ChatGPT for desktop

Connect ChatGPT for desktop (ChatGPT Work & Codex) to ACE Studio via MCP.

Connect ChatGPT for desktop to ACE Studio through a local MCP (Model Context Protocol) server to inspect, arrange, and edit your music projects directly from your AI workspace.

App & Mode Compatibility:

• ChatGPT Classic is not supported: The legacy desktop app does not support local STDIO MCP servers. Please update to the modern ChatGPT desktop app.

• Standard Chat mode does not support local MCP: In the desktop app, standard Chat mode only connects to remote HTTP-based plugins and remote MCP servers configured via ChatGPT Web / Developer Mode. It cannot communicate with local desktop applications.

• Use Codex or ChatGPT Work: Both Codex mode and ChatGPT Work run on your local machine and fully support local STDIO MCP servers.

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Recommended: Automated Setup via Codex

Because the modern ChatGPT desktop app shares its underlying environment and MCP configuration between Codex and ChatGPT Work, you do not need to manually navigate settings menus. You can let Codex configure everything for you automatically:

1. In the ChatGPT desktop app, open the mode selector in the top-left corner and switch to Codex.

2. Copy the Automated Setup Prompt from External Agent Access and send it to Codex.

3. Codex will automatically detect your ACE Studio installation, configure the MCP server in ~/.codex/config.toml, and make the tools available across both Codex and ChatGPT Work.

Switch to Codex in the top-left mode selector to run automated setup

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Using ChatGPT Work

Once configured, you can either continue chatting in Codex mode or switch to ChatGPT Work for general conversational workflows:

1. Switch to the main chat view in the ChatGPT app.

2. In the composer at the bottom of the window, click the Work toggle button to enable local tools and computer access.

3. You will see ACE Studio active and ready to assist with your music project.

Click "Work" in the composer prompt bar to enable local tools

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Alternative: Manual Setup via Settings

If you prefer to configure the server manually through the graphical interface, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings

Open Settings in ChatGPT:

• Click your profile avatar in the bottom-left corner and select Settings, or

• Use the app menu: ChatGPT → Settings... (Cmd+, on macOS or Ctrl+, on Windows).

Profile Menu

Access Settings from the profile menu in the bottom-left

Application Menu (macOS)

Access Settings from the macOS menu bar

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Step 2: Open MCP Server Settings

1. In the Settings window, navigate to Plugins under the Integrations section.

2. Click the Add button in the top-right corner and select Add MCP Server.

(You can also switch to the MCPs tab to view or manage previously added servers.)

Select "Add MCP Server" under Integrations → Plugins

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Step 3: Add ACE Studio MCP Server

In the Add MCP Server dialog, fill in the server details:

1. Name: Enter ACE Studio (or acestudio).

2. Type: Keep STDIO selected (default).

3. Command to launch: In ACE Studio, open Preferences → General → External Agent Access, click Copy command next to MCP Server (stdio), and paste the exact command here.

4. Click Save.

Enter the MCP server details and click Save

Shared Codex Configuration: Servers added through the desktop UI are saved to your local Codex configuration (~/.codex/config.toml), making ACE Studio accessible across ChatGPT Work, the Codex CLI, and the Codex IDE extension simultaneously.

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Step 4: Verify and Start Using

1. Switch to Codex mode or ensure Work mode is enabled in ChatGPT.

2. Make sure ACE Studio is open and running, then ask:

Please check the current ACE Studio project information

ChatGPT will connect to ACE Studio through the local MCP server, inspect the open project, and return its details (tempo, key signature, tracks, and clips).