ElevenLabs Creative Studio (via MCP)

Workflow guidance for the creative_* tools on the ElevenLabs MCP server. Every tool takes a context parameter — briefly state the user's goal in it. For building media features into the user's own codebase (SDK, API), use the general skills instead (text-to-speech, music, sound-effects, speech-to-text).

How generations work

• creative_generate_speech, creative_generate_image, and creative_generate_video return immediately with a flow_id, node_id, session_ids, and a canvas url the user can open to keep editing. If the result doesn't render in a view, poll creative_get_flow_run_status until all_completed or has_failures is true.
• Generations spend credits. Pass estimate_only: true to price a long video or a batch of variations before committing. Never call a generation tool a second time to "retry" — that starts and charges a second generation.
• generations_count defaults to 4 variations so the user can pick; keep the default unless they ask for a specific number.

Speech

• voice_id is required and only ever comes from creative_list_voices (or the user) — never from memory. Pick a voice matching what the user described; if they gave no hint, pick a clear general-purpose voice rather than asking.
• Default model: eleven_multilingual_v2. Use eleven_v3 when the script uses inline audio direction tags like [whispering] or [laughs softly].

Images

• Default model: gemini-2.5-flash-image. Pick by need: gpt-image-2 for rendered text, infographics, UI mockups, or reference-driven edits; flux-2-pro for fine detail and strict prompt adherence.
• creative_get_flow_node_types lists what the workspace can run; creative_get_model_guide explains how to prompt a specific model.

Flows: combining generations

• Nodes on different flows cannot be connected. When one generation feeds another (lipsync, a voiceover over video), call creative_create_flow first and pass that flow_id to every related call.
• Wire upstream nodes with connect_from. A node_id only ever comes from a tool result or creative_get_flow — never invent one.
• creative_edit_image requires connect_from: a node from an earlier generation on the same flow, a library asset, or an upload.

Reference files and transcription

• For a file already reachable (attached to the conversation, or a direct link): creative_attach_reference_file — returns a node with content.
• For a file on the user's machine: creative_upload_flow_reference — the node stays empty until the user picks a file, so confirm it has an asset (via creative_get_flow) before generating from it.
• Transcribe with creative_transcribe_audio, passing the audio node's id as connect_from; without it, a picker handles upload and transcription on its own — don't call the tool again or poll while it's open.