# Transistor MCP Server
An MCP server for the [Transistor.fm](https://transistor.fm/) API. Manage podcasts, episodes, analytics, transcripts, and webhooks from your AI agent.
[](LICENSE)
[](https://www.typescriptlang.org/)
[](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/)
[](https://chainofthought.show)
[](https://x.com/ConorBronsdon)
---
> [!IMPORTANT]
> **Transistor now ships an official MCP server: [mcp.transistor.fm](https://mcp.transistor.fm).** It's remote (no install), authenticates with OAuth instead of an API key, and is maintained by the Transistor team as the basis for their upcoming API v2. For most people it's the better choice — start there.
>
> With the official server available, this community server is **no longer actively maintained**. It still works, and it remains useful if you specifically want a local, API-key-based server (for example, in headless or automated environments where an OAuth browser flow is awkward). Bug-fix PRs are welcome; feature requests are better directed at the official server.
This MCP server provides tools to interact with the [Transistor.fm](https://transistor.fm/) API, allowing you to manage podcasts, episodes, and view analytics. The data shown in the demo above is sample data, not real account values.
> **Fork notice:** The original server was built by [Guido X Jansen](https://github.com/gxjansen) ([gxjansen/Transistor-MCP](https://github.com/gxjansen/Transistor-MCP)). The full-API-parity pass (all documented params, response trimming, search), the `get_download_summary` and `compare_episodes` analytics tools, ISO date handling, and transcript support were contributed here and have since been merged upstream. This repository is a packaged, npm-published build (`transistor-mcp`). The MIT license and original copyright are preserved in [LICENSE](LICENSE).
## About
Built by [Conor Bronsdon](https://github.com/conorbronsdon) for the [Chain of Thought](https://chainofthought.show) podcast production workflow, where it handled episode creation, transcript uploads, and analytics pulls before the official server shipped. Conor hosts Chain of Thought, a show about AI infrastructure and how practitioners actually build with it. More tools for creators live in [ai-tools-for-creators](https://github.com/conorbronsdon/ai-tools-for-creators). Find Conor on X at [@ConorBronsdon](https://x.com/ConorBronsdon).
**Companion tools:**
- [substack-mcp](https://github.com/conorbronsdon/substack-mcp): read posts and manage Substack drafts
- [podcastindex-mcp](https://github.com/conorbronsdon/podcastindex-mcp): search the Podcast Index and track guest appearances
- [op3-mcp](https://github.com/conorbronsdon/op3-mcp): report downloads, listener geography, and apps from OP3
- [apple-podcasts-mcp](https://github.com/conorbronsdon/apple-podcasts-mcp): pull plays, followers, and per-episode listening from Apple Podcasts Connect
- [gsc-mcp](https://github.com/conorbronsdon/gsc-mcp): query search performance, keywords, and sitemaps in Google Search Console
- [podcast-benchmark](https://github.com/conorbronsdon/podcast-benchmark): benchmark a show against its peers using only public data
## Configuration
**Prefer the official server?** No install needed. Add it to Claude Code with:
```bash
claude mcp add --transport http transistor https://mcp.transistor.fm
```
Then run `/mcp` to sign in to Transistor. Other MCP clients that support remote servers with OAuth can point at `https://mcp.transistor.fm` directly.
**To run this community server instead**, add it to your MCP settings configuration file with your Transistor API key:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"transistor": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "transistor-mcp"],
"env": {
"TRANSISTOR_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
}
}
}
}
```
Or run from a local clone (after `npm install && npm run build`):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"transistor": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["path/to/Transistor-MCP/build/index.js"],
"env": {
"TRANSISTOR_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
}
}
}
}
```
## Available Tools
### get_authenticated_user
Get details of the authenticated user account.
```json
{
// No parameters needed
}
```
### authorize_upload
Get a pre-signed URL for uploading an audio file. Use this before creating an episode with a local audio file.
```json
{
"filename": string // Required: Name of the audio file to upload
}
```
Response includes:
- upload_url: Pre-signed S3 URL for uploading the file
- content_type: Content type to use when uploading (e.g., "audio/mpeg")
- expires_in: Time in seconds until the upload URL expires
- audio_url: Final URL to use when creating the episode
### list_shows
List all shows in your Transistor.fm account, ordered by updated date (newest first). Returns a paginated list with 10 items per page.
```json
{
"page": number, // Optional, defaults to 0 (first page)
"per": number, // Optional, defaults to 10 items per page
"private": boolean, // Optional: filter for private shows
"query": string // Optional: search query
}
```
Note: All parameters are optional. Calling this endpoint without parameters will return the first page of shows.
### list_episodes
List episodes for a specific show.
```json
{
"show_id": string, // Required
"page": number, // Optional, defaults to 0
"per": number, // Optional, defaults to 10
"query": string, // Optional: search query
"status": string, // Optional: "published", "draft", or "scheduled"
"order": string // Optional: "desc" (newest first) or "asc" (oldest first), defaults to "desc"
}
```
### get_episode
Get detailed information about a specific episode.
```json
{
"episode_id": string, // Required
"include": string[], // Optional: array of related resources to include
"fields": { // Optional: sparse fieldsets
"episode": string[], // Fields to include for episode
"show": string[] // Fields to include for show
}
}
```
### get_analytics
Get analytics for a show or specific episode. Defaults to the last 14 days if no dates are provided.
```json
{
"show_id": string, // Required
"episode_id": string, // Optional: include for episode-specific analytics
"start_date": string, // Optional: format "dd-mm-yyyy", required if end_date is provided
"end_date": string // Optional: format "dd-mm-yyyy", required if start_date is provided
}
```
### create_episode
Create a new episode.
```json
{
"show_id": string, // Required
"title": string, // Required
"audio_url": string, // Required
"summary": string, // Optional
"description": string, // Optional: may contain HTML
"transcript_text": string, // Optional: full episode transcript
"author": string, // Optional
"explicit": boolean, // Optional
"image_url": string, // Optional: episode artwork
"keywords": string, // Optional: comma-separated list
"number": number, // Optional: episode number
"season_number": number, // Optional
"type": string, // Optional: "full", "trailer", or "bonus"
"alternate_url": string, // Optional: override share_url
"video_url": string, // Optional: YouTube URL
"email_notifications": boolean, // Optional: override show setting
"increment_number": boolean // Optional: auto-set next episode number
}
```
### update_episode
Update an existing episode.
```json
{
"episode_id": string, // Required
"title": string, // Optional
"summary": string, // Optional
"description": string, // Optional: may contain HTML
"transcript_text": string, // Optional: full episode transcript
"author": string, // Optional
"explicit": boolean, // Optional
"image_url": string, // Optional: episode artwork
"keywords": string, // Optional: comma-separated list
"number": number, // Optional: episode number
"season_number": number, // Optional
"type": string, // Optional: "full", "trailer", or "bonus"
"alternate_url": string, // Optional: override share_url
"video_url": string, // Optional: YouTube URL
"email_notifications": boolean // Optional: override show setting
}
```
### get_all_episode_analytics
Get analytics for all episodes of a show. Defaults to the last 7 days if no dates are provided.
```json
{
"show_id": string, // Required
"start_date": string, // Optional: format "dd-mm-yyyy", required if end_date is provided
"end_date": string // Optional: format "dd-mm-yyyy", required if start_date is provided
}
```
### list_webhooks
List all webhooks for a show.
```json
{
"show_id": string // Required
}
```
### subscribe_webhook
Subscribe to a webhook for a show.
```json
{
"event_name": string, // Required: e.g., "episode_created"
"show_id": string, // Required
"url": string // Required: URL to receive webhook events
}
```
### unsubscribe_webhook
Unsubscribe from a webhook.
```json
{
"webhook_id": string // Required
}
```
### Typed errors
Tool calls that fail against the Transistor.fm API return a status-specific,
human-readable message via `isError: true` rather than a generic Axios error.
Internally, `TransistorApiClient` maps every HTTP failure — authentication
(401/403), rate limiting (429), validation (400), not found (404), and
server errors (5xx) — to a typed error class in a single response
interceptor (see `src/errors.ts`), so the message you see always names the
failure mode and, for auth errors, points at the `TRANSISTOR_API_KEY`
environment variable.
## Important Notes
- API requests are rate-limited to 10 requests per 10 seconds (as prescribed by the (https://developers.transistor.fm/#:~:text=API%20requests%20are%20rate%2Dlimited,to%20use%20the%20API%20again.)[Transistor API reference])
- Dates must be in "dd-mm-yyyy" format
- Page numbers start at 0
- All endpoints support:
- Sparse fieldsets: Specify which fields to return using `fields[resource_type][]`
- Including related resources: Use `include[]` to fetch related resources in a single request
- Include arrays use the format `["resource_name"]`
- Fields objects specify which fields to return for each resource type
- All tools return data in JSONAPI format with proper relationships and metadata
## Example Usage
List shows:
```typescript
// List first page of shows (default behavior)
const result = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "list_shows",
arguments: {}
});
// List shows with pagination and filtering
const resultWithParams = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "list_shows",
arguments: {
page: 1,
per: 20,
private: true,
query: "podcast"
}
});
```
Get episode details:
```typescript
const result = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "get_episode",
arguments: {
episode_id: "123456",
include: ["show"],
fields: {
episode: ["title", "summary", "description"],
show: ["title"]
}
}
});
```
Get show analytics:
```typescript
// Get analytics for the last 14 days (default behavior)
const result = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "get_analytics",
arguments: {
show_id: "123456"
}
});
// Get analytics for a specific date range
const resultWithDates = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "get_analytics",
arguments: {
show_id: "123456",
start_date: "01-01-2024",
end_date: "31-01-2024"
}
});
// Get analytics for a specific episode
const episodeAnalytics = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "get_analytics",
arguments: {
show_id: "123456",
episode_id: "789012",
start_date: "01-01-2024",
end_date: "31-01-2024"
}
});
```
Update episode:
```typescript
const result = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "update_episode",
arguments: {
episode_id: "123456",
title: "Updated Episode Title",
summary: "New episode summary",
description: "New detailed description",
season_number: 2,
episode_number: 5
}
});
```
Get all episode analytics:
```typescript
// Get analytics for all episodes for the last 7 days (default behavior)
const result = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "get_all_episode_analytics",
arguments: {
show_id: "123456"
}
});
// Get analytics for all episodes for a specific date range
const resultWithDates = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "get_all_episode_analytics",
arguments: {
show_id: "123456",
start_date: "01-01-2024",
end_date: "31-01-2024"
}
});
```
Manage webhooks:
```typescript
// List webhooks
const webhooks = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "list_webhooks",
arguments: {
show_id: "123456"
}
});
// Subscribe to webhook
const subscription = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "subscribe_webhook",
arguments: {
event_name: "episode_created",
show_id: "123456",
url: "https://your-webhook-endpoint.com/hook"
}
});
// Unsubscribe from webhook
const unsubscribe = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "unsubscribe_webhook",
arguments: {
webhook_id: "webhook123"
}
});
```
Get authenticated user:
```typescript
const result = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "get_authenticated_user",
arguments: {}
});
```
Authorize audio file upload:
```typescript
// First, get a pre-signed upload URL
const auth = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "authorize_upload",
arguments: {
filename: "my-episode.mp3"
}
});
// Then use the returned upload_url to upload your file via PUT request
// Finally, use the returned audio_url when creating your episode:
const episode = await use_mcp_tool({
server_name: "transistor",
tool_name: "create_episode",
arguments: {
show_id: "123456",
title: "My New Episode",
audio_url: auth.data.attributes.audio_url
}
});
```
### publish_episode
Publish, schedule, or unpublish an episode.
```json
{
"episode_id": string, // Required
"status": string, // Required: "published", "scheduled", or "draft"
"published_at": string // Optional: date/time in the podcast's time zone (required for "scheduled")
}
```
### get_show
Get details of a single show.
```json
{
"show_id": string // Required
}
```
### update_show
Update a show's metadata.
```json
{
"show_id": string, // Required
"author": string, // Optional
"category": string, // Optional: primary podcast category
"copyright": string, // Optional
"description": string, // Optional
"explicit": boolean, // Optional
"image_url": string, // Optional: show artwork URL
"keywords": string, // Optional: comma-separated
"language": string, // Optional: e.g. "en"
"owner_email": string, // Optional
"secondary_category": string, // Optional
"show_type": string, // Optional: "episodic" or "serial"
"title": string, // Optional
"time_zone": string, // Optional
"website": string // Optional
}
```
### list_subscribers
List subscribers for a private podcast.
```json
{
"show_id": string, // Required
"page": number, // Optional
"per": number, // Optional
"query": string // Optional: search filter
}
```
### get_subscriber
Get details of a single subscriber.
```json
{
"subscriber_id": string // Required
}
```
### create_subscriber
Add a subscriber to a private podcast.
```json
{
"show_id": string, // Required
"email": string, // Required
"skip_welcome_email": boolean // Optional (default false)
}
```
### create_subscribers_batch
Add multiple subscribers at once.
```json
{
"show_id": string, // Required
"emails": string[], // Required: array of email addresses
"skip_welcome_email": boolean // Optional (default false)
}
```
### update_subscriber
Update a subscriber's email address.
```json
{
"subscriber_id": string, // Required
"email": string // Required: new email address
}
```
### delete_subscriber
Delete a subscriber by ID or by show + email.
```json
{
"subscriber_id": string, // Optional: delete by subscriber ID
"show_id": string, // Optional: use with email instead of subscriber_id
"email": string // Optional: use with show_id instead of subscriber_id
}
```
## Contributing
This server is in maintenance mode now that [the official Transistor MCP](https://mcp.transistor.fm) exists. Bug reports and bug-fix PRs are still welcome: open an issue with the tool name and the request you were trying to make, or fork the repo, run `npm install && npm run build`, and open a PR describing what changed and why. New-feature requests are better directed at the official server, which Transistor is actively developing.
---
## Disclaimer
*All views, opinions, and statements expressed on this account are solely my own and are made in my personal capacity. They do not reflect, and should not be construed as reflecting, the views, positions, or policies of Modular. This account is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Modular in any way.*
## License
MIT. This is a fork of [gxjansen/Transistor-MCP](https://github.com/gxjansen/Transistor-MCP); the original copyright by Guido X Jansen is preserved in [LICENSE](LICENSE).