DaVinci Resolve MCP Server for Windsurf: Setup & Config

What you can do with DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf

Bring guarded editing, grading, and source-safe analysis into a local Resolve Studio workflow.

• Validate render settings before queueing delivery jobs.
• Analyze footage while preserving camera originals.

Before you start: DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf

• DaVinci Resolve Studio 18.5+
• Python 3.10+
• npx for the documented npm setup path
• An MCP-compatible client

This is the setup installer, not the final MCP process. Open Resolve Studio and enable local external scripting. The installer generates client-specific server entries.

DaVinci Resolve Windsurf configuration

1. Choose Windsurf configuration scope

   For DaVinci Resolve MCP Server, open macOS/Linux: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json. Merge into mcpServers; remote endpoints use serverUrl.

2. Add DaVinci Resolve MCP Server to Windsurf

   Use the davinci-resolve-mcp entry below in mcpServers. Keep DaVinci Resolve MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Windsurf entries.

3. Check DaVinci Resolve MCP Server in Windsurf

   DaVinci Resolve MCP Server: Refresh MCP in Windsurf settings and inspect Cascade’s tools.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "davinci-resolve-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "davinci-resolve-mcp",
        "setup"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

DaVinci Resolve tools available to Windsurf

DaVinci Resolve's stored tool list documents 10 tools; compare it with Windsurf's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

media_analysis

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for media_analysis.

drp

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for drp.

drt

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for drt.

drx

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for drx.

Inspect and modify per-clip grading files with offline grading and QC actions.

capabilities

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for capabilities.

Report available advanced-server features and missing dependency guidance.

project_read

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for project_read.

project_db

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for project_db.

pipeline

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for pipeline.

Compile project specifications into a SQLite-backed pipeline with validation gates and provenance.

deliverable

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for deliverable.

Check deliverables for quality and compliance through the advanced server.

provenance

After refreshing DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for provenance.

Produce audit and episode provenance reports through the advanced server.

DaVinci Resolve: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting DaVinci Resolve in Windsurf

• Check npx davinci-resolve-mcp (Node.js/npm) on the machine running Windsurf's MCP integration for DaVinci Resolve MCP Server; refresh MCP and inspect Cascade's tools.
• DaVinci Resolve MCP Server uses stdio here: Windsurf must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Live control requires Resolve Studio and local external scripting access.
• Known limitation: Some advanced-server features require additional utilities or modules.
• Known limitation: The default stdio service is not a built-in multi-user network service.
• General Windsurf troubleshooting lives in the /clients/windsurf guide.

Frequently asked questions