Transcribe MCP

What transcribe-mcp MCP server does

The transcribe-mcp MCP server provides MCP tools for two related media-processing tasks: obtaining a transcript from a public audio or video URL, and locating silent sections that may be removed during editing. The transcription result includes text, timing information, and a detected language. The dead-air analysis accepts subtitles or timings and returns candidate cut ranges along with the duration and percentage that could be saved.

The tools are designed to work together. An agent can first call transcribe_url, then pass its timing or subtitle output to find_dead_air. For pricing, usage limits, and payment details, shop_info provides a free discovery call.

How it works

Billing uses the x402 HTTP payment flow rather than an account-based API. A paid request receives a price requirement, the client pays in USDC, and the request proceeds after payment. Settlement takes place on Base, identified as eip155:8453.

The listed prices are $0.05 for transcribe_url and $0.002 for find_dead_air; shop_info does not cost anything. The client applies a $0.10 maximum per call. If a quoted price exceeds that ceiling, the request is rejected instead of being paid. The client also checks for settlement confirmation and does not report a successful payment when the expected settlement header is absent.

Setup and configuration

A standard MCP client can start the package with npx:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "transcribe": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "transcribe-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "TRANSCRIBE_MCP_WALLET_KEY": "0x..."
      }
    }
  }
}

The transcribe-mcp MCP server does not require an account, subscription, or API key. TRANSCRIBE_MCP_WALLET_KEY is needed only for the paid tools and should contain the private key of a wallet holding USDC on Base. A dedicated wallet with a small balance is recommended instead of a primary wallet. Without a wallet, the process can still start, list its tools, and provide shop_info; paid calls explain what configuration is missing.

Tools and capabilities

• transcribe_url: Accepts a public audio or video URL and returns transcript text, timings, and detected language. The listed price is $0.05 per call.
• find_dead_air: Accepts subtitles or timing data and reports silence ranges, their duration, and estimated savings. The listed price is $0.002 per call.
• shop_info: Reports prices, limits, and payment behavior at no charge.

A typical workflow is to transcribe a talk, feed the returned timing data into find_dead_air, and use the resulting ranges for editing decisions. The tool output can include cut objects with start and end positions, duration, and a reason such as silence, plus source, speech, and savings statistics.

Limitations and notes

Inputs are limited to 800 KB. Oversized inputs are refused before payment, so they do not incur a charge. Invalid arguments are also checked locally and do not leave the client. A failed shop response does not settle a payment.

The transcription tool requires a publicly reachable media URL, and the payment wallet must hold USDC on Base for paid requests. The material does not describe private media access, file-upload workflows, editing output, or support for payment networks other than Base.