API & MCP

MCP server

A Model Context Protocol server so an agent can transcribe on its own, then read the transcript back as context.

In short

Pepys runs a hosted MCP server at https://pepys.co/api/mcp, listed in Anthropic's own Claude Connectors Directory (search "Pepys" inside Claude to add it in one click). Connect any MCP client – Claude, Claude in Chrome, ChatGPT, or Cursor – and it can transcribe audio, video, and whole podcast feeds: speaker diarization, correctly-timed SRT and VTT, paste-a-link, and transcript search. Sign in once with OAuth; no API key.

In Claude's Connectors Directory

Pepys is a listed connector in Claude's own Connectors Directory, not only an MCP server you configure by hand. In Claude, open Settings → Connectors → Browse connectors, search "Pepys," and add it – no URL to copy. The listing carries an automated Anthropic review and covers Claude in Chrome too, which shares Claude's connector list.

Connect in one step

1. Hosted connector – no API key. Point a remote MCP connector at https://pepys.co/api/mcp directly. The agent signs in to Pepys once with OAuth and transcription bills to your credits. This is the only route for ChatGPT, which has no connector directory yet: Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector. Claude supports the same direct-URL option for anyone who prefers it over browsing the directory.

2. Local server – your own key. Run the published pepys-mcp server with a bearer API key from Settings → API keys. This suits local dev agents that already have a terminal.

Local MCP server config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pepys": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "pepys-mcp"],
      "env": { "PEPYS_API_KEY": "pk_live_your_key" }
    }
  }
}

Tools exposed

transcribe – transcribe a file, a direct link, or a pasted YouTube or podcast URL. upload_file – hand the agent a local file through a presigned upload. get_transcription – read back the transcript, segments, summary, and speaker labels. list_transcriptions – list recent jobs so the agent can resume or re-export earlier work.

list_podcast_episodes – list a feed's episodes to pick which one to transcribe. export_transcript – return correctly-timed SRT, VTT, or plain text. transcribe_podcast_feed – fan a whole RSS or Apple Podcasts feed out into one transcript per episode. search_transcript – find the moment a phrase was said inside a long transcript.

ask_transcription – ask a question about a transcript and get only citation-backed answers. get_credit_balance – check remaining minutes before a large job.

What it costs

The 60 free minutes granted at signup apply through the MCP too. After that it is pay-once, usage-based: 1 credit = 1 minute and credits never expire. See pricing.

Diarization, whole-feed batch transcription, and word-level export unlock with any one-time purchase – the same unlocks as the rest of Pepys.

Also published in

Beyond Claude's own directory, Pepys is published in the other registries agents and MCP tooling browse: Smithery, mcp.so, and the MCP Registry.

MCP server – questions, answered

Is Pepys in Claude's Connectors Directory?

Yes – search "Pepys" in Claude's Settings → Connectors → Browse connectors and add it with no URL to copy. It's a Community-tier listing with an automated Anthropic review: https://claude.ai/directory/pepys-co.

What is the Pepys MCP server URL?

https://pepys.co/api/mcp. Add it as a custom connector in your MCP client and the agent signs in to Pepys once with OAuth.

Do I need an API key for the hosted MCP server?

No. The hosted connector uses OAuth. An API key is only needed for the local pepys-mcp server, which runs on your own machine with a PEPYS_API_KEY environment variable.

Which tools does the MCP server expose?

transcribe, upload_file, get_transcription, list_transcriptions, list_podcast_episodes, export_transcript, transcribe_podcast_feed, search_transcript, ask_transcription, and get_credit_balance.

Can the agent transcribe a whole podcast feed?

Yes. transcribe_podcast_feed fans an RSS or Apple Podcasts feed out into one transcript per episode, and list_podcast_episodes lets the agent pick a single one instead.

What does the MCP cost?

The 60 free minutes from signup apply through the MCP. After that it is pay-once, usage-based – 1 credit = 1 minute, credits never expire.

Try it on your own audio

Create a free account and transcribe a recording – 60 minutes are included, no card required. Still stuck? Email contact@pepys.co or see the support page.