MCP Media Engine_
// DOCUMENTATION

Build media generation into your AI agent workflows.

MCP Media Engine is an async media generation API for the Model Context Protocol. It lets agents like Claude generate images, video, and audio — no design tools, no API plumbing.

Quickstart

1

Get an API key

Sign up at mcpmediaengine.com and copy your API key from the dashboard. Test keys (prefixed me_test_) return placeholder images instantly.

2

Add to Claude Desktop

Add to claude_desktop_config.json: { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"], "env": { "MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY": "me_live_your_key" } }

3

Ask Claude to generate

Start a conversation and say: "Generate a hero image for my blog post about [topic]." Claude calls the MCP tool and returns the image URL when ready.

Get your API key

MCP Tool Reference

MCP Media Engine exposes these tools via the Model Context Protocol. Agents call them directly — no custom integration code required.

generate_article_hero_image
image

Generate a hero banner image for a blog article. Claude picks up the title and summary automatically and selects an appropriate visual style.

params: title, summary?, tone?, brand_style?

generate_social_teaser_image
image

Generate a social media teaser image. Auto-selects the correct aspect ratio for LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

params: title, summary?, target_platform, brand_style?

generate_email_header_image
image

Generate an email newsletter header image, optimised for 600px-wide email templates.

params: title, summary?, brand_style?

generate_image
image

Generic text-to-image generation. Specify your preferred image model and size directly.

params: prompt, model?, size?

generate_video
video

Generate a short-form video clip from a text description. Long-running job — results delivered via webhook or polling.

params: prompt, duration?, model?

generate_audio
audio

Generate speech or voiceover audio from text. Choose from six voices and set output format.

params: text, voice?, format?

get_job_status
job

Poll for the status of a previously submitted job. Returns status, asset URL (if complete), or error details.

params: job_id

list_jobs
job

List recent media generation jobs with optional filtering by status, media type, and date range.

params: status?, media_type?, limit?, cursor?

Full tool reference: mcpmediaengine.com/docs/api

Works with your agent

MCP Media Engine runs on any MCP-compatible client. Pick your agent below for the exact setup snippet — config path, command, env var, and what to type next.

Claude Desktop

Native integration. Restart Claude Desktop after editing the config file.

Config path

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Command

npx -y mcp-media-engine

Env / auth

MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY=me_live_xxx

Snippet

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mediaengine": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"],
      "env": {
        "MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY": "me_live_xxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code (CLI / SDK)

Same MCP server. Run claude mcp add or drop the config in .mcp.json.

Config path

~/.claude/claude.md (project: .mcp.json)

Command

npx -y mcp-media-engine

Env / auth

MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY=me_live_xxx

Snippet

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mediaengine": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"],
      "env": {
        "MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY": "me_live_xxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor

Add the mediaengine server via the MCP settings UI, or edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json.

Config path

Cursor → Settings → Features → MCP

Command

npx -y mcp-media-engine

Env / auth

MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY=me_live_xxx

Snippet

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mediaengine": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"],
      "env": {
        "MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY": "me_live_xxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

Add the mediaengine server through the Cascade MCP panel.

Config path

Windsurf → Settings → MCP Servers

Command

npx -y mcp-media-engine

Env / auth

MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY=me_live_xxx

Snippet

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mediaengine": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"],
      "env": {
        "MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY": "me_live_xxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cline (VS Code)

Install via the Cline MCP UI or edit cline_config.json directly.

Config path

Cline → MCP Servers → Install

Command

npx -y mcp-media-engine

Env / auth

MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY=me_live_xxx

Snippet

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mediaengine": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"],
      "env": {
        "MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY": "me_live_xxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

Codex CLI (OpenAI)

Register via [mcp_servers.mediaengine] in config.toml with command + args.

Config path

~/.codex/config.toml

Command

npx -y mcp-media-engine

Env / auth

MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY=me_live_xxx

Snippet

[mcp_servers.mediaengine]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"]
env = { MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY = "me_live_xxx" }

Gemini CLI

Standard MCP stdio server config — Gemini CLI discovers tools automatically.

Config path

~/.gemini/settings.json

Command

npx -y mcp-media-engine

Env / auth

MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY=me_live_xxx

Snippet

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mediaengine": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"],
      "env": {
        "MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY": "me_live_xxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

Goose (Block)

Add under extensions.mediaengine in config.yaml; Goose loads tools at startup.

Config path

~/.config/goose/config.yaml

Command

npx -y mcp-media-engine

Env / auth

MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY=me_live_xxx

Snippet

extensions:
  mediaengine:
    name: MCP Media Engine
    cmd: npx
    args: [-y, mcp-media-engine]
    env:
      MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY: me_live_xxx

Any MCP-compatible client

Generic stdio MCP server. Point any MCP client at npx with the env var below.

Config path

Client-specific MCP settings

Command

npx -y mcp-media-engine

Env / auth

MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY=me_live_xxx

Snippet

command: npx
args: ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"]
env:
  MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY: me_live_xxx

REST API (no MCP)

Direct REST. Ideal for SaaS backends, server-side scripts, and non-MCP integrations.

Config path

Any HTTP client

Command

curl POST https://api.mcpmediaengine.com/api/jobs

Env / auth

X-API-Key=me_live_xxx

Snippet

curl -X POST https://api.mcpmediaengine.com/api/jobs \
  -H "X-API-Key: me_live_xxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "media_type": "image",
    "prompt": "a cinematic hero image for a blog post about AI agents",
    "model": "mediaengine-v1",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
  }'

All agents use the same MCP server: run npx mcp-media-engine with your API key in the MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY environment variable. Agents discover tools automatically via the MCP protocol.

How to generate a blog hero image with Claude

MCP Media Engine is an MCP-native API that lets Claude generate images for blog posts automatically. Claude detects the article topic and calls generate_article_hero_image, returning the asset URL when ready.

This works with any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf) and any Paperclip agent — no custom code, no API plumbing.

What is the Model Context Protocol?

MCP is an open standard that lets AI agents connect to external tools and data sources. MCP Media Engine implements this standard, so any MCP-compatible agent can access image, video, and audio generation without custom integration code.

How long does image generation take?

Typically 10–30 seconds for images. Video generation is longer (minutes). Both are processed asynchronously — your agent submits a job and receives the result via polling or webhook. Long-running jobs never block the request thread.

How do I receive the generated image?

Claude automatically polls get_job_status until the image is ready and returns the asset URL in the conversation. Alternatively, pass a webhook URL when generating to receive the result via HTTP POST.

Example: Claude Desktop

Minimal Claude Desktop config for MCP Media Engine

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mediaengine": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-media-engine"],
      "env": {
        "MEDIAENGINE_API_KEY":
          "me_live_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Then in Claude:

"Generate a hero image for my post about AI productivity tools for writers."

Quickstart

Get an API key and generate your first image in 5 minutes.

Get API key

API Reference

Full endpoint reference for the REST API and MCP tools.

View API docs

Pricing

25 free credits to start. No credit card required.

View pricing