The RCM 1 API.

QUICKSTART

curl -X POST https://realcut.ai/api/model/v1/edit \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer rc_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"project_id":"proj_your_project_id","brief":"45s vertical short, hook first, keep the laugh","aspect":"9:16"}'

{
  "error": "MODEL_NOT_DEPLOYED",
  "message": "RCM 1 direct inference is not live: no model version is deployed yet.",
  "active_version": null,
  "inference_worker_armed": false,
  "retryable": true,
  "use_instead": "POST /api/mcp tool request_edit (or the web app) — the bench-fulfilled queue, live today.",
  "as_of": "2026-07-11T00:00:00.000Z"
}

{
  "job_id": "job_sample123",
  "status": "queued",
  "model_version": "RCM-1.0.x",
  "credits_quoted": 12,
  "credits_remaining": 388,
  "poll_after_s": 5
}

curl https://realcut.ai/api/model/v1/edit

claude mcp add --transport http realcut https://realcut.ai/api/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer rc_live_YOUR_KEY"

curl -X POST https://realcut.ai/api/mcp \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer rc_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"request_edit","arguments":{"project_id":"proj_your_project_id","brief":"45s vertical short, hook first, keep the laugh"}}}'

KEYS

Mint a key from this account, or reuse the one you already have — one key works on both fronts.

claude mcp add --transport http realcut https://realcut.ai/api/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer rc_live_YOUR_KEY"

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "realcut": {
      "url": "https://realcut.ai/api/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer rc_live_YOUR_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "realcut": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://realcut.ai/api/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization:${RC_MCP_AUTH}"
      ],
      "env": {
        "RC_MCP_AUTH": "Bearer rc_live_YOUR_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

LIMITS & QUOTAS

What exists, and only what exists.

TODAY

AT ARM

DECISION PROVENANCE

The reason this API exists.

Every finished edit returns its decisions: source clip, in and out timecodes, transcript, the rationale for every kept segment, and what was deliberately dropped and why. Available today over MCP.

Inside the product, edits already stream this feed live. API access to the stream is bound to the job-poll surface when RCM 1 arms — documented now so integrations can plan for it.

THE GLASS VOCABULARY — THE SAME EVENTS THE MODEL TRAINS ON

{
  "seq": 1,
  "at": "2026-07-09T00:00:04.000Z",
  "type": "segment_flagged",
  "label": "Segment 1 flagged",
  "reason": "Clean framing, matches the brief",
  "verdict": "approved",
  "conf": "clear",
  "refs": {
    "assetId": "asset_1",
    "srcInS": 1,
    "srcOutS": 4
  }
}

PRICING PREVIEW

EARLY-ACCESS PRICING PREVIEW — SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT GA

1 CREDIT = 1 EDIT-MINUTE. THE API BILLS THE SAME UNIT THE PRODUCT BILLS.

PACKS — EARLY-ACCESS PREVIEW

CALLS RETURN 503 MODEL_NOT_DEPLOYED UNTIL RCM 1 CLEARS OUR QUALITY BAR. KEYS MINT TODAY; THE CONTRACT IS LIVE.

Plans include the same credits — see pricing. API packs are on sale: the credits work today over MCP and the app. Direct REST inference (POST /api/model/v1/edit) stays 503 until RCM 1 arms.

VERSIONING

The REST surface is path-versioned (/v1); within v1, changes are additive only — fields are never removed or retyped. A breaking change ships as /v2, with at least 12 months of v1 support from the announcement.

No webhooks today. Every accepted mutation returns a job_id and each status response carries poll_after_s — that is the pacing contract. If webhooks ship they will be additive and announced on this page.