Version 2026.0 of our playout solutions supports macOS Sequoia (15.7.x) and macOS Tahoe (26.x) on Apple silicon-based Mac minis, Mac Studios and Mac Pros.
This chapter is about the macOS settings, which have to be adjusted, when using macOS Sequoia (15.7.x).
We recommend a basic installation of the operating system. Once the macOS installation has completed, install all updates that are available through Apple's Software Update. Then configure the macOS as described below.
Do not install any additional applications on the Playout machine(s). Those could be: Stats, Dropbox, Adobe CC, Notification Center widgets, Dashboard widgets, Google (the GoogleSoftwareUpdateDaemon causes issues) or any other background daemons.
Use an admin user account for installation and the same account while using our applications.
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 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/Settings
The System Preferences/Settings may look different on your system and may offer more/fewer functions, depending on the macOS version and the hardware you are using.
General
Accent/Highlight color: The colors of the Just Control user interface are partially defined by the accent and highlight color set in the General/Appearance System Preference pane.
Show scroll bars: Allows to define how the scroll bars are shown in the user interface. This can be especially important in case your input device does not support scrolling.
General/Date and Time Format
Please verify that your macOS Date & Time settings are compatible with the Gregorian Calendar format (Gregorian date formats include the following: “ddmonyy”, “ddmonyyyy”, “mm/dd/yy”, or “mm/dd/yyyy”). Using the Gregorian calendar ensures consistency and accuracy in the Date header, avoiding misinterpretation, synchronization, and activation errors. This is crucial for our Playout solutions to fetch and process the correct Start/Stop Date and Time information.
Lock Screen
Start Screen Saver when inactive: Never
Turn display off …: Never
Energy
Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off: Yes
Wake for network access: Yes
Start up automatically after a power failure: Yes
If you are using a MacBook with a switchable GPU, make sure to deselect the Automatic graphics switching option.
Privacy & Security
Full Disk Access: Make sure to activate “Full Disk Access” for Just Control, JustConnect and Just Out. Otherwise, setting changes will not be saved, causing all kinds of unexpected behaviour while using the applications or the playout will stop, because Just Out is not allowed to access the storage.
Sound
Sound Effects: Make sure to select the speaker of your Mac (“Mac mini Speakers” in the example below), to play sound effects using this device. The same output is used by the Just Live and Just Play user interface (run in Just Control) when playing videos in the preview windows.
Output: Depending on the AJA or Blackmagic Design video device driver, it may be necessary to set the Mac mini Speaker as the output device; otherwise, audio from QuickTime and other applications might be routed through the video device.
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/General->Startup Disk
Make sure that the disk or partition used for the ToolsOnAir components is selected as the startup disk.
Software Update
Always update the macOS operating system to the latest available version and disable the “Automatic Updates” function afterward.
In the macOS System Settings application, select “General → Software Update → Automatic Updates”
Then click on the “” symbol, and move all sliders to the left side (“Disabled”)
If you are instructed by your security administrator to perform security updates, then ensure that you pick a service window where your Macs can be updated with the latest Apple security patches. Never apply any updates while the playout is running, as this may interrupt your playout services, especially when security updates imply a restart of the machine.
Sharing/General → Sharing/General → AirDrop & Handoff
We recommend that you refrain from 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 Remote Apple Events/Remote Application Scripting because they may cause some unwanted issues.
We recommend using TeamViewer HOST for remote management and file copying.
On qualified Macs, please also ensure that the “AirPlay Receiver” option is turned OFF.
Spotlight/General → Siri & Spotlight
Disable Spotlight on the Just Out machine(s).
Add all volumes used to store media files under the “Privacy” tab or “Spotlight Privacy…” window.
You can enable Spotlight on machines running Just Connect and Just Control.
