Blog Archives

This a very cool Mac utility that allows you identify any color on your screen, copy its values or color, and copy them into another app

An intriguing new feature in macOS Catalina (10.15) is Sidecar. This allows you to either extend or mirror your Mac desktop on a recent-model iPad. Here’s what you need to know to make it work.

A video compression speed and file size comparison using Apple Compressor between macOS Mojave and Catalina. This will be of interest to video editors and media creators.

A look at what QuickTime is, what’s changed over time and references to learn more.

In spite of their documentation, LaCie hard drives, when formatted as RAIDs, are not hot-swappable. Here’s a write-up from Loren Miller that explains the problem.

A look at how much RAM you need for video editing, how to measure usage of the RAM you have, along with thoughts on how best to optimize your system.

Apple updated its Pro Video codecs. These are of value to all editors, but you can’t upgrade to them using the Mac App Store. Here’s how.

Software Update often displays extra update options – if you wait for it.

Promise Pegasus RAIDs are causing problems when trying to run Windows 10 under macOS Catalina. Read here for the details.

Within just a few weeks, most likely this month, Apple will release the latest version of the MacOS – Catalina. First introduced at WWDC last June, this is the latest incarnation of OS X. There are three critical things you …

I discovered it is WAY too easy for your email address to get hijacked. Here’s what you need to know to protect your email and your reputation – based on my personal experience.

This provides an overview of what High Dynamic Range (HDR) media is, where we are now, where we are going, how it works in video editing systems and links to learn more. Written for a video editor, not an engineer.

This is a fascinating, illustrated look at how different media affects performance of RAM, CPU, and Libraries in Final Cut Pro X, along with recommendations on upgrades and computer systems.

Tips and mostly-free software you can use to improve your computer security.

An explanation of how the speed of light limits how fast a computer CPU can go. This is VERY cool, even if you don’t understand tech!

An illustrated guide to free software tools you can use to measure the performance of your computer system, with a focus on video editing.

An illustrated tutorial on how to convert 32-bit (or any) media to make it more future-proof using Apple Compressor; plus a description of missing features that are still needed.

An illustrated tutorial on how to use Apple Final Cut Pro X 104.6 (or later) to convert soon-to-be-incompatible 32-bit media into something more future-proof.

Yesterday, Apple issued a mostly minor maintenance update to Final Cut, Motion, Compressor and iMovie with one big feature that is worth discussing. The new feature is that any of these three applications will now automatically detect media which will …

The most popular articles published on LarryJordan.com for 2018, along with a few other key links you need to know.

For media creators, automatic updates for the macOS are, generally, a bad idea. Here’s how to turn auto-updating off.

This illustrated tutorial shows how to discover the codecs of your media using the Finder, QuickTime Player 7, QuickTime Player, Apple Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2019.

Adobe provides more details on what media codecs will be supporting in future versions of the macOS, as emailed to Larry Jordan.

Here’s is Avid’s more detailed response to Apple discontinuing support for older 32-bit media codecs, as emailed to Larry Jordan.

Blackmagic Design responds to questions about Apple discontinuing support for older media codecs in upcoming versions of the macOS with a relatively weak response.

Apple Compressor is essential to media compression. But what makes it faster? In this series of tests, discover how RAM, storage, and preference settings can make a difference – or slow things down.

A step-by-step guide on how to set up a media compression network using Apple Compressor and one or more Macs. (This is an ideal way to speed compression using Mac minis.)

Apple Final Cut Pro X has special features that are only enabled when you connect a second computer monitor. Here’s what they are and how to enable them.

An easy way to connect an Atomos Ninja monitor/recorder to a Mac and use it as a second screen, or screen-recording system.

A detailed comparison of compression speed and resulting file sizes for a variety of media compressed using Apple Compressor, Adobe Media Encoder and ffWorks/ffMPEG

A detailed series of tests comparing video compression speed using a high-end iMac vs. a new Mac mini running a variety of software. The results are surprising.

An illustrated review of Apple Screenshot, included in Mojave, along with a list of what it still needs to do.

Audio not recording? It’s a new preference in Mojave that you need to change. Here’s how.

Mojave will be a great operating system. But… for production systems, it won’t hurt to wait a while after release before upgrading. This article explains why.

A step-by-step guide to creating custom keyboard shortcuts for any application using System Preferences in High Sierra.

Answers on how QuickTime and Apple Final Cut Pro X display and process HDR video.

The usefulness of QuickTime Player has significantly improved over the years and, if you haven’t looked at it recently, the time has come to give it a second look. This is a detailed, illustrated tutorial on what you need to know.

A step-by-step tutorial on how to create a dual-boot system drive using the High Sierra version of the macOS and Disk Utility. Dual-boot drives allow us to use more than one operating system on our computer.

An illustrated tutorial on the new GPU monitoring window in Activity Monitor for the Mac.

Adobe warns that older video codecs will not be supported in the future. Read what you NEED to know here.

Instructions on how to turn off auto-updating in the macOS, why this can be a good idea and Larry Jordan’s thoughts on when to update after a new release.

Apple is moving to support only 64-bit applications. Here’s an illustrated guide that shows you how to find which applications will be affected.

A step-by-step tutorial on how to configure Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.4 to export an HEVC file – along with an estimate of how long that export will take.

A test of compression speeds between different versions of Apple Compressor and the macOS for video projects.

A step-by-step guide to get your Final Cut system running again.

The principle reason for using HEVC to compress video is to decrease the file size of the compressed file. But how does it look? In this First Look comparing HEVC to H.264 using Adobe Media Encoder, you’ll discover the answer.

This is a short-term caution for media creators about upgrading too soon to the High Sierra version of macOS, including how to turn OFF automatic upgrading.

Apple is about to release support for HEVC (H.265). This codec will change how we compress video files. This article describes what you need to know now.

A detailed Q&A on the new Apple File System, what it is and what it means to media creators.

A short, illustrated tutorial on how to turn off, or on, Night Shift in Mac OS 10.12.4 or later.