful response confirms that the client can reach the server.

### Troubleshooting

#### Long-running session

Restart the agent session to re-establish its connection to the MCP server.

#### Claude Desktop not detecting tools

Confirm that tools are enabled in the Claude connector settings. If they remain unavailable, reopen Claude Desktop and Palmier Pro.

## In-app Agent

You can also chat with an agent directly inside a Palmier project.

### Bring your own keys

Add an OpenAI or Anthropic API key, or subscribe to use Palmier credits.

![Palmier Pro Agent settings with API key and MCP server controls](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/in-app-chat-2.webp)

_Configure your API keys in the settings._

### Reference project context

Add project media and timeline clips to the conversation without typing their names manually.

![Palmier Pro in-app Agent chat showing media suggestions after typing an at sign](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/in-app-chat-3.webp)

_Type @ to search for project media from the chat composer._

![Palmier Pro media library with a clip added to Agent chat](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/in-app-chat-4.webp)

_Select the chat icon on a media item to add it to the conversation._

![Palmier Pro timeline context menu with Add to Chat selected](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/in-app-chat-5.webp)

_Right-click a timeline clip and select Add to Chat._

![Palmier Pro timeline range menu with Add Range to Chat selected](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/in-app-chat-6.webp)

_Shift-drag the ruler to select a range, then right-click and select Add Range to Chat._

## Skills

Skills are reusable Markdown instructions for editing styles, AI generation workflows, caption treatments, and other repeatable tasks.

### Manage skills

External agents manage their own skills. Palmier manages skills for the in-app Agent and stores them in `~/.palmier/skills`.

### Community skills

The community [skill repository](https://github.com/palmier-io/palmier-skills) includes reusable skills and examples for common workflows.

Community skills can be installed for the in-app Agent. To use one with an external agent, open the skill and select Add to External Agent.

![Palmier Pro Skills settings with installed and community skills](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/skills-1.webp)

_Browse installed and community skills from Settings, then Skills._

![Palmier Pro skill details with options to add the skill to external agents](https://www.palmier.io/docs/agent-and-mcp/skills-2.webp)

_Review a skill and add it to Claude, Codex, or Cursor._

## References

### Tools and capabilities

Palmier exposes focused tools for project access, media management, timeline editing, finishing, generation, and export. The agent chooses and combines these tools based on your request.

#### Projects and timeline context

- `manage_project`: List, create, open, and close Palmier projects. This is mainly for external MCP clients because in-app chat already belongs to one project.
- `get_timeline`: Read project settings, tracks, clips, markers, effects, keyframes, and the current timeline structure.
- `inspect_timeline`: Render the composited timeline at one or more frames to review the visible result.
- `create_timeline`: Create an empty timeline or duplicate an existing timeline as a new version.
- `set_active_timeline`: Switch the timeline targeted by later tool calls.
- `set_project_settings`: Change frame rate, resolution, or aspect ratio and refit the existing edit.
- `undo`: Revert the latest action in the shared editor history.

#### Media library

- `get_media`: List media assets, folders, generated items, and project timelines.
- `import_media`: Import local files, folders, remote URLs, subtitles, or solid-color mattes.
- `inspect_media`: View sampled frames and transcribe the audio of one media asset.
- `search_media`: Search footage by what appears on screen or what is spoken.
- `organize_media`: Create folders, move items, rename assets, and remove media.
- `capture_frame`: Save a source or timeline frame as a reusable image asset.

#### Timeline editing

- `add_clips`: Place media on the timeline and overwrite anything occupying the destination range.
- `insert_clips`: Insert media and ripple later clips forward without overwriting them.
- `move_clips`: Move clips to another frame or compatible track.
- `split_clips`: Add clip boundaries at exact timeline frames.
- `remove_clips`: Remove clips and their linked partners.
- `ripple_delete_ranges`: Remove timeline ranges and close the resulting gaps.
- `swap_clip_media`: Replace a clip's source while preserving its edit, effects, and timing.
- `set_clip_properties`: Change trims, duration, speed, opacity, volume, crop, framing, fades, and blend mode.
- `set_keyframes`: Animate volume, opacity, rotation, position, scale, crop, or blur.
- `copy_clip_settings`: Copy static visual, text, or audio settings to compatible clips.
- `manage_clip_links`: Link or unlink clips without moving them.
- `manage_tracks`: Reorder, name, mute, hide, sync-lock, or remove tracks.
- `manage_markers`: Create and manage frame or range markers for feedback and review.
- `apply_layout`: Arrange clips into full-frame, split, picture-in-picture, sidebar, or grid layouts.

#### Speech, text, and captions

- `get_transcript`: Read the spoken transcript of the edited timeline with word timing.
- `remove_words`: Remove selected words or repeated filler words and close the gaps.
- `remove_silence`: Detect and remove quiet pauses without cutting music or loud ambience.
- `detect_beats`: Find beats and downbeats in a music asset for beat-synced editing.
- `add_texts`: Create authored text clips on the timeline.
- `update_text`: Edit text content, typography, fills, animation, and placement.
- `add_captions`: Transcribe timeline audio or place imported subtitles as caption clips.

#### Multicam and synchronization

- `sync_clips`: Align clips by timecode or audio.
- `manage_multicam`: Create a synchronized multicam group or dissolve one.
- `get_multicam`: Read group members, angle labels, and the current program cut.
- `change_cam`: Switch camera angles over full-frame or multi-angle timeline ranges.

#### Color, effects, masks, and audio

- `apply_color`: Adjust primary color controls, curves, color wheels, hue curves, and LUTs.
- `inspect_color`: Measure scopes for a clip or media asset and compare it with a reference.
- `apply_effect`: Add or adjust blur, sharpen, noise reduction, keying, and stylized effects.
- `manage_masks`: Create basic masks or tracked Magic Masks and control their isolation.
- `denoise_audio`: Apply on-device speech enhancement to an audio clip.

#### AI generation

- `list_models`: Read current model capabilities, supported inputs, and output options.
- `generate_image`: Generate or transform images from prompts and references.
- `generate_video`: Generate video from text, frames, references, or source video.
- `generate_audio`: Generate speech, music, sound effects, dubbing, or voice cleanup.
- `upscale_media`: Increase image or video resolution and optionally interpolate video frame rate.

#### In-app skills

- `read_skill`: Load the complete Markdown instructions for an installed in-app skill.
- `manage_skills`: Create, update, or remove reusable skills for the in-app Agent.

#### Export and feedback

- `export_project`: Queue a video, XML, FCPXML, or self-contained Palmier project export.
- `manage_exports`: Review export progress, warnings, results, or cancel a queued job.
- `send_feedback`: Send a product issue or suggestion with attached application context.