Claude Collider

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that enables Claude to generate and play music through SuperCollider. Describe the sounds you want, and Claude will write and execute SuperCollider code in real-time.

Requirements

- SuperCollider installed on your system
- Node.js 18+
- Claude Desktop

Installation

``bash
git clone https://github.com/jeremyruppel/claude-collider.git
cd claude-collider
npm install
npm run build
`

ClaudeCollider Quark

Symlink or copy the ClaudeCollider folder to your Extensions directory:

`bash
ln -s /path/to/claude-collider/ClaudeCollider ~/Library/Application\ Support/SuperCollider/Extensions/ClaudeCollider
`

Claude Desktop Configuration

Add to your Claude Desktop config (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):

`json
{
"mcpServers": {
"supercollider": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/claude-collider/dist/index.js"],
"env": {
"CC_SAMPLES_PATH": "/path/to/your/samples",
"CC_RECORDINGS_PATH": "/path/to/your/recordings"
}
}
}
}
`

The env block is optional - paths default to ~/.claudecollider/samples and ~/.claudecollider/recordings.

Restart Claude Desktop after updating the config.

Available Tools

$3

| Tool | Description |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| sc_boot | Boot ClaudeCollider and the SuperCollider audio server |
| sc_execute | Execute SuperCollider code (play sounds, define synths, create patterns) |
| sc_stop | Stop all sounds (Cmd+Period equivalent) |
| sc_status | Get status: tempo, synths, CPU, active patterns |
| sc_tempo | Get or set the tempo in BPM |
| sc_clear | Stop all sounds and clear patterns, effects, and MIDI mappings |
| sc_reboot | Reboot the audio server with optional new device |
| sc_audio_devices | List available audio input and output devices |

$3

| Tool | Description |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| midi_list_devices | List available MIDI input and output devices |
| midi_connect | Connect to a MIDI device by name or index (use 'all' for all inputs) |
| midi_map_notes | Map MIDI notes to trigger a synth (polyphonic or mono) |
| midi_map_cc | Map a MIDI CC to a control bus for parameter modulation |
| midi_clear | Clear all MIDI mappings |

$3

| Tool | Description |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| fx_load | Load a pre-built effect (returns input bus for routing) |
| fx_set | Set parameters on a loaded effect |
| fx_route | Route a sound source (Pdef/Ndef) to an effect |
| fx_connect | Connect one effect's output to another effect's input |
| fx_chain | Create a named chain of effects wired in series |
| fx_sidechain | Create a sidechain compressor (e.g., kick ducking bass) |
| fx_route_trigger | Route a source to the trigger input of a sidechain |
| fx_bypass | Bypass an effect (pass audio through unchanged) |
| fx_remove | Remove an effect and free its resources |
| fx_list | List all loaded effects, sidechains, and connections |

$3

Place WAV or AIFF files in your samples directory (default: ~/.claudecollider/samples/). Samples are discovered on boot and lazy loaded on first use.

| Tool | Description |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| sample_list | List available samples (shows loaded/unloaded status) |
| sample_play | Play a sample once (loads buffer if needed) |
| sample_free | Free a sample buffer from memory |
| sample_reload | Rescan samples directory for new files |

$3

Record your jams to WAV files in your recordings directory (default: ~/.claudecollider/recordings/).

| Tool | Description |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |
| recording_start | Start recording audio output to a WAV file |
| recording_stop | Stop recording and get the saved file path |
| recording_status | Check if recording is active |

Pre-built SynthDefs

All synths are automatically loaded when you call sc_boot. Use them with the \cc_ prefix:

Drums:

- cc_kick - Punchy kick drum with sub bass
- cc_snare - Snare drum with noise burst
- cc_hihat - Closed hi-hat
- cc_openhat - Open hi-hat with longer decay
- cc_clap - Hand clap with layered noise
- cc_tom - Tunable tom drum for fills
- cc_rim - Rimshot / sidestick
- cc_shaker - Shaker / maraca
- cc_cowbell - 808-style cowbell

Bass:

- cc_bass - Simple sub bass with harmonics
- cc_acid - Resonant 303-style filter bass
- cc_sub - Pure sub bass for layering
- cc_reese - Detuned saw bass (DnB/dubstep)
- cc_fmbass - FM bass for growly tones

Leads & Melodic:

- cc_lead - Detuned saw lead with filter
- cc_pluck - Karplus-Strong plucked string
- cc_bell - FM bell / glassy tone
- cc_keys - Electric piano / Rhodes-ish
- cc_strings - String ensemble pad

Pads & Textural:

- cc_pad - Soft ambient pad with detuned oscillators
- cc_noise - Filtered noise source
- cc_drone - Evolving ambient texture
- cc_riser - Tension building sweep

Utility:

- cc_click - Metronome click
- cc_sine - Pure sine tone
- cc_sampler - Basic sample playback
- cc_grains - Granular sample playback

Pre-built Effects

Load effects with fx_load:

- Filters: lpf, hpf, bpf
- Time-based: reverb, delay, pingpong
- Modulation: chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo
- Distortion: distortion, bitcrush, wavefold
- Dynamics: compressor, limiter, gate
- Stereo: widener, autopan

Example Prompts

- "Boot SuperCollider and play a simple sine wave"
- "Load the kick and snare synths and make a basic beat"
- "Create an ambient pad that slowly evolves"
- "Make a 303-style acid bassline"
- "Set the tempo to 120 BPM"
- "Connect my MIDI keyboard and let me play the pad synth"
- "Map CC 1 to control the filter cutoff"
- "Show me the server status"
- "Add some reverb to the drums"
- "Create an effect chain with filter, distortion, and delay for the bass"
- "Set up sidechain compression so the kick ducks the bass"
- "Start recording my jam"
- "Stop recording and save the file"

Debug Mode

Enable debug logging:

`bash
DEBUG=claude-collider node dist/index.js
`

Logs are written to /tmp/claude-collider.log.

Environment Variables

| Variable | Default | Description |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------- |
| SCLANG_PATH | Auto-detected | Path to sclang executable |
| SC_BOOT_TIMEOUT | 10000 | Boot timeout in ms |
| SC_EXEC_TIMEOUT | 2000 | Execution timeout in ms |
| CC_SAMPLES_PATH | ~/.claudecollider/samples | Directory for audio samples |
| CC_RECORDINGS_PATH | ~/.claudecollider/recordings | Directory for recorded audio |
| DEBUG | - | Set to claude-collider` for debug logs |

License

MIT