Content
<p align="center">
<a href="https://rendobar.com">
<picture>
<source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="https://cdn.rendobar.com/assets/brand/logo-mark.svg">
<img alt="Rendobar" src="https://cdn.rendobar.com/assets/brand/logo-mark-black.svg" width="80">
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</a>
</p>
<h1 align="center">@rendobar/mcp</h1>
<p align="center">
<strong>Serverless media processing for AI agents.</strong><br>
The official Model Context Protocol server for Rendobar.
</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="https://rendobar.com">Website</a> ·
<a href="https://rendobar.com/docs/mcp/">MCP docs</a> ·
<a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/@rendobar/mcp">npm</a> ·
<a href="https://discord.gg/kAGqjBzx8N">Discord</a>
</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/kwdj3f0u3z">
<img src="https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/kwdj3f0u3z/badge" alt="Rendobar MCP server on Glama" width="380">
</a>
</p>
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<a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/@rendobar/mcp"><img src="https://img.shields.io/npm/v/@rendobar/mcp?style=flat-square&color=059669&label=npm" alt="npm version"></a>
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<img src="https://img.shields.io/npm/l/@rendobar/mcp?style=flat-square&color=059669" alt="MIT license">
<img src="https://img.shields.io/node/v/@rendobar/mcp?style=flat-square&color=059669" alt="Node version">
</p>
`@rendobar/mcp` is the official Model Context Protocol server for [Rendobar](https://rendobar.com). It lets AI agents in Claude Desktop, Cursor, Cline, Windsurf, Zed, VS Code, Claude Code, and Continue submit Rendobar jobs and upload local files in a single tool call.
The difference from the hosted MCP at `api.rendobar.com`: this server runs locally, so it can read and upload files straight from your machine. An agent can take a video on your disk, run an FFmpeg job on it, and hand back the result without you touching a browser.
## Install
You don't install it. Configure your MCP client to spawn it via `npx`.
### Get an API key
Sign up at [app.rendobar.com](https://app.rendobar.com) → Settings → API Keys.
### Configure your client
#### Claude Desktop
Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` (macOS) or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (Windows):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"rendobar": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@rendobar/mcp"],
"env": { "RENDOBAR_API_KEY": "rb_..." }
}
}
}
```
Restart Claude Desktop.
#### Cursor
Edit `~/.cursor/mcp.json` or `<project>/.cursor/mcp.json`. Same schema as Claude Desktop.
#### Cline (VS Code extension)
Open Cline's MCP panel → Configure → paste the same `mcpServers` block.
#### Windsurf
Edit `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`. Same schema.
#### Zed
Edit `~/.config/zed/settings.json`:
```json
{
"context_servers": {
"rendobar": {
"source": "custom",
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@rendobar/mcp"],
"env": { "RENDOBAR_API_KEY": "rb_..." }
}
}
}
```
#### VS Code (1.101+)
Edit `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
"servers": {
"rendobar": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@rendobar/mcp"],
"env": { "RENDOBAR_API_KEY": "${input:rendobarKey}" }
}
},
"inputs": [{ "id": "rendobarKey", "type": "promptString", "password": true, "description": "Rendobar API Key" }]
}
```
#### Claude Code (terminal)
```bash
claude mcp add rendobar -s user --env RENDOBAR_API_KEY=rb_... -- npx -y @rendobar/mcp
```
#### Continue
Create `.continue/mcpServers/rendobar.yaml`:
```yaml
type: stdio
command: npx
args: ["-y", "@rendobar/mcp"]
env:
RENDOBAR_API_KEY: rb_...
```
## Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| `upload_file` | Upload a local file. Returns a download URL to use in `submit_job`. |
| `submit_job` | Submit any Rendobar job. Its description lists the active job types. |
| `get_job` | Poll job status, fetch result. |
| `list_jobs` | List recent jobs. |
| `cancel_job` | Cancel a waiting/dispatched job. |
| `get_account` | Check balance, plan limits, active job count. |
### Job types
`submit_job` takes a `type`. The active types:
| `type` | What it does |
|---|---|
| `ffmpeg` | Run any FFmpeg command (transcode, trim, mux, filter, concat). |
| `captions.animate` | Burn animated word-level captions onto a video (Hormozi / MrBeast / TikTok / pill presets). |
| `caption.burn` | Burn static styled subtitles from an SRT/VTT/ASS file, or auto-transcribe when none is given. |
### Example
A typical exchange once the server is configured in your client:
> **You:** Mute the first 3 seconds of `~/clips/intro.mp4` and save it.
The agent runs, in order:
```jsonc
// 1. Stage the local file → returns a hosted download URL
upload_file { "path": "~/clips/intro.mp4" }
// → { "downloadUrl": "https://cdn.rendobar.com/u/abc123/intro.mp4", "sizeBytes": 4821004 }
// 2. Submit an FFmpeg job that references it
submit_job {
"type": "ffmpeg",
"inputs": { "intro.mp4": "https://cdn.rendobar.com/u/abc123/intro.mp4" },
"params": { "command": "-i intro.mp4 -af \"volume=enable='lt(t,3)':volume=0\" -c:v copy out.mp4" }
}
// → { "jobId": "job_9f2a", "status": "waiting" }
// 3. Poll until done
get_job { "jobId": "job_9f2a" }
// → { "status": "complete", "cost": "$0.01", "output": { "file": { "url": "https://cdn.rendobar.com/o/job_9f2a/out.mp4", "type": "video" } } }
```
> **Agent:** Done — muted the first 3 seconds. Output: https://cdn.rendobar.com/o/job_9f2a/out.mp4
Auto-caption a clip with animated word-level captions — no subtitle file needed:
```jsonc
submit_job {
"type": "captions.animate",
"inputs": { "clip.mp4": "https://cdn.rendobar.com/u/abc123/clip.mp4" },
"params": { "preset": "hormozi" }
}
// → { "jobId": "job_7c1b", "status": "waiting" }
```
The server advertises its tools even before an API key is configured, so clients
and directories can list them; calls that need the API return a clear error until
`RENDOBAR_API_KEY` is set.
## Local vs hosted MCP
| | `@rendobar/mcp` (this package) | Hosted MCP (`api.rendobar.com`) |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | stdio, spawned by your client | Streamable HTTP |
| Local file upload | Yes, the whole point | No, server has no disk |
| Setup | `npx` line in a config file | Bearer API key over HTTP |
| Best for | Claude Desktop, Cursor, Cline, Zed, local agents | claude.ai web, ChatGPT, hosted gateways |
## Authentication
Three sources, first match wins:
1. `--api-key=<key>` flag
2. `RENDOBAR_API_KEY` environment variable
3. `~/.config/rendobar/credentials.json` (Unix) / `%APPDATA%\rendobar\credentials.json` (Windows), written by Rendobar CLI's `rb login` (CLI v1.1+)
## Troubleshooting
### Cursor on macOS (Dock launch) can't find npx
Cursor launched from the Dock has the GUI PATH, not the shell PATH. Use the absolute path to `npx` in your `mcp.json`:
```json
"command": "/Users/you/.nvm/versions/node/v20.x/bin/npx"
```
### Windows: `npx` not found
Use `"command": "npx.cmd"` instead of `"command": "npx"` if your client doesn't auto-resolve.
### Server fails to start
Check logs in your client's output panel. The server writes JSON lines to stderr. Look for entries with `level: "error"`.
### Tools list but calls fail with "No Rendobar API key configured"
Expected when no key is set — the server starts and advertises its tools so clients can list them, but tool calls need an API key. Set `RENDOBAR_API_KEY` (or `--api-key`, or run `rb login`). On startup without a key the server logs a `no_api_key` warning to stderr.
## Contributing
See [CONTRIBUTING.md](./CONTRIBUTING.md). For AI-assisted development, see [AGENTS.md](./AGENTS.md) and [CLAUDE.md](./CLAUDE.md).
## License
MIT
