Connect an AI assistant with Sequence MCP

Requirements

This guide requires Sequence 1.4 or later and Sequence CLI 1.1.2 or later, on an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 15 or later. MCP lets a compatible AI assistant inspect projects, create or refine cuts, open variants, and start exports through Sequence.

Keep Sequence open, signed in, activated, and unlocked. Enable Settings → Automation → Enable Automation. An older app cannot provide the MCP workflow described here, even with the latest CLI installed.

Install and connect

Install or update the CLI:

brew install rockstarsunlimited/sequence/sequence
# If already installed:
brew update
brew upgrade sequence
sq --version
sq app doctor

In Settings → Automation, the Model Context Protocol section lists available tools and connection options. Use the ChatGPT or Claude installer button when offered. Mac App Store builds provide an external installer download instead.

For a host that accepts local MCP server configuration, add:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sequence": {
      "command": "/opt/homebrew/bin/sq",
      "args": ["mcp", "serve"]
    }
  }
}

Use the path reported by command -v sq if your installation differs. Restart or reconnect the assistant's MCP connection after changing its configuration. The server communicates locally over standard input and output; there is no server URL or API key to enter.

What you can ask

For example:

Find my Launch Talk project, preview a two-minute cut, then create a new variant called Social Cut and open it in Sequence for me to review.

Specify when you want a new copy. Auto-clip edits the chosen variant in place unless the assistant requests a copy. Review the result in Sequence before exporting or continuing an edit.

Available tools

The CLI tool accepts the exact arguments that follow sq, without a shell command string. For example, ['app', 'projects', 'find', 'Launch Talk', '--json'] describes a project search. See the CLI guide for supported commands and edit previews.

The dedicated tools supply the CLI confirmation flag for their actions. Your assistant's tool approval controls determine when it asks permission. A tool call can change a project; enabling MCP is not a preview-only mode.

Compatible hosts can show a Sequence result card. Hosts without that UI support receive a text result.

Dedicated exports in the next CLI release

The following tools are implemented for the next CLI release and require the matching Sequence 1.4 build. They are not included in the published CLI 1.1.2. The existing sequence_export tool continues to accept Final Cut Pro and Resolve FCPXML destinations.

Pass projectId to each tool, and optionally catalogId to check the project belongs to the expected catalog. File exports require an absolute outputPath whose parent folder is accessible to Sequence. Existing output files and companion files are never overwritten. Exports return a job ID; inspect progress and the resulting output path with sequence_cli using ['app', 'jobs', 'poll', '<job-id>', '--json'].

For NLE exports, includeCaptions and includeKeywords default to true; captionStyle is regularTitles or fcpSubtitles. resolution and frameRate default to source. removeSilentChannels defaults to false, and convertMP3ToM4A defaults to true. Caption formatting can be set explicitly with captionSplitMode (words or sentences), sentenceLimitMode (auto, words or duration), maxCharactersPerLine (8–120), wordsPerCaption (1–30), maxWordsPerSentence (2–100), and maxDurationSeconds (1–30). Defaults are sentence splitting, automatic limits, 42 characters, 5 words per caption, 10 words per sentence and 3 seconds. Package exports require a package-backed variant; includeSourceMedia defaults to true and omitting encryptionCode produces an unencrypted package.

Direct Export uses the same timeline preparation as the app, including edits, framing, audio mixes, overlays and inserted assets. videoCodec accepts auto, h264, hevc, proRes422, proRes422HQ, proRes4444 or proRes4444XQ; audioCodec accepts auto, aac, alac or pcm. ProRes and PCM video delivery require MOV. For audio-only output, set includeVideo: false and use WAV with PCM, or M4A otherwise. Bitrates are expressed as videoBitrateKbps and audioBitrateKbps and are capped to the source bitrate as in the app. The tool schema lists the supported resolutions, frame rates and channel layouts.

Frame export renders the requested project's delivery timeline before capturing the timestamp, preserving cuts and visual composition independently of the open player. This can take longer than an interactive frame capture. Transcript tools export the active, visible words using the app's source timestamps and project profanity settings; splitMode defaults to sentences and also accepts words.

Cancellation is cooperative: an in-flight encode or source copy may need to finish before the job stops, but a cancelled job does not publish staged files. A completed Add to Assets operation remains linked.

Agent Mode

Agent Mode shows activity on the affected project tabs and library rows without locking the workspace. An animated tab indicator identifies the project an agent is working on, so you can continue working on another project. Background jobs keep their activity indication until they finish. Sequence tracks active tool calls with a renewable lease that expires if the client disconnects.

Turning Automation off or closing Sequence removes the app broker and prevents further MCP access. Product analytics and account preferences remain separate from the Automation setting.

Troubleshooting

• Server not found: run command -v sq and use that full executable path in the host configuration.
• Automation unavailable: open Sequence and enable Automation. MCP requires the app to already be running.
• Sign-in, activation, or unlock required: complete the requested step in Sequence, then retry the tool.
• Command unavailable: check both sq --version and the app version. This guide requires CLI 1.1.2 and app 1.4 or later.
• Agent operation interrupted: reconnect the assistant after its previous lease expires and inspect the project before retrying a change.

Use sq app doctor --json to inspect app access and installation readiness. Sequence keeps database keys and sandbox access inside the app. The assistant receives the project and transcript information requested by its tools; choose a host whose data handling suits your work.