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AI AGENT RECIPE

Make a YouTube Short from a long video with Claude

Claude starts from what FastClip already knows about the video: YouTube's "Most replayed" peaks and the chapters. It reads the transcript around a peak and cuts a vertical 9:16 clip with captions that you post as a Short.

Paste this into your agent

Use FastClip. Import (paste the YouTube link) and get its known moments. Take the highest "Most replayed" peak, read the transcript around it, and choose a complete thought of 30 to 90 seconds. Make one vertical clip with captions and give me the download link.

Replace the parts in brackets. Your agent must be connected to FastClip first (next section).

Connect your agent once

In Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or VS Code, use a token. Sign in to FastClip and open Settings, then Agents. Create a token and copy it. FastClip shows it only one time. Then add FastClip's MCP server to your agent with the command or install link on the AI agents page. In an app that adds a custom MCP server by its address, add https://api.fastclip.it/mcp and sign in to FastClip when the app asks. No token is needed. A token, or an app you connect, can import videos, read transcripts and make clips. It cannot post, change your settings or delete anything.

What the agent calls, in order

These are FastClip's real MCP tools and arguments. The values are examples. Times are in seconds.

  1. 1. Import the video

    The agent adds the video to your account and gets its id.

    import_video { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUR_VIDEO" }

  2. 2. Get the known moments

    The agent asks FastClip what it knows about the video: YouTube's "Most replayed" peaks, the chapters, your bookmarks and moments picked from the transcript. Any of these lists can be empty.

    get_moments { "video_id": "VIDEO_ID" }

  3. 3. Read around the peak

    A peak shows where viewers went back, not where a thought starts. The agent reads the transcript around the peak and sets the start and end on complete sentences.

    get_transcript { "video_id": "VIDEO_ID", "start": 2410, "end": 2560 }

  4. 4. Cut a vertical clip

    The agent asks for a vertical clip. FastClip makes it 9:16 at 1080 × 1920. The frame follows faces when FastClip finds them. Otherwise it stays centered.

    create_clip { "video_id": "VIDEO_ID", "start": 2431, "end": 2489.5, "format": "vertical", "captions": true }

  5. 5. Get the link

    The agent waits for the render and gives you the download link.

    get_clip { "clip_id": "CLIP_ID" }

What you get

A vertical 9:16 MP4 with burned-in captions and no watermark, ready to upload as a Short. FastClip does not post to YouTube. You upload it yourself.

Where it works

Claude Code
Tested. We made clips from Claude Code with FastClip's server.
Codex
Tested. We made clips from Codex with FastClip's server.
Cursor
The setup follows Cursor's documented format for a remote server. We have not made a clip from Cursor yet.
VS Code
VS Code accepts the setup. We have not made a clip from VS Code yet.
Claude (web and desktop app)
Add FastClip as a custom connector with the server address https://api.fastclip.it/mcp and sign in to FastClip. We tested the sign-in with a generic client, not yet from the Claude app. FastClip is not in the Claude connector directory yet.
ChatGPT
In developer mode, add the server address https://api.fastclip.it/mcp and sign in to FastClip. We tested the sign-in with a generic client, not yet from ChatGPT. FastClip is not in the ChatGPT directory yet.
Grok
Add a custom connector with the server address https://api.fastclip.it/mcp and sign in to FastClip. We tested the sign-in with a generic client, not yet from Grok. FastClip is not in the Grok directory yet.

Limits

  • "Most replayed" exists only for some videos, usually ones with many views. It shows where viewers replayed, not how a clip will perform.
  • YouTube counts a vertical or square video of up to three minutes as a Short (YouTube Help). FastClip clips can be up to 5 minutes, so tell the agent the length you want.
  • You choose the moment. FastClip does not cut a batch of clips on its own and gives no virality scores. The agent makes the clips you ask for.
  • Clip length: 1 second to 5 minutes. Original keeps the frame of the video. Vertical is 9:16 at 1080 × 1920.
  • Speed limits: 6 new videos and 20 clips in 10 minutes for your account. The agent gets a clear error with the time to wait.
  • Your plan: the clips and imports an agent makes count toward your plan. The free plan has 100 finished clips and 50 YouTube or upload imports in total, and up to 30 finished clips a day.
  • If YouTube refuses the download: YouTube refuses many downloads from FastClip's servers. Then the import is queued and FastClip tries again by itself for about a day. You can also open the video in FastClip and upload the file. Waiting clips then continue from the file.

Questions

Can Claude make YouTube Shorts?

With FastClip connected, yes: Claude chooses the range and FastClip cuts it, makes it vertical and burns in captions. Claude does not upload the Short. You do that in YouTube.

Can it make several Shorts from one video?

Yes, if you ask for them one by one or give a list. Each clip uses one clip of your plan, and an account can make 20 clips in 10 minutes.

Is the vertical crop automatic?

Yes. The frame follows faces when FastClip finds them and stays centered when it does not. To set the frame by hand, make the clip in the FastClip app instead.

More recipes

All recipes and the setup

Try it with your own video

Free, no credit card, no watermark. Connect your agent with a token from Settings or with a sign-in, and paste the prompt.

Start clipping for free