Local MCP: Control TimeBolt with an AI Assistant

While TimeBolt is open, it runs a small MCP server on your computer. MCP (Model Context Protocol (opens in a new tab)) is the standard AI assistants use to work with other apps. Once you connect an assistant such as Claude or ChatGPT, you can tell it what you want in plain words and it drives TimeBolt for you, using TimeBolt's own tools instead of clicking around the screen.

For example, you can ask:

Open ~/Movies/episode-12.mp4 in TimeBolt, remove the dead air, filler words and retakes, then export an FCPXML for Final Cut Pro.

and the assistant opens the file, runs silence detection, transcribes it, finds the filler words and retakes, cuts them from the timeline and writes the FCPXML next to your video.

What an assistant can do in TimeBolt

• Open files and run silence detection, with new filter level, padding or grace period values if you ask for them.
• Edit the timeline: keep, remove or fast-forward cuts, split them, add markers, chapters and punch-in zooms, merge or shift cuts, and undo any change.
• Transcribe your video on your computer (Umcheck Local Transcription), fix misheard names, and cut filler words, false starts and retakes.
• Export XML for Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, FCPXML (including multicam) for Final Cut Pro, EDL, Camtasia projects, SRT captions and YouTube chapter lists.
• Render: Quick Render, the render queue, Turbo Mode, audio-only WAV, burned-in captions, background music, chapter clips, exporting every cut to a folder, and batch processing many files.
• Work in the Multi-Track Editor: add tracks, synchronize them, run silence detection, switch camera angles, transcribe tracks and export.
• Use Capture, the screen recorder: change its settings, start a recording and save it.
• Fix problem files: inspect a file before opening it, detect and repair variable frame rate footage, and re-encode files.
• Read and change TimeBolt's settings, and open or close its windows.

See What You Can Ask for example requests, and the Tool Reference for every tool.

Supported AI apps

The assistant has to run on the same computer as TimeBolt. ChatGPT or Claude in a web browser, and the older "ChatGPT Classic" app, cannot reach TimeBolt.

Requirements

• TimeBolt premium. Every tool needs the premium version. With the free version, the assistant gets the message "This needs the premium version of TimeBolt".
• TimeBolt must be open. The MCP server only runs while TimeBolt is running.
• A connected AI app. See Connect Your AI App.

Quick start

1. Open TimeBolt and your AI app.
2. In TimeBolt, choose Local MCP > Connect to Claude Desktop… or Local MCP > Connect to ChatGPT Desktop....
3. Fully quit the AI app and open it again.
4. Start a new chat and ask for something, such as "Open /Users/me/Movies/interview.mp4 in TimeBolt and tell me how long it will be after silence removal."