This guide is for the supported Windows and macOS desktop app. The MCP feature requires an active Professional or Enterprise license. Standard and Trial editions do not include the MCP server.

Chapter 1: How The Connection Works

There are three parts:

1. DjMirror Pulse desktop app — the show must be open, with its HTTP server running.
2. DjMirror Pulse MCP server — the companion program DjMirrorPulseMcp translates MCP requests into calls to the app. It is shipped with the desktop app.
3. MCP-compatible AI client — for example, Claude Desktop. The AI client connects to the companion program.

The AI client does not connect directly to the lights or visuals. It asks the MCP server to perform an action, and the MCP server passes that request to the running DjMirror Pulse app.

Chapter 2: Choose How To Connect

Both methods connect locally by default; they do not make the server available over the internet.

Chapter 3: Recommended Setup: Claude Desktop With Stdio

STDIO is the simplest option when Claude Desktop and DjMirror Pulse are installed on the same computer. Claude starts the MCP companion program directly; you do not need to open a terminal or configure an HTTP connection in Claude.

Step 1 — Start DjMirror Pulse

1. Open DjMirror Pulse and activate a Professional or Enterprise license. To check it, open Settings → Help → Active License and look for a tick beside MCP server, or ask the app directly:

   curl.exe http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/v1/capabilities
   

   The answer contains "mcpServer": true under license.features when your edition includes MCP.

2. Make sure the app's HTTP server is enabled. It is enabled by default; if you changed the setting, start the app with --server.

3. Keep DjMirror Pulse open while using the AI connection.

Step 2 — Find the MCP program

Find the companion program shipped with DjMirror Pulse:

• Windows: DjMirrorPulseMcp.exe, in the DjMirror Pulse application folder.
• macOS: DjMirrorPulseMcp, inside the DjMirror Pulse app bundle, alongside the main executable.

Use its full path in the next step. If you cannot find it, repair or reinstall DjMirror Pulse rather than downloading a separate copy.

Step 3 — Add it to Claude Desktop

Open Claude Desktop's claude_desktop_config.json file and add the djmirror entry inside its existing mcpServers object. The usual locations are:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Replace the example executable path with the full path to the MCP program on your computer.

Windows example:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "djmirror": {
      "command": "C:\\Program Files\\DjMirror Pulse\\DjMirrorPulseMcp.exe",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

macOS example:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "djmirror": {
      "command": "/Applications/DjMirror Pulse.app/Contents/MacOS/DjMirrorPulseMcp",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

If the file already contains other MCP servers, keep them. Add only the "djmirror" entry, using a comma between entries as required by JSON. Do not paste a second top-level mcpServers object.

Step 4 — Restart and check the connection

Quit and reopen Claude Desktop so it reads the updated configuration. Leave DjMirror Pulse running. Ask Claude a read-only question first, such as:

“Use DjMirror Pulse to tell me which artist and visual style are currently selected. Do not change anything.”

If Claude reports that the server is unavailable, see Authentication and troubleshooting.

Chapter 4: Alternative: Connect With Local HTTP

Use this method only if your AI client supports the MCP Streamable HTTP transport.

1. In DjMirror Pulse's config.json, set "mcp": true, then restart the app. This asks the app to start the MCP companion automatically. If the key already exists, change its value rather than adding a duplicate.

2. In the AI client's MCP settings, add the endpoint:

   http://127.0.0.1:8800/mcp
   

3. Restart or reconnect the AI client, then try the read-only check from Step 4 above.

The MCP HTTP listener binds to the local computer by default. 127.0.0.1 and localhost mean “this computer”; they are not addresses another computer or an internet-hosted AI can use. Do not change the listener to a network-facing address unless you understand and have configured the required security controls.

Chapter 5: What The Assistant Can Do

The assistant works through tools. This version of DjMirror Pulse offers 199 tools, grouped here by area. You never call them by name: describe what you want in plain language and the assistant picks the right tool.

The numbers are the tools available in this build, grouped by name (a few tools could fit two areas); new versions may add more. The complete list, with every name and parameter, is in docs_tech/docs_mcp/README_MCP.

Check the connection without an AI client

The MCP companion answers on the local HTTP address when it is running. These two read-only requests prove it works and tell you how many tools it offers (PowerShell: use curl.exe):

curl.exe -s -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8800/mcp -H "Content-Type: application/json" `
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"initialize","params":{"protocolVersion":"2024-11-05","capabilities":{},"clientInfo":{"name":"check","version":"1"}}}'

A working server answers with its name and version:

{"id":1,"jsonrpc":"2.0","result":{"capabilities":{"tools":{}},"protocolVersion":"2024-11-05","serverInfo":{"name":"DjMirrorPulse MCP Server","version":"1.0.0"}}}

Then ask for the tool list with "method":"tools/list"; the answer contains one entry for each tool, with its description and parameters. If neither request answers, the companion is not running — see Authentication and troubleshooting.

Chapter 6: Try It Safely

Start with read-only requests, then try a small change when you are ready:

Read-only checks

• “List the available visual styles. Do not change the current style.”
• “Tell me which artist is selected.”
• “Check the DMX status without changing any fixtures.”

Changes — rehearse these before a show

• “Switch to the visual style named <style name>.”
• “Show the layer named <layer name>.”
• “Apply the DMX scene named <scene name>.”

The assistant may ask you to clarify names or options. Check the requested action before approving it, especially for DMX blackout, strobe, fog, haze, or laser actions. Keep the keyboard or a hardware controller available as a manual override.

Chapter 7: Authentication And Troubleshooting

API key

If DjMirror Pulse has an API key configured, the MCP server must use the same key to call the app.

• When the app starts the MCP server automatically ("mcp": true), it passes the app's configured API key to the child process.
• If you start the MCP server yourself from Claude or another client, configure that same key for the MCP process in config_mcp.json under auth.apiToken, or provide it through the MCP process's environment.
• Do not paste API keys into a prompt or share them with an AI chat.

For a local single-computer setup without an API key, the default configuration is ready to use. For advanced configuration, see docs_mcp/README_MCP.

Chapter 8: Before A Live Show

1. Confirm the desktop app and MCP connection are both running.
2. Test a read-only request, then rehearse the specific changes you plan to use.
3. Confirm your API key is not exposed in prompts, logs you share, or an unsecured network service.
4. Keep a human operator and physical controls available throughout the show.

For the complete tool list and advanced settings, see docs_tech/docs_mcp/README_MCP.