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[cdf294]

Hello everyone.

I've been a Mac dweller since Windows 7 for multiple reasons and have just recently started using Windows again occasionally. On the Mac I use Audirvana 3.5 and Emby for my music and video needs. Now that I am using Windows again from time to time, I wanted to find a solution for my Windows audio and video needs. I downloaded the JRiver MC30 on the Windows laptop and have been learning the ins and outs while giving it a 30 day trial before deciding whether to purchase a license. It seems fairly intuitive to use although I can see plenty of ways to get lost in all of the options, should I choose to do so. So far, I am liking the program after using it for only 3 days. I appreciate the fact that it allows everything to happen in one program unlike what I have going on with the Mac. I'm not sure that JRiver will be replacing Audirvana 3.5 for me although I still see some value in possibly adding it to my Mac since I prefer the tagging options for my videos to what I have available in Emby.

I decided to go ahead and download the Mac MC30 option earlier today to see if it might be worth spending a few extra bucks for the multi OS license. Unfortunately, I saw 2 things during and after installation on my Mac that greatly concern me and I would appreciate it if anyone could explain why this software is wanting to do this. One of 2 dialog boxes that popped up on my Mac said the following "Media Center 30" would like to receive keystrokes from any application. The other prompt stated that Media Center 30 wanted to record screenshots. I took a screenshot of the keylogging request and attempted to attach it to this post although it might not work due to this being my first post here. I denied both requests in Mac but Windows has always been a security sieve and I have to believe that Windows allowed these operations to commence even though it would potentially be detrimental to security.

Why does JRiver want to record screenshots and keystrokes (from ANY app) and what exactly is this info used for? Any input would be appreciated because I don't usually allow anything on my system that throws these types of security prompts.

[JimH]

There is nothing nefarious going on.  MC doesn't spy on you.

Maybe Apple doesn't like hot-keys:  https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Keyboard_Hot-keys

You could try an Internet search:  https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250720391

It's apparently Apple doing it.  You could ask them why.

[Awesome Donkey]

If memory serves in macOS Media Center needs the keystrokes permission so media keys within the app will work. Screen recording permission I can't recall which feature it's for but it's benign, maybe it's video or photos related. But those permissions are needed to get Media Center working fully on macOS and it's not for anything nefarious.

[Awesome Donkey]

Bob explains the permissions for MC on Mac here: https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,134228.0.html

If you are asked for accessibility permissions you must accept that (it's how MC deals with retina displays).
If you are asked for screen recording permissions, you need to accept that for MC's user interface to operate properly, MC uses that permission to copy from part of it's window to another part of it's window. It's not used for anything else.
If you are asked for input monitoring permissions, you need to accept that IF you intend on using the Mac's media keys (play, stop, volume up and down). Otherwise you don't need that permission.
If you are asked for permissions regarding access to the Documents folder you need to do that for making and restoring backups (unless you change the default backup location).
If you are asked for permissions regarding access to any other drives, folders or devices you need to do that if you have media on them that you want MC to access.

Looks like my memory is better than I thought and was right about the input monitoring (keystrokes) permission being for media keys. Screen recording permission is for MC's UI to work correctly, due to how MC handles and draws its own UI stuff.

[cdf294]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I certainly didn't think anything nefarious was going on or the program would have been removed immediately from Windows and never made it through the Mac install. I did look on the internet and saw no reports of this so I wanted to ask here rather than develop my own ideas about what is happening in the background.

I know JRiver has been around for quite a while and due to this, I wasn't so concerned about the potential for spyware that I removed the program but be that as it may, I still felt compelled to ask about it since i've encountered prompts like this before from some lesser known sources. I appreciate everyone putting my mind at ease and providing an explanation without getting hostile towards the new guy.

Cheers..

[David Sydney]

Welcome to the fray cdf294. The Windows version is out in front in terms of functions. Fundamentally it's easier asking questions when you are trying to achieve something with your library or set up as compared to reading documentation (Wiki). The thing to remember is that the library and tags (metadata) are separate to the actual media files and how they are organised. Try to set up a common method of orgnising your stuff upfront and then tweak as you go. Far easier that reorganising your files later when you have 10,000's.

For example I import all my media, picture, music , movies sits under the one tree. The same tree accessed originally by iTunes, now Windows MC and recently I have also got Linux MC library up and running also. Each have their own library entry but there is only one media file. Although I have ditched iTunes because it can't do FLAC loseless and I have wound the $ down to near zero. I import all new stuff into a @Import folder first, auto-import is configured to run in the background to pickit up. MC will autmatically load your CD and rip it to the files you want if set up correctly. There I check and fix tag entries where needed by looking at the library sorted by import date. With MC accessing internet files most tags, cover art are found automatically. Then use F6 rules to move and rename the actual media files simultaneously into a consistent scheme (using Presets in F6 Rename, Move, Copy). I'm slowly moving and replacing older library CD rips to loseless FLAC. MC can also be used to convert audio format I use to convert FLAC (album) to FLAC tracks (converting lossy formats is not a good idea). Once your library files are well on it's way, and you have a 'workflow', you can start learning about other functions like skins, cloudplay, network DLNA, theatre view etc etc. Plenty of folks around to help - just ask.