fmod-mcp

An MCP server that lets an AI coding agent drive FMOD Studio: import audio, create events, wire instruments, place effects on buses, set up sends/returns, manage parameters, and build banks. It does this by speaking to Studio's built-in JavaScript scripting terminal over TCP (port 3663).

v0.2: 35 tools, 143 tests passing (106 unit + 37 live, plus 1 gated persist test). See CLAUDE.md for the tool catalog, docs/effects.md for the effect-parameter reference, docs/troubleshooting.md when something breaks, and examples/ for worked walkthroughs.

Built for use with Claude Code, but works with any MCP-compatible client.

Requirements

• FMOD Studio 2.02+ (the scripting terminal has been stable across recent versions)
• Python 3.11+
• A running FMOD Studio instance with the target project open

Install

git clone https://github.com/jmperez127/fmod-mcp.git
cd fmod-mcp
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -e .

Register with Claude Code

Run this from inside the cloned fmod-mcp directory (so $(pwd) resolves correctly):

claude mcp add fmod -s user -- "$(pwd)/.venv/bin/python" -m fmod_mcp

The -- ends claude mcp add's flag parsing so -m fmod_mcp is treated as arguments to Python. -s user registers the server for every Claude Code session on your machine; drop it for a project-local registration.

Alternatively, if you prefer a globally-callable shim, install via pipx:

pipx install .
claude mcp add fmod -s user fmod-mcp

Verify:

claude mcp list

Configure host/port (optional)

Defaults to 127.0.0.1:3663. Override with environment variables:

export FMOD_MCP_HOST=127.0.0.1
export FMOD_MCP_PORT=3663

Enable TCP scripting in Studio

FMOD Studio's scripting terminal listens on TCP/3663 by default. If it's disabled:

1. Open FMOD Studio
2. Edit → Preferences (or FMOD Studio → Preferences on macOS)
3. Look for Scripting / Terminal settings
4. Enable TCP listener, note the port

Quick smoke test

With FMOD Studio running and a project open:

> ping
{ ok: true, version: { productVersion: 2, majorVersion: 2, minorVersion: 20, ... } }

> list_banks
[ { path: "bank:/Master", guid: "...", name: "Master" }, ... ]

Worked examples

The examples/ directory has prompt-style walkthroughs you can paste into a Claude Code session:

File	Scenario
add_one_sfx.md	Minimum pipeline: import → event → sound → save → build
batch_import_sfx.md	Loop the above over a folder of wavs
add_reverb_to_bus.md	Reverb return + global send (with parameter reference)
sidechain_compression.md	Music-ducks-to-VO routing
parameter_driven_volume.md	Local game parameter for an event
cleanup_unused_audio.md	Find and delete orphan audio in the bin

Files it writes

• ~/.cache/fmod-mcp/commands.log: every JS snippet sent to Studio, timestamped by request ID. Audit trail + replay source.

Testing

Unit tests run without Studio (mock-based):

pytest -q
# 106 passed, 38 skipped (live tests)

Live tests require FMOD Studio running with any project open:

FMOD_MCP_LIVE=1 pytest -q
# 143 passed, 1 skipped (persist-gated)

The persist-gated save+build verification additionally writes to disk; opt in explicitly:

FMOD_MCP_LIVE=1 FMOD_MCP_LIVE_PERSIST=1 pytest tests/live/test_save_build_live.py

Live tests use a per-test scratch folder under event:/__mcp_test_scratch__/<hex>/ and clean up via studio.project.deleteObject on tear-down. A session-scoped sweep also runs at start AND end so an interrupted run doesn't leave orphans.

When things break

See docs/troubleshooting.md for the common failure modes and their fixes. The short version:

1. Check ~/.cache/fmod-mcp/commands.log for the exact JS that went out.
2. Paste it into Studio's own Scripting window (Window → Scripting in the Studio GUI) and iterate.
3. Once working, patch the corresponding JS template in fmod_mcp/tools/*.py.

For anything not covered by a named tool, use run_js:

> run_js return studio.project.model.Event.findInstances().length;
42

Layout

fmod_mcp/
├── studio_client.py   # TCP/3663 client. Single persistent connection, sentinel-framed IIFE protocol
├── server.py          # FastMCP tool registration, stdio transport
├── __main__.py        # python -m fmod_mcp
└── tools/
    ├── discovery.py   # ping, list_banks, list_events, list_buses, get_event
    ├── audio.py       # import_audio, delete_audio, move_audio
    ├── events.py      # create_event, add_single_sound, add_multi_sound,
    │                  # set_event_property, assign_to_bank, assign_to_bus,
    │                  # delete_event, delete_folder, rename_event, move_event,
    │                  # add_local_parameter, add_global_parameter
    ├── effects.py     # list_effect_types, add_effect, list_effects, get_effect,
    │                  # set_effect_param, remove_effect, bypass_effect
    ├── routing.py     # add_return, remove_return, list_returns,
    │                  # add_send, list_sends, remove_send, set_send_level
    ├── project.py     # save_project, build_banks
    └── escape.py      # run_js

tests/
├── (mock-based unit tests)
└── live/              # opt-in via FMOD_MCP_LIVE=1; auto-skip when port 3663 isn't reachable

License

MIT © 2026 jmperez127.