Adobe Premiere Pro MCP Server

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Control Adobe Premiere Pro through MCP using Codex, Claude Code, Claude Desktop, or any other MCP client.

Building Something Better

Adobe Premiere Pro was not built for AI agents — and it shows. I'm building Monet, an AI-first video editor designed from day one for full coding-agent control for claude code and openai codex. No workarounds. No scripting hacks. Just a clean API built for the way agents actually work. ➡️ Star Monet on GitHub

Current CEP panel UI inside Premiere Pro, using the refreshed bridge controls and status layout.

Current Status

This repository is currently validated for:

• macOS
• Windows installer/config smoke checks through GitHub Actions
• Adobe Premiere Pro 2020+ (actively used and tested on Premiere Pro 26.0)
• Node.js 20+
• MCP v2 server transport with modern stateless protocol discovery
• the included macOS installer path for Claude Desktop
• the included Windows installer path for GitHub Copilot in VS Code and Claude Desktop config
• manual MCP registration for Codex, Claude Code, and similar MCP clients

Current catalog status as of July 29, 2026:

• 281 Premiere Pro MCP tools are exposed for AI-driven video editing
• coverage spans project setup, media ingest, bins, sequences, timeline editing, transitions, effects, keyframes, captions, markers, metadata, proxies, multicam, color, audio, exports, and higher-level assembly workflows
• the catalog includes practical agent workflows such as product-spot assembly, motion-graphics demos, timeline razoring, caption reads, audio ducking, scene edit detection, EDL import, export readiness validation, and linked audio/video operations

Most recent completed local live validation:

• 281 active tools are exposed; validate_project_for_export replaces the removed AE comp import path with a non-destructive export readiness audit, and the merged main branch includes detect_silence
• 0 known parked or placeholder tools are advertised
• import_ae_comps is intentionally not advertised because Premiere returned false for real .aep fixtures in this environment and a generic .aep import can wedge the CEP bridge

The full live sweep output is written to /tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge/live-tool-sweep.json when you run the verifier.

What You Get

The server covers project operations, ingest, sequence creation, timeline editing, transitions, effects, keyframes, metadata, exports, and higher-level assembly workflows.

Example prompts:

• "List all sequences and show me which one is active."
• "Import these three shots and build a rough product spot."
• "Add cross dissolves to every cut on video track 1."
• "Apply Gaussian Blur to the middle clip."
• "Apply the Black & White effect to the active short-form clip."
• "Razor the interview sequence at 12.5 seconds across all audio and video tracks."
• "Export the active sequence as FCP XML."

For monochrome looks, prefer apply_effect with Black & White instead of trying to force black and white through generic saturation-only adjustments.

Before editing, you can also attach the premiere://config/get_instructions resource to give the model Premiere-specific operating guidance.

High-level workflow tools included:

• build_motion_graphics_demo
• assemble_product_spot
• build_brand_spot_from_mogrt_and_assets

assemble_product_spot and build_brand_spot_from_mogrt_and_assets now support an optional clipPlan argument so an LLM can direct per-clip timing, track placement, transitions, motion, trims, effects, and color adjustments instead of relying on fixed template defaults.

Agent Skill

If you want Codex, Claude Code, or another agent to handle installation, verification, and day-to-day usage correctly, install the included Agent Skill:

npx skills add hetpatel-11/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP --skill premiere-pro-mcp

Or install directly from the skill path:

npx skills add https://github.com/hetpatel-11/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP/tree/main/skills/premiere-pro-mcp

The skill teaches agents how to install the MCP, start and verify the CEP bridge, use the Premiere tools safely, import real media before editing, prefer sequence-aware operations, and run diagnostics when something fails.

Fastest Install (macOS)

git clone https://github.com/hetpatel-11/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP.git
cd Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP
npm run setup:mac

That installer will:

• install dependencies
• build dist/index.js
• enable Adobe CEP debug mode
• install the MCP Bridge (CEP) extension
• create /tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge
• add the premiere-pro MCP entry to Claude Desktop

Important:

• the supported UI bridge in this repo is the MCP Bridge (CEP) extension
• the installer enables Adobe CEP debug mode automatically
• if Premiere does not expose the extension cleanly on your machine, enable UXP Plugins > Enable developer mode in Premiere Pro preferences before opening the bridge panel
• npm run setup:mac is the easiest path for Claude Desktop on macOS because it updates Claude Desktop config automatically

After the installer finishes:

1. Quit and reopen your MCP client if it reads config on startup. If you used the installer, that means Claude Desktop.
2. Quit and reopen Premiere Pro.
3. In Premiere Pro on macOS, open Premiere Pro > Preferences > Plugins and enable UXP Plugins > Enable developer mode.
4. Restart Premiere Pro if the setting was changed.
5. Open Window > Extensions > MCP Bridge (CEP).
6. Set Temp Directory to /tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge.
7. Click Save Configuration.
8. Click Start Bridge.
9. Connect from Codex, Claude Code, Claude Desktop, or another MCP client using the same temp directory.
10. If commands fail, click Run Diagnostics and send back /tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge/premiere-mcp-diagnostics-latest.json.

If you need a visual reference for the developer mode toggle, it looks like this:

If the panel reports that Premiere is ready after Start Bridge, the bridge is live.

Fastest Install (Windows)

git clone https://github.com/hetpatel-11/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP.git
cd Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP
npm run setup:win

That installer will:

• install dependencies
• build dist\index.js
• enable Adobe CEP debug mode under HKCU:\Software\Adobe\CSXS.9 through CSXS.15
• install the MCP Bridge (CEP) extension into %APPDATA%\Adobe\CEP\extensions\MCPBridgeCEP
• create %TEMP%\premiere-mcp-bridge
• add the premiere-pro MCP entry to GitHub Copilot in VS Code at %APPDATA%\Code\User\mcp.json
• add the premiere-pro MCP entry to Claude Desktop at %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Optional flags:

powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\scripts\install-windows.ps1 -SkipCopilotConfig
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\scripts\install-windows.ps1 -SkipClaudeDesktopConfig
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\scripts\install-windows.ps1 -SkipAdobeDebugMode

After the installer finishes:

1. Quit and reopen VS Code and/or Claude Desktop.
2. Quit and reopen Premiere Pro.
3. Open Window > Extensions > MCP Bridge (CEP).
4. Set Temp Directory to %TEMP%\premiere-mcp-bridge.
5. Click Save Configuration.
6. Click Start Bridge.
7. Click Test Connection.

Windows note: the installer and config path are smoke-tested on GitHub Actions Windows runners. A full Windows Premiere validation still requires a real Windows machine with Premiere Pro installed, the CEP panel visible in Premiere, and a live bridge round trip.

Install By Client

Claude Desktop

On macOS, use:

npm run setup:mac

On Windows, use:

npm run setup:win

Both installers automatically write the MCP entry for Claude Desktop.

GitHub Copilot in VS Code

On Windows, use:

npm run setup:win

The installer writes this server to VS Code's MCP config at %APPDATA%\Code\User\mcp.json. Restart VS Code after the installer finishes, then use VS Code's MCP server list to confirm premiere-pro is available.

Codex

Build the server first:

npm install
npm run build

Then add the MCP server on a single line:

codex mcp add premiere_pro --env PREMIERE_TEMP_DIR=/tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge -- node /absolute/path/to/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP/dist/index.js

Replace /absolute/path/to/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP with the real absolute path to your clone. For example:

codex mcp add premiere_pro --env PREMIERE_TEMP_DIR=/tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge -- node /Users/yourname/Downloads/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP/dist/index.js

Before restarting Codex, verify the built entrypoint exists:

ls -l /Users/yourname/Downloads/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP/dist/index.js

Claude Code

Build the server the same way:

npm install
npm run build

Then register the MCP server in Claude Code using the same built dist/index.js entrypoint and the same temp directory:

command: node /absolute/path/to/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP/dist/index.js
env: PREMIERE_TEMP_DIR=/tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge

If you use a local MCP config file instead of a helper command, point it at the same dist/index.js and set the same env var.

Other MCP Clients

Use the same manual registration approach as Claude Code:

command: node /absolute/path/to/Adobe_Premiere_Pro_MCP/dist/index.js
env: PREMIERE_TEMP_DIR=/tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge

Important for all manual client setups:

• keep the command on one line
• use the real absolute path to dist/index.js
• restart the client after adding or updating the MCP entry
• start the CEP bridge inside Premiere and confirm the temp directory is exactly /tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge

Verify the Install

Run the built-in checks:

npm run setup:doctor

That validates:

• Node.js version
• built server output
• CEP extension install
• /tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge
• Adobe CEP debug mode
• the Claude Desktop config entry when you use the installer path
• CEP panel diagnostics written to /tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge/premiere-mcp-diagnostics-latest.json

On Windows, run:

npm run setup:doctor:win

That validates the built server, CEP extension install, %TEMP%\premiere-mcp-bridge, Adobe CEP debug mode, the GitHub Copilot VS Code MCP config, and the Claude Desktop MCP config.

For a deeper end-to-end check, use a disposable Premiere project and run:

node scripts/live-tool-sweep.mjs

This creates temporary Sweep ... sequences in the currently open project so the toolchain is exercised against real data.

How the Bridge Works

+-----------+        +-----------+        +-----------+
|  Client   |  MCP   | Node.js   | Files  | CEP Panel |
| (Codex+)  |<------>| MCP Server|<------>| (Premiere)|
+-----------+        +-----------+        +-----------+
                                                 |
                                                 v
                                          +-----------+
                                          | Premiere  |
                                          | DOM / QE  |
                                          +-----------+

1. The client calls an MCP tool.
2. The Node server generates ExtendScript plus shared helpers.
3. The script is written into /tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge.
4. The CEP panel polls that directory and runs the script through CSInterface.evalScript().
5. The panel writes the result back to the response file.
6. The server returns structured JSON to the MCP client.

Tool Coverage

The 281 exposed tools are grouped roughly like this:

• Discovery and project inspection
• Project and sequence management
• Media import and bin management
• Timeline placement and clip operations
• Effects, transitions, color, and keyframes
• Markers, metadata, labels, and work-area control
• Export and interchange helpers
• MOGRT, captions, proxies, and relink helpers
• High-level ad / promo assembly workflows

Use MCP introspection in your client to see the full tool catalog and exact schemas.

Real Limits

This project is much more usable than the original prototype, but it is not magic.

• Premiere scripting still does not expose every UI operation cleanly.
• Professional title design still depends on real MOGRT assets or external graphics workflows.
• get_render_queue_status is only useful when Adobe Media Encoder integration is available.
• The best results come from real source footage, real audio, and real brand assets. The automation layer assembles and manipulates them; it does not replace editorial judgment.

Troubleshooting

If the tools are visible but calls fail:

1. Confirm Premiere Pro is open with a project loaded.
2. Open Window > Extensions > MCP Bridge (CEP).
3. Confirm the temp directory is exactly /tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge.
4. Click Start Bridge.
5. If you updated the bridge code, right-click the panel and choose Reload.
6. Retry the command.

If the MCP client cannot find the server:

1. Verify the absolute path to dist/index.js.
2. Verify PREMIERE_TEMP_DIR=/tmp/premiere-mcp-bridge.
3. Restart the MCP client after changing config.
4. Run npm run setup:doctor.

Developer Notes

Useful commands:

npm run build
npm test -- --runInBand
npm run setup:doctor
node scripts/live-tool-sweep.mjs

See:

• QUICKSTART.md for the shortest install path
• KNOWN_ISSUES.md for current limits
• CONTRIBUTING.md for development workflow