BrainTube MCP Server
Turn your YouTube watch history, articles, and web content into a searchable knowledge base accessible from Claude, Cursor, and other AI tools via MCP protocol.
Documentation
Connect BrainTube to Any AI
Your knowledge base becomes a universal MCP server. Set up in 60 seconds.
Works with: Claude · Cursor · Windsurf · ChatGPT · Obsidian
What is MCP?
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard that lets AI tools connect to external data sources. Think of it as USB-C for AI — one protocol, every tool.
When you connect BrainTube via MCP, your AI can search your saved content, chat with your brains, and retrieve knowledge — all from within the AI tool you're already using.
BrainTube → MCP Server → Claude / Cursor / Windsurf / ChatGPT / Obsidian
Setup Guides
Claude Desktop
-
Open Claude Desktop settings — Go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config.
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Add BrainTube to your MCP config — add this to
claude_desktop_config.json:{ "mcpServers": { "braintube": { "url": "https://braintube-mcp-production.up.railway.app/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } } } } -
Replace
YOUR_API_KEY— generate an API key atbrain-tube.com/settings → API Keys. -
Restart Claude Desktop — close and reopen to load the new MCP server.
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Try it! — ask Claude: "Search my BrainTube brains for information about transformers".
Cursor
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Open Cursor settings — go to Settings → MCP Servers → Add Server.
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Add BrainTube MCP config:
{ "braintube": { "url": "https://braintube-mcp-production.up.railway.app/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } } } -
Replace
YOUR_API_KEY— generate atbrain-tube.com/settings → API Keys. -
Use in any chat — ask: "What do my BrainTube brains say about [topic]?".
Windsurf
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Open Windsurf MCP settings — navigate to the MCP server configuration panel.
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Add server config:
{ "braintube": { "url": "https://braintube-mcp-production.up.railway.app/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" } } } -
Replace
YOUR_API_KEYand restart — generate atbrain-tube.com/settings → API Keys, then restart Windsurf.
ChatGPT (API)
ChatGPT doesn't natively support MCP yet, but you can use BrainTube's REST API directly.
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Generate an API key at
brain-tube.com/settings → API Keys. -
Use the search endpoint:
curl -X POST https://braintube-mcp-production.up.railway.app/api/v1/search \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"query": "your question", "limit": 5}' -
Feed results into your prompt — pass the search results as context in your ChatGPT conversation. See the full API docs for all endpoints.
Obsidian
- Install the BrainTube plugin — go to Community Plugins → Search "BrainTube" → Install.
- Configure — navigate to Settings → BrainTube and enter your API key.
- Sync — your BrainTube items sync to your vault as Markdown files — one folder per brain, frontmatter with metadata.
Available MCP Tools
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
search | Semantic search across all brains |
smart_resurface | Get items due for spaced repetition review |
get_knowledge_graph | Retrieve knowledge graph connections |
brain_chat | Chat with a specific brain |
list_brains | List all user brains with stats |
get_item | Get full item details with enrichment data |
Endpoint & Authentication
- MCP endpoint:
https://braintube-mcp-production.up.railway.app/mcp - REST API base:
https://braintube-mcp-production.up.railway.app/api/v1 - Auth:
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEYheader on every request. - Get a key: sign in at brain-tube.com and visit Settings → API Keys.
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