15 Essential Mac Apps (Some You’ve Never Heard Of)
TLDRThis video showcases 15 essential Mac applications, some of which are lesser-known but highly useful for productivity and specific tasks. The host shares apps for audio recording, screen recording, clipboard management, file organization, color palettes, remote access, audio routing, video editing, and more. Notable apps include PaySpot for clipboard management, CleanShot X for screen recording, Hazel for file organization, Pastel for color palettes, Screens Connect for remote access, Audio Hijack for audio sessions, and Text Expander for text automation. The video also highlights the utility of built-in features like Spotlight and Shortcuts for quick access and automation on Mac. The host encourages viewers to share their favorite apps and subscribe for more content.
Takeaways
- 📋 PaySpot is a clipboard manager that saves up to 1000 clippings and offers features like iCloud sync and keyboard shortcuts for efficiency.
- 🎥 CleanShot X is a versatile screen recorder used for capturing images and videos, ideal for tutorials and social media sharing.
- 🧹 Hazel is a background utility that automates file organization based on user-defined rules, including app sweep for removing associated files of uninstalled apps.
- 🎨 Pastel is essential for managing and creating color palettes, with the ability to sync across devices and identify dominant colors from images.
- 🖥️ Screens Connect allows remote access to Macs from an iPhone or iPad, offering flexibility for controlling your Mac from different locations.
- 🔊 Audio Hijack is a flexible audio recording and processing tool that can handle live streaming, EQ application, and volume boosting.
- 🔗 Loopback is a powerful application for routing audio across multiple outputs and merging different sources into a single output on a Mac.
- ✂️ Creator's Best Friend is a utility that simplifies the process of exporting chapter timestamps and titles from Final Cut for YouTube video descriptions.
- 📅 Fantastical is a highly regarded calendar application that provides a constant presence in the menu bar for easy access to scheduling.
- ⌨️ Text Expander is used for automating text input, including generating chat GPT prompts for video transcriptions and content creation.
- 🎧 Forecast is a free app for podcasters to add chapters and custom chapter artwork to their episodes, enhancing the listener's experience.
- 📲 Transloader is an app that facilitates the quick transfer of links between devices, with customizable rules and actions based on the link or file type.
- 🎬 Companion is a utility for programming Blackmagic ATEM switchers and Stream Deck, allowing for hands-free control during live streaming.
- 🔍 Spotlight is a powerful search tool on Mac that can find contacts, files, and even provide flight, travel, weather, and location information.
- 📘 Shortcuts is a menu bar utility that offers quick access to frequently used tasks and automations, streamlining various processes on a Mac.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of PaySpot as described in the video?
-PaySpot is a clipboard manager that resides in the menu bar of a Mac. It saves all of your past clippings, up to 1000, and offers features like filtering by file size, iCloud sync, keyboard shortcuts for quick pasting, and the ability to blacklist certain apps to prevent sensitive data from being saved.
How does CleanShot X assist in recording and sharing content from Apple events?
-CleanShot X is a screen recorder that allows for quick capture of images from keynote presentations during Apple events. It can be used for screen recordings and tutorial-style videos, and it provides features like running in the menu bar, indicating recording duration, and facilitating easy sharing on social media.
What is Hazel and how does it help with file organization on a Mac?
-Hazel is an app that runs in the background and helps with file organization by creating rules for moving files. It can perform actions like app sweep to find and remove files associated with an app that wasn't installed via the Mac App Store, and it can also be set up to automatically move files based on specific rules, such as moving screenshots to a designated folder.
What is Pastel and how does it benefit users working with color palettes?
-Pastel is an application designed for users who work with color palettes or branding. It allows users to save color palettes, copy hex and RGB values, and even identify dominant colors from any image to import into a palette. It also offers cross-device syncing through its iPhone and iPad apps.
How does Screens Connect enable remote access to a Mac?
-Screens Connect is a utility that, once installed on a Mac, allows users to remotely access their Macs using the Screens app on an iPhone or iPad. It can be used both on the local network and remotely, and it supports features like SSH tunneling for secure connections.
What is Audio Hijack and how does it offer flexibility in audio recording?
-Audio Hijack is a flexible audio recording application that allows users to build custom recording sessions with various options. It can monitor and record audio levels, live stream audio, apply EQ and volume adjustments, and record directly from applications, audio devices, or system audio on a Mac.
How does Creator's Best Friend help with the process of adding chapters to a video?
-Creator's Best Friend is a utility that simplifies the process of adding chapters to a video. It allows users to add markers in Final Cut, which can then be exported as an XML file. The utility can read this file and provide chapter timestamps and titles, which can be quickly copied to the clipboard for inclusion in a YouTube video description.
What is Text Expander and how does it assist with automating repetitive text input?
-Text Expander is a long-standing Mac utility used for automating repetitive text input. It allows users to create snippets that, when triggered, can automatically paste predefined text. This can be particularly useful for tasks like inserting chat prompts, generating ideas, titles, and descriptions quickly.
How does Forecast help podcasters manage their episodes and add custom chapter artwork?
-Forecast is a free app that assists podcasters in managing their episodes, including adding chapters and custom chapter artwork. It can automatically import timestamps and custom chapter artwork from existing episodes, and also allows users to manually add new chapters with timestamps and upload custom images for chapter artwork.
What is Transloader and how does it facilitate the sharing of links between devices?
-Transloader is an application that enables users to share links between their devices. It can be used to send any link from an iPhone, like from the share sheet in YouTube, to a Mac. Once received on the Mac, different rules and actions can be set up based on the link or file type, allowing for various automated responses or app launches.
How does Companion assist with Blackmagic ATEM switchers and Stream Deck?
-Companion is a utility designed for use with Blackmagic ATEM switchers and Stream Deck. It allows users to program the Stream Deck with various functions, such as switching between cameras, enabling picture-in-picture, and other live production tasks. It can be accessed via IP address and offers a hands-free solution with the Stream Deck pedal for live switching.
What are Spotlight and Shortcuts, and how do they enhance the Mac user experience?
-Spotlight is a powerful search feature on Mac that allows users to quickly find and launch apps, locate files, and access various types of information like travel details, weather, and more. Shortcuts, on the other hand, is an automation tool that enables users to create custom shortcuts for various tasks, such as formatting text, converting file types, or automating repetitive actions. Both Spotlight and Shortcuts significantly improve efficiency and ease of use on a Mac.
Outlines
🖥️ Mac Productivity Tools Overview
The speaker introduces their reliance on a Mac for work and outlines their intention to share 15 essential applications and utilities that enhance productivity. These range from audio recording to background apps like clipboard managers. The speaker mentions running several apps in the menu bar and invites viewers to suggest any they might have missed. The first app discussed is PaySpot, a clipboard manager with features like iCloud sync, keyboard shortcuts, and the ability to blacklist certain apps to prevent sensitive data storage. CleanShot X is highlighted as a preferred screen recorder, used for capturing keynote images during Apple events. Hazel is introduced for its file organization capabilities, particularly its app sweep feature. Pastel is recommended for managing color palettes, and Screens Connect is praised for its remote access functionality. Audio Hijack and Loopback are mentioned for their flexibility in audio recording and routing, respectively.
📈 Streamlining Video Production with Final Cut and Tools
The speaker discusses the use of markers in Final Cut for chapter creation, which can be exported as an XML file and then utilized by Creator's Best Friend to generate chapter timestamps and titles for YouTube descriptions. Fantastical is mentioned as the go-to calendar application, and TextExpander is highlighted for automating repetitive text input, such as generating prompts for YouTube video metadata. Forecast is introduced as a tool for podcasters to add chapters and custom artwork to their episodes. Transloader is described as an app that facilitates the transfer of links between devices and can trigger specific actions based on the content of the link. Companion is presented as a utility for programming Blackmagic ATEM switchers and Stream Decks, which can be controlled hands-free with a pedal. The speaker emphasizes the power of Spotlight for quick access to various types of information and the use of shortcuts for automating tasks on the iPhone.
📱 iPhone Automation and Battery Life Tips
The speaker concludes by mentioning a recent video on automations and shortcuts aimed at preserving iPhone battery life. They encourage viewers to watch the video if YouTube's algorithm suggests it, indicating its relevance and popularity. The speaker thanks the viewers for their time and signs off, promising to catch them in the next video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡PaySpot
💡CleanShot X
💡Hazel
💡Pastel
💡Screens Connect
💡Audio Hijack
💡Loopback
💡Creator's Best Friend
💡Fantastical
💡Text Expander
💡Forecast
💡Transloader
💡Companion
💡Spotlight
💡Shortcuts
Highlights
PaySpot is a clipboard manager that saves up to 1000 clippings with options like filtering and iCloud sync.
CleanShot X is a versatile screen recorder used for capturing images and creating tutorial videos.
Hazel automates file management with rules and features like app sweep for removing associated files after uninstalling apps.
Pastel is an essential app for managing and identifying color palettes, with cross-device syncing and image color extraction.
Screens Connect enables remote access to Macs from an iPhone or iPad, with custom settings and SSH tunneling.
Audio Hijack offers flexible audio recording and streaming options, including direct recording from applications and system audio.
Loopback is a powerful tool for routing audio across Mac, suitable for video switchers and audio interfaces.
Creator's Best Friend simplifies the process of adding chapters and timestamps to YouTube videos from Final Cut Pro.
Fantastical is a highly regarded calendar application with a constant presence in the menu bar.
Text Expander is used for automating text input, including generating prompts for AI applications.
Forecast is a free app for adding chapters and custom chapter artwork to podcast episodes.
Transloader allows for sending links and files from an iPhone to a Mac and setting up rules for different actions.
Companion is a utility for programming Blackmagic ATEM switchers and Stream Deck for live streaming and camera switching.
Spotlight is a powerful search tool on Mac for finding contacts, files, travel information, and more.
Shortcuts is a menu bar utility for quick actions and automations, including screenshot formatting and video description generation.