Concepts & signal flow
Windows & macOS show-machine basics help
The Windows & macOS show-machine basics questions live-event techs bring to Ask Roadie most (also called Mac show machine, playback computer, show computer, show machine). Pick your symptom, or describe your own in plain words, and get the likeliest fix first, with the manual page when there is one.
Common Windows & macOS show-machine basics questions
What techs run into most, and what's usually behind it. The step-by-step fix for your exact topic is in Ask Roadie.
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Capture/streaming app (OBS etc.) shows a black screen on Mac
Short answer: macOS TCC blocks display capture until explicitly allowed and only enforces the grant on a clean app start.
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Desktop/windows rearrange or resolution resets when the projector sleeps, switches, or is unplugged
Short answer: When a display sleeps/disconnects the HPD voltage on HDMI pin 19 drops and the OS treats it as monitor removal, re-flowing windows and resetting resolution.
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Full-screen video stutters on the external/projector display on a Mac
Short answer: With separate Spaces disabled macOS composites all displays into one Space and full-screen video hitches at regular intervals; keeping it enabled gives each display its own compositor path and smooth playback.
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Projected/screen colors look wrong or shift over time (Mac)
Short answer: These features continuously vary white point and brightness based on ambient light and time of day, which invalidates a consistent look on screen and makes color drift mid-show.
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USB audio interface, capture card, or dongle randomly drops out on a Windows show machine
Short answer: USB selective suspend powers down idle USB devices to save energy, which drops capture cards and audio interfaces mid-signal; Fast Startup does a hybrid shutdown that can leave drivers/devices in a stale state.
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Windows laptop demands a BitLocker recovery key at boot after docking, adding a dock, or connecting a USB-C/Thunderbolt display
Short answer: BitLocker measures the boot path in the TPM; a USB-C/Thunderbolt dock or bootable external device changes what it sees and trips the recovery prompt.
Not on the list? Describe it your way, or paste the error code off the display. Ask Roadie works the problem with you until it's fixed or you have a clear next move.
How Ask Roadie helps with Windows & macOS show-machine basics
- 1. Pick Windows & macOS show-machine basics. It's already in the list.
- 2. Describe what you're seeing. In your own words, or the error code off the screen.
- 3. Get the likeliest fix first. Steps in order, the manual page when there is one, and a note when other techs have confirmed it.
- 4. Still broken? Tap 👎 and it keeps going from where you left off.