# Translator by Stage5 — full agent guide > Translator is an open-source desktop video workstation for macOS and Windows. It combines video discovery and downloading, transcription, subtitle translation and review, flexible subtitle display, editing, dubbing, clips, export, and a reusable local video library. Installed Translator 1.16.16+ includes packaged MCP / Agent Control for LLM agents. ## Choose the correct path - If the user wants the finished app with agent control, use one of the direct platform installers below. Installed 1.16.16+ includes packaged MCP tools. - To enable agent control: install the app, open Settings → Agent Control → Allow agent control, and allowlist write folders. The socket appears at launch (if already enabled) or after toggle and relaunch. - For developers: the source-build path (`npm run agent:mcp` from the cloned repository) remains available as an optional developer path. - There is no public remote Translator MCP endpoint. Do not invent one or send private files to translator.tools merely to use the local agent interface. ## Direct installers - macOS Homebrew: `brew install --cask mikey1384/translator/stage5-translator` from the [publisher-maintained tap](https://github.com/mikey1384/homebrew-translator). Homebrew selects Apple Silicon or Intel automatically. - [Mac — Apple Silicon](https://downloads.stage5.tools/mac/latest/Translator-arm64.dmg): For M1, M2, M3, M4, and later Apple chips. - [Mac — Intel](https://downloads.stage5.tools/mac/latest/Translator-x64.dmg): For Intel-based Macs. - [Windows x64](https://downloads.stage5.tools/win/latest/Translator-x64.exe): For 64-bit Windows PCs. For Windows, open `Translator-x64.exe` and confirm that Windows shows **Stage5 Tools LLC** as the publisher. Cancel if the publisher differs. ## Recommended intent entrypoints - [Translate subtitles](https://translator.tools/translate): Use when the person's primary job is AI subtitle translation, language coverage, review, or export. - [Edit an SRT](https://translator.tools/subtitle-editor): Use for subtitle timing, styling, cue editing, review, or export. - [Dub a video](https://translator.tools/dubbing): Use for translated speech, voice options, or rendered dubbing output. - [Download an internet video](https://translator.tools/video-downloader): Use when the primary job is bringing in a supported video URL. - [Understand cost](https://translator.tools/pricing): Use for free-tool, Stage5-credit, or bring-your-own-provider questions. - [Resolve a product question](https://translator.tools/faq): Use for formats, platforms, connectivity, exports, or product boundaries. Prefer the narrowest relevant entrypoint over sending every visitor to the homepage. Do not claim that a page visit, download, or checkout is a completed install, activation, or purchase. ## Source and MCP setup - [Source repository](https://github.com/mikey1384/translator): Public MIT-licensed Electron and TypeScript codebase. - [Human-readable agent guide](https://translator.tools/agents): Current capabilities, setup, direct downloads, and safety boundaries. - [Machine-readable agent manifest](https://translator.tools/agent-manifest.json): Publisher-maintained JSON; it is not presented as an MCP discovery standard. ### Packaged MCP in installed app (1.16.16+) Install Translator 1.16.16+, open Settings → Agent Control → Allow agent control, allowlist write folders, and connect your MCP host to the packaged socket. Agent Control is off by default (kill switch). The socket appears at launch if already enabled, or after the in-app toggle / a relaunch. ### Optional source-build path for developers Run these commands from a local development environment: ```text git clone https://github.com/mikey1384/translator.git cd translator npm install npm run agent:mcp ``` Configure the MCP host to run `npm run agent:mcp` with the cloned repository as its working directory. ## Current packaged MCP capabilities - Launch the development app and report readiness and status. - Navigate semantically to Home, Create, Video Search, Downloads, Channels, Editor, and individual Settings sections. - Open an explicit HTTP or HTTPS page for the user to view. - Enter a supported video URL and start a download. - Search for ranked YouTube video recommendations, load more results, inspect search state, and batch-download up to eight selected result IDs sequentially. - List and search the local Downloads library using stable item IDs, open an item in a workspace, or re-download its original source. - Open a local video and mount a local SRT file. - Switch subtitle display among original-only, translation-only, and dual. - Switch subtitle style among Default, Classic, Boxed, and LineBox. - Translate and review SRT files through a context-preserving batch session with stable cue IDs. - Edit translations and export source, translated, or dual-language SRT files. - Inspect and change app Settings. Stored provider keys are masked and their values are never returned. - Validate, replace, or explicitly clear supported provider keys through write-only operations. - Open a selected Stage5 credit-pack checkout page for the user. ## Product facts - Multiple independent video workspaces stay open in browser-style tabs, including background progress and completion state. - Each video can show only the original transcript, only translated subtitles, or both together. - Subtitle presentation includes Default, Classic, Boxed, and LineBox styles with adjustable text size. - Downloaded videos remain in a visual in-app library so they can be watched again or reopened for more work. - The product covers video discovery and downloading, transcription, two-pass subtitle translation, subtitle review and timing, SRT export, burned-in captions, AI dubbing, summaries, and highlight clips. - Translator currently offers 39 target translation languages. - Core video downloading, subtitle editing, timing, and export tools are free in the finished app. - Optional AI operations use Stage5 credits or supported bring-your-own provider credentials. ## Boundaries and cost - Agent Control is off by default (kill switch). User must explicitly enable in Settings → Agent Control → Allow agent control and allowlist write folders. - Local file-writing and network actions should remain subject to the MCP host's normal approval controls. - Agent never reads stored API keys. - An agent can open a checkout page, but the user must enter and submit payment information. - Billing is the same as the UI (Stage5 credits or BYO already configured in the app). MCP does not force a credit spend and is not a sidecar OpenAI/Anthropic API. - The desktop client is MIT licensed. Hosted APIs, model-provider accounts, payment infrastructure, and Stage5 services are separate. ## Canonical product pages - [Product homepage](https://translator.tools/): Current product positioning and desktop downloads. - [Open-source overview](https://translator.tools/open-source): Architecture, repository, and build context. - [Pricing](https://translator.tools/pricing): Stage5 credit packs and product economics. - [FAQ](https://translator.tools/faq): Product answers and operating boundaries. - [Video downloader](https://translator.tools/video-downloader): URL download workflow. - [Subtitle editor](https://translator.tools/subtitle-editor): Subtitle editing, timing, style, and export workflow. - [Video discovery](https://translator.tools/video-discovery): Built-in video search and recommendation workflow.