Before you start
Vayessa is a cinematic photo slideshow app for Mac. Its Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration lets an AI assistant inspect a project and make edits through structured tools. This guide covers the built-in connection for Claude Desktop, rather than the separate Claude Code command.
You need Vayessa installed on a supported Mac, Claude Desktop installed, and a Vayessa Studio license for AI control. Your AI service may have its own account and usage requirements. Save any existing slideshow before asking an assistant to change it.
1. Turn on AI control
Open Vayessa. Choose File → AI Assistants. If the menu reads AI Control: Off — turn on, select it. Once enabled, the menu reads AI Control: On — turn off.
If Vayessa asks you to activate or upgrade your license, complete that step first. Connection actions are disabled while AI control is off.
2. Add Vayessa to Claude Desktop
In the same File → AI Assistants menu, choose Connect Claude Desktop…. Review the confirmation and approve it if you want Claude to access Vayessa.
Vayessa adds its bundled MCP server to Claude Desktop’s configuration and backs up the previous settings. You do not need to invent a server URL or install a separate Node.js runtime for this built-in connection.
3. Quit and reopen Claude Desktop
Fully quit Claude Desktop and reopen it so it can load the updated server configuration. Keep Vayessa open. Start a new conversation and check that Vayessa’s tools are available before requesting edits.
The Vayessa menu may show Claude Desktop: connected once configuration is present. That label confirms configuration, so use a read-only request next to confirm the running connection.
4. Check the current project first
Use Vayessa to inspect the current project. Tell me the slide count, total duration and whether music is set. Do not change anything.
A successful response should describe the project that is actually open in Vayessa. Then try a small edit in a saved test project, such as adding a title, and inspect the result in the app.
If the connection does not work
- No tools in Claude: fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop after connecting, then start a new conversation.
- Vayessa cannot be reached: open Vayessa and confirm AI Control is on.
- Settings could not be updated: check that Claude Desktop is installed and your user account can write its configuration. Contact Vayessa support with the error text.
- The wrong project appears: inspect the open project before editing; ask the assistant to stop if it is not the intended one.
To stop assistant control, choose File → AI Assistants → AI Control: On — turn off. Menu wording can change between releases; these steps follow the built-in Vayessa connection menu.