How to Use the Macaulay Library MCP in Claude Code

Q: How do I pipe Macaulay Library search results to other CLI tools using Claude Code?

You ask Claude Code to execute searchmedia and format the output as JSON. From there, you can pipe the results directly into jq to extract media URLs or write them to a local CSV file.

Q: What is the best way to batch-download files from the Macaulay Library using Claude Code?

Have Claude Code run searchmedia to gather a list of asset IDs. It can then loop through those IDs, call getasset to retrieve the download URLs, and trigger curl to download them in parallel.

Q: How do I install the MCP Server using the Claude Code command line?

Execute claude mcp add --transport http macaulay-library-mcp -- in your terminal. Use claude mcp list to confirm the installation.

Pipe bioacoustic metadata directly into your terminal pipelines using Claude Code and the Macaulay Library server.

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Setup Macaulay Library with Claude Code

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Query the Archive from the Command Line

`search_media` exposes the entire Macaulay Library catalog to your terminal shell. Claude Code runs this tool to find species recordings and pipes the JSON results directly into standard Unix utilities like `jq` or `grep`. This terminal-first approach lets you build automated scraping scripts without writing boilerplate API clients. You get raw, structured data ready for immediate command-line manipulation.

Automate Asset Inspection in CI Pipelines

`get_asset` fetches detailed technical metadata for any specific audio or video ID. The MCP Server delivers exact parameters like sample rate, file size, and recording device directly to your headless agent. You can configure Claude Code to run this tool during nightly cron jobs to audit your dataset integrity. It automatically flags corrupted files or incorrect species tags before they hit your production training bucket.

Build Live Feeds inside Claude Code

`get_recent_media` fetches the most recently uploaded files from the global ornithology database. Your terminal agent uses this tool to build lightweight monitoring scripts that watch for specific regional sightings. By piping this real-time stream into a local database using the MCP, you can trigger alerts whenever rare species are recorded. It turns your terminal into an active bioacoustic monitoring station.

Setup guide

Set up Macaulay Library MCP in Claude Code

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Run the add command

Open your terminal and run the command shown on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. Use --scope user to make it available across all projects.
2

Verify the connection

Start a Claude Code session and type /mcp to list connected servers. You should see macaulay-library-mcp with a green status indicator.
3

Start using tools

Ask Claude Code something like "Check my latest Macaulay Library transactions." It will automatically discover and invoke the available Macaulay Library tools.

Terminal

claude mcp add --transport http macaulay-library-mcp https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

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Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open the config file

Create or edit .mcp.json in your project root for project-level scope, or ~/.claude.json for user-level scope.
2

Add the Macaulay Library MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Code

Start a new Claude Code session. Type /mcp to confirm the server is connected. The tools will be automatically available in your conversation.

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "macaulay-library-mcp": {
      "type": "url",
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Macaulay Library. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about Macaulay Library MCP in Claude Code

You ask Claude Code to execute `search_media` and format the output as JSON. From there, you can pipe the results directly into `jq` to extract media URLs or write them to a local CSV file.

Yes. The server supports standard transport protocols, allowing Claude Code to query `get_asset` or search archives during automated CI/CD runs.

Have Claude Code run `search_media` to gather a list of asset IDs. It can then loop through those IDs, call `get_asset` to retrieve the download URLs, and trigger `curl` to download them in parallel.

Execute `claude mcp add --transport http macaulay-library-mcp -- ` in your terminal. Use `claude mcp list` to confirm the installation.

Vinkius isolates all operations within a secure V8 sandbox. Your terminal search queries and raw audio files are processed over encrypted channels and immediately discarded from the host memory once the session terminates.

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