Using Media

The basics

Harmony looks for movies, still images and Quartz Compositions in a folder called the Harmony Media folder. When Harmony is first run, it creates the Harmony Media folder in your Movies folder, and installs some sample files.

Media Browser

Harmony displays files from the Harmony Media folder in a media browser. You access the media browser from the Media panel. Each item is displayed as a thumbnail. A zoom slider at the bottom allows you to adjust the size of the thumbnails. You can also zoom using a gesture on a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad.

Pressing space in the media browser, shows the selected item in a QuickLook window.

In addition, the media browser also displays built-in Quartz Compositions provided by Apple.

Adding Media

There are two ways to add files to the Harmony Media folder:

  1. Add media files to the Harmony Media folder using the Finder.
  2. Files dragged into the media browser are copied into the Harmony Media folder by Harmony.

The Media Browser also supports a folder hierarchy in the Harmony Media folder. Each folder in the hierarchy is represented in the browser by a collapsible stack.

Adding Additional media folders

Harmony supports up to 10 additional media folders. These folders can be anywhere on your hard drive or on an external hard drive. Harmony takes care of automatically detecting when your external hard drives are available.

Media folders preference
  1. Select Preferences... from the Harmony menu.
  2. Select the Media tab.
  3. Click on the add button to add another media folder.
  4. The media will show in the Media Browser.

Background

To set a movie, image or Quartz Composition as the current background, either:

  1. Double-click the item.
  2. Select the item in the media browser, then click the Set as background button.
  3. Right-click the item, then click Set as background from the contextual menu.

Playing

To play a movie, image or Quartz composition, either:

  1. Select the item in the media browser, then click the Play item button.
  2. Right-click the item, then click Play item from the contextual menu.

Media Browser

Related articles:

Custom backgrounds
Differences between 'Play item' and 'Set as background'
Keynote movies
Media formats
Quartz Composition inputs
Video playback controls


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