3. macOS Configuration & TOA System Checker (v3.0)

Owned by Thomas Staiger
Last updated: Mar 18, 2022 by Georg Deisting
4 min read

We recommend a basic installation of the operating system. Once the OS installation has finished, install all updates which are available through Apple's Software Update. Then configure the OS as described below.

  • Do not install any additional applications on the Playout machine(s). Those could be: MenuMeters, Growl, Dropbox, Adobe CC, Notification Center widgets, Dashboard widgets, Google (the GoogleSoftwareUpdateDaemon causes issues) or any other background daemons. The only exception is Macs Fan Control.

  • Once one of the ToolsOnAir components has been started, never change one of the settings described in this chapter. Changing any OS related setting during playout can harm the final output and even crash the engine.

  • Make sure that the applications just:out and just:connect are not started automatically using the “Login Items” functionality of the system preference pane “Users & Groups”.

Configuring the macOS System Preferences

The System Preferences may look different on your system and may offer more/less functions, depending on the OS version and the hardware you are using.

General

  • Accent/Highlight colour: The colors of the Just Control user interface are partially defined by the accent and highlight color set in the General System Preference pane.

  • Show scroll bars: Allows to define how the scrollbars are shown in the user interface. This can be especially important in case your input device does not support scrolling.

Energy Saver

  • Turn display off after: Never

  • Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off: Yes

  • Put hard disks to sleep when possible: No

  • Wake for network access: Yes

  • Start up automatically after a power failure: Yes

  • Enable Power Nap: No

If you are using a MacBook with a switchable GPU make sure to select the Higher Performance setting.

Screen Saver

Set the Start after setting to Never.

Sound

Sound Effects: Make sure to select the speaker of your mac (“Mac mini Speakers” for example) here, to play sound effects using this device. The same output is used by the just:live and just:play user interface when playing videos in the preview windows.

Network

  • Remove all unnecessary network connections.

  • If you have multiple network interfaces: change the order of the connections so that the network interface you are going to use for ToolsOnAir internal communication is the topmost item in the interfaces list.

  • If a network based AV router/switch should be controlled using Just Control, make sure the 3rd party hardware also uses the main network.

Startup Disk

Make sure that the disk or partition used for the ToolsOnAir components is selected as the startup disk.

App Store

  • Update the operating system to the latest version.

  • Disable Automatically keep my Mac up to date afterwards.

  • Press the Advanced button and disable all other automatic updates.

Sharing

  • We recommend not using any sharing service, unless required.

  • When using Screen Sharing make sure that the screen resolution does not change whenever connecting from another machine. 

  • We recommend disabling Remote Login, Remote Management and Apple Events because they can cause some serious issues. 

  • We recommend using TeamViewer for remote management and file copying.

Spotlight

  • Disable Spotlight on the Just Out machine(s).

  • Add all volumes used to store media files under the Privacy tab.

  • You can enable Spotlight on machines running Just Connect and Just Control.

TOA System Checker

The TOA System Checker is located on the Just Playout installation disk image. It allows you to easily verify the settings of the most important System Preferences and also validates if the used hardware is sufficient and supported.

The TOA System Checker takes some time to validate things and displays errors, warnings and recommendations.

 

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