CDP MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides direct access to the Composers' Desktop Project (CDP) sound transformation programs. This server offers an ultra-rigid workflow with zero interpretation, exposing CDP's raw functionality through simple, reliable tools.

Overview

CDP MCP Server v7 implements a minimalist approach to CDP integration:

• Direct execution - No command parsing or interpretation
• Raw usage text - See exactly what CDP shows
• Simple tools - Just 6 core functions
• Data file support - Create parameter files for complex operations

Features

• 🎵 Full CDP Access - Execute any CDP program with complete control
• 📚 Program Discovery - List all available CDP programs by category
• 📖 Usage Information - Get raw usage text directly from CDP
• 📄 Data File Creation - Create parameter files required by CDP programs
• 🎛️ Spectral Preparation - Helper for PVOC analysis
• 📊 Sound Analysis - Get basic properties of audio files

Requirements

System Requirements

• macOS, Linux, or Windows
• Python 3.8 or higher
• CDP (Composers' Desktop Project) installed

Python Dependencies

mcp
soundfile
numpy

CDP Installation

1. Download CDP from the official website

2. Install CDP following the platform-specific instructions

3. Set the `CDP_PATH` environment variable to your CDP programs directory:

export CDP_PATH="/path/to/cdp/programs"

Installation

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/DavidPiazza/CDP_MCP.git
cd CDP_MCP

2. Install Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

Or install individually:

pip install mcp soundfile numpy

3. Configure CDP Path

Set your CDP installation path:

export CDP_PATH="/Users/yourname/cdpr8/_cdp/_cdprogs"  # macOS example

4. Run the Server

python CDP_MCP_v7.py

MCP Client Configuration

To use this server with an MCP client (like Claude Desktop), add to your configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cdp": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["/path/to/CDP_MCP_v7.py"],
      "env": {
        "CDP_PATH": "/path/to/cdp/programs"
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage

Basic Workflow

1. List Available Programs

list_cdp_programs()
   # Returns categorized list of all CDP programs

2. Get Program Usage

get_cdp_usage('blur')
   # Returns exact CDP usage text

3. Execute Commands

execute_cdp(['blur', 'blur', 'input.ana', 'output.ana', '50'])
   # Direct execution with no interpretation

Example Operations

Time Stretch

# Check usage
get_cdp_usage('stretch')

# Execute
execute_cdp(['stretch', 'time', '1', 'input.ana', 'output.ana', '2.0'])

Spectral Blur

# Note the double syntax for blur
execute_cdp(['blur', 'blur', 'input.ana', 'output.ana', '50'])

Granular Synthesis

execute_cdp(['modify', 'brassage', '4', 'input.wav', 'output.wav', '0.02', '-0.5', '-r200'])

Using Data Files

# Create data file for tesselate
create_data_file('tess_data.txt', '5 5 5 5\n0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3')

# Execute with data file
execute_cdp(['tesselate', 'tesselate', '1', 'in1.wav', 'in2.wav', 'in3.wav', 'in4.wav', 'output.wav', '0.5', 'tess_data.txt'])

Tools Reference

`list_cdp_programs()`

Lists all available CDP programs organized by category (Spectral Processing, Time Domain, Synthesis, etc.)

`get_cdp_usage(program, subprogram=None)`

Returns raw usage information for a CDP program by running it without arguments.

`execute_cdp(command)`

Executes a CDP command given as an array of strings. No parsing or interpretation.

`create_data_file(filepath, content)`

Creates text data files required by certain CDP programs.

`prepare_spectral(input_file, output_file, window_size=2048)`

Helper function to perform PVOC analysis for spectral processing.

`analyze_sound(filepath)`

Returns basic properties of a sound file (duration, sample rate, channels, etc.)

Architecture

The server follows an ultra-rigid design philosophy:

• No command parsing - Commands are arrays, not strings
• No parameter validation - CDP handles all validation
• No output interpretation - Raw CDP output is returned
• Minimal abstraction - Direct CDP access only

Tips

• Always check usage with `get_cdp_usage()` before executing
• CDP may return non-zero exit codes even on success
• Check if output files exist to verify successful execution
• Use exact command arrays - the server does no interpretation
• Create data files when CDP usage mentions DATAFILE requirements

Troubleshooting

CDP Not Found

Ensure `CDP_PATH` environment variable points to your CDP programs directory.

Apple Silicon Issues

The server automatically handles x86_64 emulation on Apple Silicon Macs using `arch -x86_64`.

Command Failures

1. Check the exact usage with `get_cdp_usage()`

2. Verify all file paths exist

3. Ensure proper command array format

4. Check CDP's stderr output for specific errors

License

MIT License - See LICENSE file for details

Acknowledgments

• Composers' Desktop Project for the amazing sound transformation tools
• Model Context Protocol for the MCP framework