MCP tools for editing video: the hosted Sume list, trim to timeline
Descript and Runway both ship MCP servers. The hosted Sume MCP exposes video_trim, video_filter, audio_detach, video_frames_create and the timeline tools.
The hosted Sume MCP at https://mcp.sume.com/mcp lists these editing tools: video_inspect, video_frames_create / video_frames_get, video_trim, audio_detach, video_filter, timeline_create / timeline_get, timeline_compose and timeline_audio. Call tools_list for the subset your session can see.
Descript describes its MCP as a way to "Control Descript from an AI assistant like Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor", and Runway's changelog lists "Runway MCP on Cursor" on Sep 23, 2026. This post covers Sume's list, from the MCP tools and gates docs, read 2026-09-30.
Which tool does which edit?
Each tool wraps the matching public route. Cutting a range is video_trim, an audio track is audio_detach, a crop or dim is video_filter (check_only: true is the unbilled check), and stills at named times are video_frames_create. Assembly is timeline_create, then jobs_wait, then timeline_get.
| Tool | Does | Follow with |
|---|---|---|
| video_inspect | Probe, stills, optional transcript | jobs_wait if 202 |
| video_trim | Cut [start, end) to a new MP4 | jobs_wait, jobs_result |
| audio_detach | Audio track to wav or mp3 | jobs_wait, jobs_result |
| video_filter | Dim, crop, filtergraph | jobs_wait, jobs_result |
| timeline_create | Assemble slots plus audio spine | jobs_wait, timeline_get |
What must a write call carry?
Write and paid tools require idempotency_key. Under OAuth they are hidden until the session has mcp:write; an API key sees the full set. Optional dry_run and max_spend_usd gates exist for cost previews and caps.
Can the tools read files from my laptop?
No. The docs say hosted MCP cannot read files from your laptop: create an upload URL, PUT the bytes, then assets_complete. Every editing route also needs media already on media.sume.com, so upload or import first.
What does Descript's MCP page say it can do?
Its page says the MCP can "import media, edit with Underlord, find and manage projects ... publish to a Descript web link, and track or cancel jobs." On the Sume side, each job result carries its file URL; see the trim, filter and timeline docs for each result kind.
Sources
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