install

Install

Install cutmaster-ai from PyPI and wire it into Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, or DaVinci Resolve. Most paths take under 5 minutes.

Requires DaVinci Resolve Studio. The free edition has no Scripting API and will not work. On Resolve free? Tell us → we're tracking demand.

Before you start

01
DaVinci Resolve Studio 18.5+ The $295 paid version. Free edition has no Scripting API. Verify via the About menu — must say "DaVinci Resolve Studio".
02
External Scripting enabled Preferences → System → General → External scripting using → Local. Save and restart Resolve.
03
Python 3.11 or 3.12 3.13+ has ABI issues with Resolve's fusionscript module. Earlier versions also unsupported.
04
uv — required, not optional The committed .mcp.json invokes the server via uv run; MCP clients won't connect without it. Install with brew install uv on macOS.

Install the package

bash

$ pip install cutmaster-ai

Or with uv:

bash

$ uv add cutmaster-ai

Wire it into an MCP client

Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cutmaster-ai": {
      "command": "/path/to/.venv/bin/python3",
      "args": ["-m", "cutmaster_ai"]
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop. The cutmaster-ai server should appear in the MCP server list.

One-command setup (macOS / Linux)

bash

$ git clone https://github.com/CelaviiHQ/cutmaster-ai.git
$ cd cutmaster-ai
$ bash scripts/setup.sh

The script creates a venv, installs dependencies, configures Claude Desktop, and verifies the Resolve connection. Add --all to also install global skills, agents, hooks, and the macOS LaunchAgent auto-start.

Optional: AI features

The Gemini-powered tools (frame analysis, OCR, color assist, editorial critique) require an API key:

bash

$ cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env and set:
GEMINI_API_KEY=your-key-here

Get a key at aistudio.google.com/apikey ↗. Free tier is enough for typical usage.

Verify the connection

bash

$ python -m cutmaster_ai
# Expect: stdio MCP server running. Ctrl-C to stop.

Then in your MCP client, run any read-only tool — e.g. cutmaster_get_project_info — to confirm the bridge is live.

Auto-start on macOS

bash

$ bash scripts/setup.sh --launchagent

Installs ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.cutmaster.mcp.plist. The MCP server starts on login.

Other clients and the panel

For the React workflow panel (browser today; Resolve dock at v3-6) see the panel setup guide ↗. For the full setup reference covering all ten supported clients, the Workflow Integration plugin, the Claude Code plugin, and packaging, see docs/SETUP.md ↗.

Make Claude do something

Try the 60-second walkthrough for example prompts that drive your real timeline.