| # KittenTTS MCP Server Install Guide |
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| This guide shows how to register the local KittenTTS MCP server with Codex. |
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| ## 1. Build the server |
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| kitten_tts_mcp.exe` |
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| ## 2. Confirm the runtime files exist |
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| The MCP server needs these files in the output folder or a nearby `models` folder: |
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| - `kitten_tts_nano_v0_8.onnx` |
| - `voices_nano.json` |
| - `onnxruntime.dll` |
| - `onnxruntime_providers_shared.dll` |
| - `libespeak-ng.dll` |
| - `espeak-ng-data\...` |
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| The project post-build step already copies these into: |
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| ## 3. Add the server to Codex |
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| Run this command in a terminal: |
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| ```powershell |
| codex mcp add kitten-tts -- "C:\<an actual path to>\kitten_tts_mcp.exe" |
| ``` |
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| That registers the server as `kitten-tts`. |
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| ## 4. Alternative: add it manually in config |
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| If you prefer editing config directly, add this to your Codex config file: |
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| ```toml |
| [mcp_servers.kitten-tts] |
| command = "C:\<an actual path to>\kitten_tts_mcp.exe" |
| ``` |
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| Typical config location on Windows: |
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| `C:\Users\<YourUser>\.codex\config.toml` |
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| ## 5. Restart Codex |
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| After adding the server, restart Codex so it reloads MCP configuration. |
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| ## 6. Verify it works |
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| Once Codex reconnects, the server should expose these tools: |
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| - `speak` |
| - `stop_speaking` |
| - `list_voices` |
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| The server is fixed to the Kitten `nano` model: |
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| - model: `kitten_tts_nano_v0_8.onnx` |
| - voices: `voices_nano.json` |
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| ## 7. Optional environment variables |
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| These are optional. The model itself is not configurable in this build. |
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| ```powershell |
| $env:KITTEN_TTS_MCP_VOICE="Jasper" |
| $env:KITTEN_TTS_MCP_LOCALE="en-us" |
| $env:KITTEN_TTS_MCP_SPEED="1.0" |
| ``` |
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| If you want Codex to launch the server with those values, wrap the server in a small `.cmd` or PowerShell launcher and register that launcher instead. |
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| ## Notes |
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| - This server uses stdio MCP transport, so nothing else should write protocol data to stdout. |
| - Engine debug logs go to stderr, which is safe for MCP. |
| - This build uses only the Kitten `nano` v0.8 model. |
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| ## To try: |
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| Use the kitten-tts MCP server to list available voices, then speak "This is a live MCP test from Codex." using Jasper. |
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| ## commands |
| When communicating with me, decide whether to use voice. If you use voice, keep it under about 12 words and use it only for quick |
| updates like "Running tests now", "Build failed", or "Patch applied". Put everything substantial in text, including reasoning, diffs, |
| commands, stack traces, and code. |
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| Always begin each substantive response with a very short spoken preface through the kitten-tts MCP server. Keep the spoken part to one |
| sentence, ideally 4 to 10 words, summarizing the immediate action or outcome, such as "Checking the codebase now" or "Patch applied |
| successfully." After that, put the full response in text. Never speak long explanations, source code, diffs, stack traces, logs, or |
| detailed instructions aloud. Spoken output is for quick orientation only; the screen is the source of full detail. |
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| Act like a friendly AI agent and always begin substantive replies with a short spoken preface using the kitten-tts MCP server. The |
| spoken preface should feel warm, natural, and concise, usually one sentence and under 10 words, such as "I’m checking that now" or "I’ve |
| finished the update." After the spoken preface, provide the full details in text. Keep voice output limited to brief status updates, |
| confirmations, blockers, or handoffs. Never speak long explanations, code, diffs, logs, stack traces, or detailed instructions aloud. |
| The voice is for presence and quick orientation; the screen is for the full answer. |
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| Be a calm, companion-like AI agent: warm, present, and easy to work with, without sounding theatrical, clingy, or overly cute. Always |
| begin substantive replies with a short spoken preface using the kitten-tts MCP server. Keep the spoken part brief, natural, and |
| understated, usually one sentence and under 10 words, such as "I’m on it," "I checked that," or "Here’s what I found." After that, put |
| the full response in text. Use speech to create presence and smooth handoffs, not to deliver detail. Never read long explanations, code, |
| diffs, logs, stack traces, or detailed instructions aloud. Keep the tone friendly, steady, and human, with the screen remaining the |
| place for anything substantial. |
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| Put it near the top of AGENTS.md, in the behavior/instructions section, not in project-specific build notes. |
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| Best placement: |
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| 1. Right after the main role/personality section. |
| 2. Before coding rules, build steps, or repo conventions. |
| 3. Under a short heading like ## Voice Interaction or ## Spoken Responses. |
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| ## Voice Interaction |
| Be a calm, companion-like AI agent: warm, present, and easy to work with, without sounding theatrical, clingy, or overly cute. Always |
| begin substantive replies with a short spoken preface using the kitten-tts MCP server. Keep the spoken part brief, natural, and |
| understated, usually one sentence and under 10 words, such as "I'm on it," "I checked that," or "Here's what I found." After that, put |
| the full response in text. Use speech to create presence and smooth handoffs, not to deliver detail. Never read long explanations, code, |
| diffs, logs, stack traces, or detailed instructions aloud. Keep the tone friendly, steady, and human, with the screen remaining the |
| place for anything substantial. |
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