MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets Claude use outside tools. An MCP server exposes tools (“generate an image”, “search my files”, “create an invoice”), and Claude calls them in the middle of a conversation when they help. In the Claude apps these servers appear as connectors.
How MCP works in plain terms
- You add a connector (an MCP server URL) to Claude and sign in to it.
- Claude reads the list of tools the server offers and what each costs or does.
- When your request needs one, Claude calls it with the right inputs and reads the result.
- You see the result in the chat, often as a card with a preview.
Remote MCP servers use OAuth, so you sign in on the provider’s own page and can disconnect any time. Claude asks before using tools in ways you didn’t request.
Adding an MCP server to Claude
| Where | How |
|---|---|
| Claude desktop and web | Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector → paste the URL → Connect |
| Claude Code | claude mcp add --transport http typeshoot <url>, then /mcp → Authenticate |
What a creative MCP adds
Out of the box Claude writes and analyzes; a creative connector lets it make things. Typeshoot, for example, adds tools for:
- Images: generate, edit, remove backgrounds, upscale. See can Claude generate images.
- Video: text-to-video, animate an image, a model advisor. See can Claude make videos.
- Audio: voiceovers with word timings, music, sound effects.
- Editing: trim, reframe, merge, captions.
- Video from links: import a TikTok, analyze it, or swap yourself into it.
- Brand kits: logo, colours and tone, applied to every request.
What makes a good MCP server
- Signs you in with OAuth instead of asking you to paste secret keys into chat.
- Shows prices before spending (Typeshoot quotes everything in credits).
- Returns results Claude can display, not just raw links.
- Survives long jobs: video takes minutes, so results must be collected even if a chat closes.
- Is clear about data: what it stores, for how long, and who processes it.
Add a creative MCP to Claude
Typeshoot’s MCP server gives Claude 28 creative tools across images, video, voice and editing. Connect it in two minutes; 100 free credits.
Get 100 free creditsFrequently asked questions
What is MCP in Claude?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets Claude call outside tools through a server. A connector is an MCP server Claude can sign in to and use during a chat.
Is MCP safe?
Only add servers you trust. A good server asks you to sign in with OAuth, shows prices before spending money, and only does what you approve in the chat.
Does MCP work in Claude Code?
Yes. Add a remote server with `claude mcp add --transport http <name> <url>`, then authenticate with /mcp.