Edit from Claude or Codex

Connecting adds a ClipCat entry to the agent's own settings file. When the agent starts, it runs a small ClipCat helper on your computer that talks to the open ClipCat window. There's no account and no sign-in, and nothing goes over the internet.

The agent reads the numbered transcript first, then cuts words, accepts or rejects suggested edits, adds zooms, b-roll, slides and sounds, and starts jobs like shorts and exports. Every change is one undo step in ClipCat, just like an edit you make yourself, and nothing deletes your footage.

In ClipCat, open Settings. Under Edit from your coding agent, choose Connect next to the agent you use. ClipCat writes its entry here:

• Claude desktop app: claude_desktop_config.json in the Claude app's folder.
• Claude Code: ~/.claude.json, for every folder you work in.
• Codex: ~/.codex/config.toml, which the Codex CLI, the Codex app and the editor extension all read.

1. Claude desktop app

   Quit Claude completely (closing the window isn't enough) and open it again. Settings > Developer lists clipcat as running, and ClipCat's tools show in the tools menu of a new chat. Claude asks before it uses each tool the first time.

2. Claude Code

   Start a new session, then type /mcp. clipcat should be listed as connected. A session that was already running won't see it.

3. Codex

   Start a new session, or quit the Codex app and open it again. In the CLI, /mcp lists clipcat and its tools.

Say "ClipCat" or "my ClipCat project" so the agent knows to use it. Keep ClipCat open while it works.

• List my ClipCat projects and tell me which ones haven't been exported yet.
• In ClipCat, cut the filler words and long pauses from my newest project. Show me what you'll cut before you do it.
• Ask ClipCat's AI editor for cuts on my newest project, then accept the retakes and leave the rest for me.
• In my newest ClipCat project, cut the part where I talk about pricing.
• Add a zoom on each line where I give a number, and a whoosh where each new topic starts.
• Make three ClipCat shorts of up to 60 seconds from my newest project.
• Write the chapters and a YouTube description for my newest ClipCat project.
• Import ~/Movies/take-1.mov and ~/Movies/take-2.mov into a new ClipCat project, and cut the retakes once it's transcribed.
• Export my newest ClipCat project as a 9:16 video to my Desktop, and save a Final Cut Pro timeline beside it.

• list_projects, get_project, get_transcript, list_proposals and list_jobs read your projects, transcripts, suggested edits and what ClipCat is working on.
• cut_words cuts or restores a run of words. decide_proposals accepts or rejects suggested edits.
• edit_project makes any other change: zooms, b-roll, motion slides, sound effects, chapters, captions, speed, aspect ratio, music volume, the write-up, the thumbnail, and undo or redo.
• find_cuts, make_shorts and write_up ask ClipCat's own AI editor (the Claude Code, Codex or API key you picked in ClipCat) for cuts, shorts and a write-up.
• import_videos, export_video and export_timeline bring recordings in and send the video or a Final Cut, Premiere or EDL timeline out.

• The agent doesn't know about ClipCat: quit it completely and open it again, then check its tool list as above.
• It can't reach ClipCat: open ClipCat and ask again.
• A change is refused because the project changed: you or the agent edited it in between. Ask it to read the project again and retry.
• AI cuts or shorts fail: those run on the AI you picked in ClipCat's settings, so check it's signed in.
• Still stuck: disconnect and connect again, or save diagnostics in Settings and attach them to an issue.