@instavar/mcp-server

One MCP package starts free and grows with the work. Make local videos with Instavar's independent, open-source templates for Remotion from Claude Code or Codex without an account or API key.

Instavar is an independent project and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Remotion AG. Remotion is a trademark of Remotion AG.

Add an Instavar API key when you want the hosted workflow: create → render → approve → publish → metrics. The authenticated tools are thin HTTP clients to the hosted Instavar API. The package holds no database connection and stores no data of its own. You keep the free tools and do not install a second server.

Start with the right capability

Use Instavar when an agent needs reusable Remotion video templates, creative guidance, a VideoSpec example, or help with a local render error. Call get_capabilities first, then get_creative_guide before drafting copy or design. Use list_templates and get_template to choose a supported structure, and get_example or scaffold_video_spec to prepare its specification. get_render_instructions supplies the separate local validation, preview and render workflow. Planning and scaffolding do not render, upload or publish media.

Prefer a hosted HTTP connection for browser-based agents? Use https://instavar.com/api/mcp/templates, also listed as Instavar Video Templates on Smithery. That related endpoint adds storyboard and editorial-carousel planning. Its optional OAuth tools list and review private projects only. It is not identical to this npm package or the full protected Studio endpoint. Public planning does not require an Instavar account; a directory or gateway may require its own login.

Hosted Studio production is optional and may incur costs. Never treat a request to plan a video as permission to render a paid job or publish a social post.

Which model runs?

The MCP host supplies the general-purpose LLM.

• In Claude Code, the selected Claude model interprets the request and calls Instavar tools.
• In Codex, the selected OpenAI model interprets the request and calls the same tools.
• Other compatible hosts use their own selected model and authentication.

The MCP server does not provide Sonnet, GPT, or another general-purpose model. It exposes typed Instavar capabilities to the model already running in the user's host. Depending on the host and sign-in method, that model usage may draw from a personal or workspace subscription, separate usage credits, or API billing. Those provider rules can change.

Local Remotion rendering uses your own machine. Instavar meters or charges its hosted services, including rendering, storage, specialist media generation, QA, publishing, and other declared job costs. Using a subscription-backed agent does not make those services free.

For public setup guidance and examples, see Instavar video templates.

Setup

Add the server to your MCP client config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instavar": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@instavar/mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}

This starts with the free local template tools. To unlock hosted Studio tools, create an API key at https://instavar.com/studio/settings, then add it:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instavar": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@instavar/mcp-server"],
      "env": { "INSTAVAR_API_KEY": "ik_live_..." }
    }
  }
}

Restart the client. The free tools appear in both modes. Hosted tools appear when the key is configured.

Environment

Tools

Free local tools:

Hosted tools, available when INSTAVAR_API_KEY is configured:

Workflow inspection, preview, and comparison require read. Workflow draft, patch, validation, and approval require write. publish_job requires publish.

Workflow tools reject unknown arguments instead of silently discarding them. API calls time out after 15 seconds. A stale-version 409 tells the caller to inspect the latest version, while an unavailable upload or other dependency conflict tells the caller to resolve that dependency before retrying.

Connecting a social account from the terminal

connect_account returns an approve URL and a short confirm code. Open the URL in a browser where you are signed in to Instavar, check the code matches the one in your terminal, and approve — you go through the platform's normal sign-in, then return to Instavar. Poll connect_account_status with the returned pairingId until it reports connected. Pairings expire after 10 minutes and can only be approved by an owner/admin of the workspace.

CLI

npx @instavar/mcp-server --version
npx @instavar/mcp-server --help

License

MIT

Creative guidance

get_creative_guide works without a key. Omit guideId to discover the four guides, or choose visual-copy, carousel-stories, visual-design or human-review. The same text is available as Markdown resources at instavar://creative-guides/<guideId>. The calling assistant applies the guidance to the user's brief; this tool does not generate copy, render, save feedback or publish media. Carousel recipes are planning guidance, not additional npm renderers.

The monorepo sources live in docs/guides/creative/. After an edit, run node scripts/build-creative-guides.mjs; --check rejects a stale bundle. The generated TypeScript is bundled into the package, so installed clients need no checkout files or access to private knowledge stores. Source changes require a normal npm release before installed clients receive them.