Freesound MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that integrates with Freesound.org, enabling AI agents to search and discover audio content for video editing and content creation workflows.

Features

The Freesound MCP Server enables AI assistants to:

• Search Audio Content: Find sound effects, ambient sounds, and music loops using natural language queries
• Access Metadata: Get detailed information about audio files including duration, tags, licensing, and descriptions
• Preview Content: Access preview URLs for immediate audio playback evaluation
• License Compliance: Retrieve licensing information to ensure proper attribution and usage rights

Installation

Prerequisites

You will need to obtain a Freesound API key:

1. Create an account at Freesound.org
2. Apply for an API key at https://freesound.org/api/apply/
3. Once approved, note your API key for configuration

Docker Installation (Recommended)

The easiest way to run the Freesound MCP Server is using Docker. No local Python installation required.

Setup

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/johnkimdw/freesound-mcp-server.git
cd freesound-mcp-server

2. Build docker image:

docker build -t freesound-mcp .  

Claude Desktop

Add the following configuration to your Claude Desktop config file:

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

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "freesound": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "FREESOUND_API_KEY",
        "freesound-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "FREESOUND_API_KEY": "<YOUR_FREESOUND_API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Local Installation

If you prefer not to use Docker, you can install and run the server locally using Python and uv.

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• uv package manager

Setup

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/johnkimdw/freesound-mcp-server.git
cd freesound-mcp-server

2. Install dependencies:

uv sync

3. Set your API key:

export FREESOUND_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Claude Desktop Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "freesound": {
      "command": "/path/to/uv",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "/path/to/freesound-mcp-server",
        "run",
        "freesound-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "FREESOUND_API_KEY": "<YOUR_FREESOUND_API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage

Once configured, you can interact with the Freesound MCP Server through your AI assistant. Here are some example queries:

• "Find thunder sound effects for a storm scene"
• "Search for ambient city sounds under 30 seconds"
• "Look for piano music loops with Creative Commons licensing"
• "Find dog barking sound effects"
• "Search for ocean waves background audio"

Available Tools

search_sounds

Search for audio files on Freesound.org using natural language queries.

Parameters:

• query (string, required): Search terms for audio content
• max_results (integer, optional): Number of results to return (1-30, default: 10)

Returns:

• Audio file metadata including:
  • File name and description
  • Duration and file format
  • Tags and categories
  • License information
  • Preview URLs (high and low quality)
  • Uploader information
  • Direct links to Freesound.org pages

Transport Options

The server supports multiple transport methods for different deployment scenarios:

Stdio Transport (Default)

Used for local integration with Claude Desktop and other MCP clients:

uv run freesound-mcp
# python -m freesound_mcp.server --transport stdio

Development

Building from Source

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yourname/freesound-mcp-server.git
cd freesound-mcp-server

# Install dependencies
uv sync

# Run tests
uv run pytest

# Build Docker image
docker build -t freesound-mcp .

Testing

Use the MCP Inspector for detailed debugging:

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector uv run freesound-mcp

Licensing and Attribution

This MCP server respects Freesound.org's terms of service and API usage guidelines. All audio content retrieved through this server:

• Originates from Freesound.org and is subject to their licensing terms
• Requires proper attribution as specified by individual file licenses
• Should be used in compliance with Creative Commons and other applicable licenses

Important: Always review the licensing information provided with each audio file to ensure compliance with attribution requirements and usage restrictions.

Error Handling

The server includes comprehensive error handling for common scenarios:

• Invalid API Key: Clear error messages when authentication fails
• Rate Limiting: Automatic handling of API rate limits with appropriate error responses
• Network Issues: Timeout handling and connection error management
• Invalid Queries: Input validation and sanitization

Configuration

Environment Variables

• FREESOUND_API_KEY (required): Your Freesound.org API key

Advanced Configuration

For advanced users, additional configuration options are available through command-line arguments:

python -m freesound_mcp.server --help

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

The audio content accessed through this server is provided by Freesound.org and is subject to individual Creative Commons and other open licenses as specified by content creators.