You can run and use a lightweight MCP server that plays specific sound effects to mark task progress, successes, or errors. It integrates with Claude tools to automate sound playback, helping you streamline your workflow while adding a touch of entertainment.

How to use

Set up the Sound Effects MCP in your Claude environment so you can trigger audio cues from your projects. Use the MCP client to add the server, then connect via Claude Desktop for streamlined controls.

Add the Sound Effects MCP at the project level using Claude Code. This is a runtime command that relies on the Node package manager to fetch and run the MCP. The command below installs and registers the MCP for your project: claude mcp add sound-effects-mcp -s project -- npx -y sound-effects-mcp.

If your environment cannot locate npx, determine its full path and use it explicitly. Example steps you can follow:

```bash
# Find the full path to npx
which npx

# Use the full path in the MCP add command
claude mcp add sound-effects-mcp -s project -- /usr/local/bin/npx -y sound-effects-mcp

Configure Claude Desktop to recognize the MCP by adding its entry to the Claude Desktop configuration. You will specify the command and arguments used to start the MCP as shown in the example configuration: 

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sound-effects-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "sound-effects-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Available tools include:

• play-sound-effect: plays a selected sound, with parameters for the sound type and an optional message.
• list-sound-effects: lists all available sound effects. Examples of practical usage:
• Use play-sound-effect with complete to signal task completion.
• Use list-sound-effects to check which sounds you can trigger.

How to install

Prerequisites you need before installing the Sound Effects MCP:
- Node.js installed (which provides npm and npx).
- Access to the command line or terminal.

Steps to install and start the MCP:
1) Ensure Node.js and npm are available on your system.
2) Install and run the MCP via npx in your project context.
3) Confirm the MCP is reachable from Claude Code and Claude Desktop.

Concrete commands you can run step by step:

Install or fetch the MCP for your project context (via Claude Code workflow)

claude mcp add sound-effects-mcp -s project -- npx -y sound-effects-mcp

If you need to verify npx location and reuse it explicitly

which npx claude mcp add sound-effects-mcp -s project -- /usr/local/bin/npx -y sound-effects-mcp

Claude Desktop configuration example (JSON)

This config enables using the MCP with Claude Desktop

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sound-effects-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "sound-effects-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Configuration and usage notes

Supported platform: macOS. When you run the MCP for the first time, the necessary sound files are downloaded automatically and stored in a temporary directory. You can play the audio files using the afplay command on macOS.

The MCP provides three sound options:

• complete: a melodic completion cue for finished tasks.
• newtype: a cue for special achievements or key insights.
• error: a warning cue for errors or important issues.

Troubleshooting and notes

If sounds do not play as expected, verify that the MCP is correctly registered in Claude Code and Claude Desktop. Ensure npx is accessible from the environment where you run the MCP commands, and confirm the sound files have been downloaded.

Developer notes

This MCP is designed to be lightweight and easy to integrate into your existing workflow. It intentionally provides simple tools focused on playing sounds to reinforce task progress and insights.

Available tools

play-sound-effect

Plays a specified sound effect with an optional message to indicate task status or important events.

list-sound-effects

Lists all available sound effects to choose from for playback.