I was worried. My SSD RAID was getting fuller every time I deleted files. This should not happen! It SHOULD get emptier. While I was using an OWC Thunderblade RAID, this problem could apply to any SSD. The answer, I …
Apple just released macOS 15.4. It provides a wealth of bug fixes and significant security updates, along with a few new features. Don’t upgrade quite yet. Here’s why.
Tomorrow, Axle AI will make two important announcements for its multi-user, media asset manager: The first improves data privacy in general and the second improves finding the media you need for Mac-based video editors.
Finding the exact media clip that you need is only the first step. Now, you need to get that clip loaded into your video editor from wherever it’s stored. In this short video, Larry Jordan, shows exactly how to transfer files from Axle AI directly to remote clients, or into Apple Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere Pro.
You buy Media Asset Management (MAM) software to extend how your current video editing tool finds and tracks media. But there are a lot of options in the market today. Here, Larry Jordan presents some key questions you need to ask when deciding what to get.
At first blush, Sidebar – the ability to mirror an iPhone or iPad on a Mac – doesn’t seem to offer much value. But, when you mirror the Mac on a mobile device, magic can happen.
Ken reported a compatibility problem between macOS Sonoma and Microsoft Office 2021. Here are the details.
I’ve always “known” that HFS+ is better for formatting spinning hard drives for the Mac than APFS. But, I wondered, is that just hearsay or is there some truth to it? So, I put them both to the test. The results are surprising.
The system disruption caused by a badly-formatted Windows boot file autonomously distributed by CrowdStrike last Friday preventing some Windows systems from booting is a cautionary tale for all of us. Even Mac users need to pay attention.
Files stored on hard disk or SSD are always bigger than the original file. Why? Because of “block size.” This article explains what block size is and how it affects storage.
Regardless of which NLE you use for media editing, you’ve probably suffered through the hassle of relinking media. This tutorial explains what caused it, how to fix it, and how to prevent it in the future.
Apple Final Cut Pro 10.8 no longer supports DVD burning. However, Apple and Corel teamed up to provide a 50% discount to Roxio Toast for all FCP users. Here are the details.
Apple announced macOS Sequoia at WWCD 2024. The big question for media creators is: Now what? Here’s the answer.
Apple released macOS 14.5 last week. Here’s are Larry Jordan’s “Rules for Upgrading,” along with his answer to the question: Is it safe to upgrade?
In the face of evolving digital threats, small media businesses are tasked with the critical responsibility of securing their assets. Here are tips you can use to keep your business safe.
Here’s a quick trouble-shooting tip. After buying my M2 Max Mac Studio, my second monitor starting flashing to black every few minutes. Here’s what it took to fix it.
At its simplest, a backup is a copy of a file, generally stored on a separate device, such that if the original file is lost, a current copy is available to take its place. If backups are new to you, here’s what you need to know to protect your data.
Working on a Mac provides a great experience with optimal performance. Some problems might set you back, though, as your computer slows down. Here are a series of tips for ways to resolve them.
In this short video, Larry Jordan shows how replacing hard disk drives (HDDs) with solid state drives (SSDs) can significantly improve the speed of your computer, without a lot of extra cost.
In this short video, Larry Jordan explains the key differences between Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.
One of the key benefits of Apple silicon computers is the use of Unified Memory. But… what is “Unified Memory,” why is it important, and how much do we need for our work? This tutorial has the answers.
I’m confused. What’s the difference between a “format” and a “codec?” The answer is that sometimes these are the same and sometimes these are different. Here’s a good way to think about these.
Apple Compressor is a stand-alone, Mac-based program that compresses audio and video into a variety of formats for distribution. Long derided for its slow speed and poor image quality, since the release of Apple silicon Macs, upgrades have dramatically improved its speed and quality. Here’s how it works.
This is the time of year for upgrades and new releases for Mac users. However, it is important to remember that our job is to get our work done – on time and with minimal stress. Don’t rush to upgrade – wait for software to settle down.
Hard drives stored on a shelf can lose data over time. This simple macOS Terminal statement will restore and re-energize any hard drive.
Interesting trivia on hard disks, SSDs, servers and LTO drives. The world will not end if you don’t read this, but you’ll enjoy it if you do.
This webinar, and excerpt, focuses on video editing, specifically organizing and backing up media, optimizing preferences, and the other small decisions you make at the start of a Premier or Final Cut project. Presented by Larry Jordan.
Time Machine is a built-in feature of the macOS that automatically backs up personal data, including apps, music, photos, email and documents. But, does it backup personal files stored on iCloud? Here’s the answer.
The need for EXTREMELY fast storage is a special case. Most of us will be fine with a single-bus Thunderbolt device. But, if maximum speed is your need – this dual-drive SSD lash-up is amazing – and faster than Thunderbolt!
Yes, we want the latest-and-greatest immediately. But staring at a disabled system is no fun. For this reason – especially given the current problems with the 13.3 update to macOS – turn off automatic system upgrades for Macs. Here’s how.
macOS 13.3 has bugs both big and small that directly affect video editors. If you haven’t upgraded yet – hold off. Apple just released 13.3.1 – but we don’t yet know if this fixes what’s broken.
How do you know if a Mac application needs Rosetta? And, if it does, what do you do? Here are the details.
This you won’t believe. I tested to see how many streams of 4K media Final Cut Pro can edit in a multicam clip. The answer blew me away. These are the details.
There are people who make a living predicting the future. I am not one of them. Still, I want to share some thoughts about the future of video editing because media is about to get much more challenging.
Apple is famous for killing useful technology. For media creators, meant the death of software to create DVDs. With his livelihood at stake, Richard Osso went on a mission to find a way to continue creating DVDs for clients. This is his story.
iBoysoft Data Recovery for the Mac brings missing files back to life. It does so for a wide range of files and devices. But the interface is flaky, core features are unreliable, and the entire application needs someone to pay much closer attention to it. Here’s Larry Jordan’s review.
If you are wondering whether it is time to upgrade, 13.1 is a good place to start. Just give yourself time to get everything sorted once the upgrade is complete. Here’s a detailed look at what to do, the problems I ran into and links for more information.
Measuring the speed of storage is an exercise in futility for a whole lot of reasons. Here’s what you need to know when you want to measure the speed of your system.
There is a large, significant difference in measuring storage speeds when using Blackmagic Disk Speed Test versus AJA System Test Lite. The problem is that we don’t know which one is more accurate. Here are the details.
In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan explains that Thunderbolt, though very fast, still has speed limits, especially for video editing. And those speed limits vary, depending upon what you are doing.
The speed of a local-area network is dependent upon a number of factors, some of which we have more control of than others. Here’s a list of what to check to improve your network speed, without replacing the server.
SSDs offer far faster performance and, when combined into a RAID, storage equal to spinning hard disks. But, there are traps to avoid. Here’s what you need to know. (Featuring an in-depth technical interview with Tim Standing, VP Software Engineering, OWC.)
Confused when comparing Intel to Apple silicon systems? Jerry Thompson was, too. Here are the answers to your questions on what the differences are between Apple silicon and Intel, along with suggestions on how to spec a system.
Even the largest RAIDs fill up. If you own an OWC RAID, you can safely and easily archive RAID sets for archiving and storage. Loren Miller explains the process in this highly-illustrated, step-by-step tutorial.
[Update: Dec. 17, 2022, I updated to Ventura 13.1. Mostly, it went fine. But there were issues. Read the details here.] Sometime in October, Apple will release the latest version of the macOS: Ventura. First announced at the 2022 WWDC …
One of our favorite – and most wide-ranging – sessions returns with “Ask Larry Anything!” Presented by Larry Jordan, this is a free-form conversation based on questions submitted by viewers. In this short video, Larry talks about Mac obsolescence and whether the new Apple silicon computers make older systems obsolete.
This built-in Mac utility is fast, easy-to-use and always available. When you need to rename files in a hurry, this is a good trick to know.
The New Mac Studio computer is stunning. But, is it for you? Here’s what you need to know to configure it for video editing – yet save money at the same time.
Here’s a very effective technique to manage your storage called “Optimize Storage.” It’s free and built into every Mac. Let me show you how this works.
Recovery Mode is a hidden operating system on recent Macs that simplifies emergency maintenance on your system. However, it is accessed differently for Intel and M1 Macs. Here are the details.
