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Prerequisites

Before setting up the Babou MCP server, ensure you have:
  • A Babou account and API key (get one here)
  • An MCP-compatible AI assistant (Claude Desktop recommended)

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Setup with Claude Desktop

The easiest way to use Babou’s MCP server is through Claude Desktop.
1

Get Your API Key

  1. Log in to babou.ai
  2. Go to Settings → API Keys
  3. Click Create New API Key
  4. Copy the key (starts with sk-bab-)
2

Configure Claude Desktop

Add the Babou MCP server to your Claude Desktop configuration:Location:
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
Configuration:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "babou": {
      "url": "https://api.babou.ai/mcp",
      "apiKey": "sk-bab-your-api-key-here"
    }
  }
}
Replace sk-bab-your-api-key-here with your actual API key. Keep this file secure!
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen Claude Desktop to load the new configuration.
4

Verify Connection

In Claude Desktop, ask:
Can you check what Babou tools are available?
Claude should respond with a list of available tools like CreateVideoProject, AddChapter, etc.
5

Create Your First Video

Try creating a simple video:
Create a 15-second intro video for my tech startup.
The video should have:
- Company name "TechCo" in bold text
- Tagline "Innovation Simplified"
- Modern, clean aesthetic
- Blue and white colors
Claude will use the Babou MCP tools to create the project, add a chapter, submit the prompt, and provide you with the result!

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Authentication Options

The simplest method - include your API key directly in the configuration: 
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "babou": {
      "url": "https://api.babou.ai/mcp",
      "apiKey": "sk-bab-your-api-key-here"
    }
  }
}

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Option 2: OAuth (Advanced)

For enhanced security, use OAuth authentication:
  1. Contact support to set up OAuth for your account
  2. Configure with OAuth credentials:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "babou": {
      "url": "https://api.babou.ai/mcp",
      "oauth": {
        "clientId": "your-client-id",
        "clientSecret": "your-client-secret"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Configuration Options

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Basic Configuration

Minimal configuration with just an API key: 
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "babou": {
      "url": "https://api.babou.ai/mcp",
      "apiKey": "sk-bab-your-api-key-here"
    }
  }
}

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Custom Name

Change the server name in Claude: 
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "babou-video-creator": {  // Custom name
      "url": "https://api.babou.ai/mcp",
      "apiKey": "sk-bab-your-api-key-here"
    }
  }
}

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Multiple Environments

Set up different keys for development and production: 
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "babou-dev": {
      "url": "https://api.babou.ai/mcp",
      "apiKey": "sk-bab-dev-key-here"
    },
    "babou-prod": {
      "url": "https://api.babou.ai/mcp",
      "apiKey": "sk-bab-prod-key-here"
    }
  }
}

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Troubleshooting

Possible causes:
  • Configuration file has syntax errors (validate JSON)
  • Claude Desktop wasn’t restarted after config changes
  • Wrong file path for the configuration file
  • API key is invalid or expired
Solutions:
  1. Validate your JSON configuration (use a JSON validator)
  2. Restart Claude Desktop completely (quit and reopen)
  3. Verify the config file location for your OS
  4. Generate a new API key and update the config
Error: Unauthorized - Invalid API keySolutions:
  • Check your API key is correct (no typos or extra spaces)
  • Ensure the key starts with sk-bab-
  • Verify the key hasn’t expired in your dashboard
  • Generate a new API key if needed
Possible causes:
  • Network connectivity issues
  • Large video processing taking time
  • Rate limiting
Solutions:
  • Check your internet connection
  • Be patient - video creation takes 30-90 seconds
  • Avoid making too many rapid requests
macOS:
# Create directory if it doesn't exist
mkdir -p ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude

# Edit configuration
open -e ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows:
# Create directory if it doesn't exist
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:APPDATA\Claude"

# Edit configuration
notepad "$env:APPDATA\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json"

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Security Best Practices

Your API key provides full access to your Babou account. Keep it secure!
  1. Never share your API key
    • Don’t commit it to version control
    • Don’t share screenshots with the key visible
    • Don’t post it in support tickets (we’ll never ask for it)
  2. Use separate keys for different purposes
    • Development key for testing
    • Production key for real usage
    • Team keys for shared access
  3. Rotate keys regularly
    • Create new keys periodically
    • Delete old keys after rotation
    • Update configurations promptly
  4. Monitor key usage
    • Check your dashboard for unexpected activity
    • Review API usage logs
    • Set up alerts for unusual patterns

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Testing Your Setup

Once configured, test the MCP server with these commands in Claude: 
1. "List my Babou video projects"
   (Should return your existing projects or an empty list)

2. "Create a test project called 'MCP Test'"
   (Should create a new project and return its ID)

3. "What tools do you have for Babou?"
   (Should list all 6 available tools)

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Next Steps

Tool Reference

Learn about all available tools

Examples

See complete workflow examples

MCP Overview

Understand how MCP works

REST API

Use the REST API directly