# Descript setup for PopMCP

You paste one value into PopMCP: a Descript API token.

- Auth: API credentials
- Setup time: 2 min
- API base URL: https://descriptapi.com/v1
- Credentials screen: https://web.descript.com/
- Provider docs: https://help.descript.com/api-and-mcp/api

## Approval required before this works

No one reviews you, but Descript says API access is available for all paying users, so expect to need a paid plan. There is no separate API charge.

- Typical wait: None on a paid plan. Creating a token is self-serve.
- Cost: PopMCP adds nothing, and Descript says the API costs nothing extra. Imports use your plan's media minutes and edits use its AI credits.
- Blocked until approved: Connecting and everything your AI does in Descript.
- Works meanwhile: Descript's own app works on its own. Nothing in PopMCP works until a token is accepted.

## Before you begin

- A Descript account on a paid plan. Descript says API access is available for all paying users
- Access to the Drive your AI should use. A token has your permissions on that Drive and no others

## Get your credentials

### 1. Open API tokens in Descript

Sign in at web.descript.com and open Settings. Select API tokens from the sidebar, then click Create token.

Screen: https://web.descript.com/

### 2. Name the token, choose a Drive and copy it

Give the token a name like PopMCP, and select the Drive your AI should use. A token reaches only that Drive. Click Create token and copy it right away, because Descript will not show it again. If you lose it, create a new one.

Screen: https://web.descript.com/

### 3. Paste the token into PopMCP

In PopMCP, paste the token into API token and connect. PopMCP checks it with Descript and names the connection after your Drive. New connections start read-only, so your AI can search your Drive, open projects, check jobs and read transcripts, but cannot import, edit or publish anything until an owner or admin allows write actions.

## Fields PopMCP asks for

- API token (apiToken) [required]: In Descript, open Settings, go to API tokens and click Create token. Pick the Drive it should reach, then copy it, because it is shown only once. Stored encrypted and used only on our servers.

## Verify

PopMCP marks the Descript connection Verified and labels it with your Drive's name. Asking the AI to list your latest projects returns real results and uses no media minutes or AI credits.

## Troubleshooting

### "Descript did not accept this API token..."

Cause: The token was copied incompletely or has been removed. API access also needs a paid Descript plan.

Fix: Check that your plan is a paid one. Then, in Descript, open Settings, go to API tokens, create a new token and copy it right away.

### "This Descript token is not tied to a Drive..."

Cause: Descript reports no Drive for this token, so it cannot reach any projects.

Fix: Create a new token in Descript under Settings, API tokens, and choose a Drive for it.

### A project you know exists is missing, or answers 403 or 404

Cause: A token reaches one Drive only, and that project is on another one or is not shared with you.

Fix: Ask your AI which Drive the connection is tied to. To work on another Drive, create a token for it and connect it too.

### An import or edit answers 402

Cause: The Drive has run out of media minutes for imports, or AI credits for edits. Nothing started.

Fix: Add more in Descript, then ask again.

### An import fails, or a link is refused

Cause: YouTube links do not work, and a link must open the file directly, be readable from the internet and support Range requests.

Fix: Use a direct link to the file, signed for 12 to 48 hours if it is private, or have your AI send the file itself.

### Your AI says it cannot import, edit or publish

Cause: New connections are read-only in PopMCP.

Fix: An owner or admin can allow write actions for this connection in PopMCP.

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Source: https://www.docs.popmcp.com/docs/integrations/descript/