# AVE

AVE is a local-first AI video editor for Mac. It combines a Mac-native timeline with AI-assisted planning and real timeline edits.

## What AVE does

- Imports and edits local video, audio, and graphics.
- Uses Ask mode for project questions, search, captions, and smaller edit commands.
- Uses Plan mode for approval-gated, project-aware edit plans.
- Turns supported requests into editable timeline changes.
- Supports transcript search, visual search, rough-cut planning, sequence creation, clip extraction, transitions, captions, styling, gap closing, and export preparation.
- Exports locally from the native Mac app.

## AVE MCP

AVE can connect local Codex CLI or Claude Code installations through an authenticated bridge on the same Mac. The connection exposes 20 AVE tools behind 8 access scopes for project inspection, analyzed-media search, project and media operations, timeline edits, rendered-frame review, and export.

- The user can choose whether AVE or the connected assistant authors edit plans.
- AVE asks before consequential work by default; Approve for me is optional per assistant.
- Source footage does not pass through MCP.
- AVE MCP is not a ChatGPT cloud connector, Claude Desktop integration, remote endpoint, or public MCP server.
- Details: https://www.aivideoeditor.app/mcp/
- Agent reference: https://www.aivideoeditor.app/ai/mcp.md

## Current release

- Version: 1.0.23
- Download: https://github.com/lemberalla/ave-releases-v2/releases/download/v1.0.23/AVE-1.0.23-mac-arm64.dmg
- Requirements: macOS 14.0 or later; Apple Silicon, M1 or later
- Release notes: https://www.aivideoeditor.app/release-notes/

## Feature groups

### A real Mac video editor, not a prompt box.

AVE includes the editing surface you expect before AI enters the room: local projects, sequences, tracks, clips, assets, captions, graphics, playback, preflight, and export.

### Understand, find, and organize the footage you already have.

AVE turns local analysis into practical editor context: searchable moments, reviewable asset names, reusable analysis, and source previews that stay connected to the project.

### Turn transcript timing into a tighter, cleaner edit.

Speech-aware tools can remove repetitive timeline work while keeping the resulting cuts, captions, and volume changes visible and editable.

### Design and finish inside the editor.

AVE combines template speed with a real graphics surface, direct canvas interaction, framing tools, and exportable finishing controls.

### Ask for creative work in editor language.

AVE uses AI where it helps: understanding footage, planning edits, finding moments, and proposing changes that can be reviewed before they touch the timeline.

### Use built-in Local AI, CLI assistants, or your own API.

The app separates creative reasoning from local execution. Assistant choices can change, but supported timeline operations still go through AVE tools.