Blog

Why we’re not going to NAB…

Metadata is often easily lost when transcoding your camera footage to proxies. ALE files to the rescue!

When we started out building Hedge a decade ago, I never thought I’d find myself writing a 2025 Year In Review blog. Here we are 🙂

Find out how to make LTO’s promised 30-year shelf life a reality. Meet the new Pro Tier for Canister users on Windows, including the ability to quickly migrate old LTO tapes to a later generation.

Stay organised with Mimiq's new Search, Sort and Filter tools, plus Workspace Discovery — making it easy to track down Avid MediaFiles folders and identify legacy SANFusion bundles.

The ever expanding list of supported apps in PostLab is now nearing completion, with Avid Media Composer joining the club.

Winter's coming, so we're about to wrap up the year. Since last time we spoke, we've been working on quite a bit of new stuff that we'd love to tell you about.

Over the years, both FoolCat and EditReady have gained a lot of features. So far, everyone has been bearing the cost of those capabilities — even if their workflow didn’t call for it. Enter Standard and Pro versions for both apps.

OWC's Health Check and Sanitize now built into OffShoot, both on macOS and Windows. Instead of guessing whether a card is “getting tired,” you’ll know, and you’ll have a one-click cure when it’s time to refresh performance.

macOS 26 Tahoe is here, and we're ready for it. We’ve seen a lot of you running the public beta. After all, a shiny new OS feels tempting. However, this comes at a risk for OffShoot, Canister and Mimiq users.

Summer is almost gone and we've been up to a lot in the mean time. Plus, it's time for IBC!

Avid editors, meet your new assistant. With EditReady you can prep and transcode your footage outside Media Composer — faster, cleaner, and without the plugin hunt.

When the Prince of Darkness calls, one answers - especially when it’s going to be for the last time ever. Back in 2017, we found ourselves helping out at (almost) the last Black Sabbath show ever.

Since day one, Canister’s superpower has been making working with LTO — specifically LTFS — as easy as possible. Today we’re proud to bring you Canister 25.1, with both Queuing and Independent Transfers.

PostLab turns 1 this month. Last year's overhaul has boosted stability, collaboration, and major creative app support. Now we’re adding DaVinci Resolve to the list of supported apps. With flexible storage options and ongoing improvements, PostLab is focused on making post-production smoother for everyone.

Before heading into the summer holidays, here's a little recap off all the major features we shipped these last months.

Cascading copies let you first copy to a fast drive, then from there to slower ones—freeing up your source sooner and speeding up workflows.

Mimiq Workspaces just got better, unlocking new workflow possibilities for Avid Media Composer. This update introduces improved management and configuration sharing across teams. Explore what's new.

Since relaunching Final Cut Library Manager as Arctic, many users have asked how it compares to PostLab and when to use each. Time to take a closer look.

FoolCat and EditReady just got big updates, including Sony BURANO v2.0 support, ProRes RAW certification for Windows, and better proxy and metadata handling. Both apps also got a fresh new look.

From now on we're releasing app updates per platform as they're ready, so you get features faster. OffShoot adds cascading transfers, Canister gets queueing, and Arctic celebrates a strong first year.

The tradition continues. At the start of this new year we're looking back at the previous one and giving you a sneak peek at what's coming.

PostLab Classic is now shut down, making way for PostLab 2.0—faster, more flexible, and built for the future with a new versioning system and support for any storage provider.

Media management isn't always as straightforward as offloading cards one by one. Imagine you're on the receiving end of a shoot that didn't have good data handling practices.

Hot on the heels of last month's OffShoot 24.2, bringing you new ways to handle your sources, this update is very much about verification. Plus, we're bringing back something lost…

On September 5th, we added support for CODEX High Density Encoded MXF clips. Hey everyone! It's summertime, so it's traditionally a time for many camera updates to land.

This July, it's 💯 months since we came to the scene with a wee app called Hedge. Man, a lot has changed since 🤩 To celebrate, we're going to do something extraordinary...

PostLab 2.0 is a collaboration management tool for all creatives to work on shared project files collectively, check out what they need to work on and create a saved version history.

PostLab is invented by Jasper Siegers, who was working at a major Dutch broadcaster. PostLab was an internal development project to help the editing team manage FCPX productions.

To understand the implications of moving from PostLab Classic to PostLab 2.0, we’ve put together a FAQ that answers many questions, plus a Getting Started with PostLab 2.0 blog.

At Hedge we pride ourselves on creating apps that make light work of the difficult stuff, and this Canister release is no exception.

One and a half years after bringing Mimiq into the fold, we're proud to release full parity with NEXIS workflows. Meet NEXIS coexistence.

Decoding the Invisible. The Critical Role of Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) in a Seamless LTO Setup When people are looking at moving their archive to LTO, most don't realize the amount...

Just two months after we released the much anticipated Stop & Resume functionality, we're happy to introduce you to our next major OffShoot release.

Ten years after coming to the scene, Arctic Whiteness' Final Cut Library Manager gets a new home at Hedge. Born out of their own needs in the editing room, back in 2014...

Hi there, Paul here - Hedge's CEO. We’re ready to share some really exciting news about the next steps of PostLab's evolution. Maybe you’ve already heard some bits about it around IBC...

EditReady, FoolCat, and OffShoot all get a major update At Hedge, our goal has always been to help our users bridge the gaps between the different stages in your workflow.

Going on tour with a musical artist or band might appear glamorous, but filming every night quickly becomes a feat of endurance. There’s prep and setup during the day, the concert...

It's only week 2 of the year, and here's our first major release 🎆 This time last year, Canister 23.1 inherited a small but powerful feature from OffShoot... Collections.

It's a plane… It's a rocket… It was 2023! Last year went by super fast, and so much has happened. Let's look at all that happened, sprinkled with a sneak peek of what's coming.

At Apple's 2023 Creative Summit, we unveiled PostLab 2.0 featuring offline functionality, innovative Event Locking for simultaneous editing, and support for all document types without subscriptions—significant advancements since our 2019 launch at the same venue.

Canister expands with Windows support and macOS updates. Both integrate with Connect 3.0 for remote monitoring and add MagStor NanoPure technology to identify tape issues as LTO evolves toward higher capacities.

This comprehensive FAQ covers everything you need to know about the transition from Hedge to OffShoot. Learn about license eligibility, extension costs, the new floating license functionality, multi-seat license changes, Pro version features, upgrade pricing, and script compatibility. Current Hedge users with licenses eligible for updates beyond October 1, 2023 will automatically receive OffShoot, while others can extend their license for $79 per activation. The new floating license option allows single activations to move between computers, and Pro upgrades (currently discounted to $49) provide access to advanced features like Codex Device Manager 7 support and scripting capabilities.

ASC MHL 2.0 enhances media verification with metadata support and chain-of-custody tracking. While beneficial for high-end productions with complex handoffs, it has limitations with cloud storage and scalability. OffShoot implements this as a Pro feature alongside traditional MHLs.

Our flagship app is evolving into three distinct versions—OffShoot Solo for iPad, the classic OffShoot, and OffShoot Pro for high-end workflows. This transformation introduces revolutionary new features like floating licenses that follow you across devices, the cloud-based Connect 3.0 dashboard for monitoring multiple transfers, and Pro-exclusive capabilities including Amazon S3 integration for verified cloud transfers. OffShoot Solo leverages iPadOS 17's unleashed Thunderbolt performance for truly mobile workflows, while the Pro version adds advanced scripting, ASC-MHL support, Codex 7 compatibility, and Pro Presets for complex automation—all with a refreshed interface and seamless upgrade path for existing Hedge users.

Hedge transforms into OffShoot with three versions—Solo for iPadOS, standard, and Pro—while introducing floating activations to eliminate licensing headaches. More improvements across our product line reflect our expanding vision.

All Hedge apps are fully compatible with macOS Sonoma. Update to Hedge 23.1, EditReady 23.1.1 with iPhone 15 support, and PostLab 21.1.10 for Drive compatibility.

We're bringing our biggest presence yet to IBC 2023 with announcements across our entire product line. Preview OffShoot (formerly Hedge) in its three flavors—OffShoot Solo for iPad, standard OffShoot, and OffShoot Pro with S3 integration. Experience our revolutionary floating license system and Connect 3 cloud dashboard. Plus, see technology previews of the all-new PostLab with Event Locking for Final Cut Pro, Canister for Windows, our refreshed ScopeBox, and Mimiq's new project licensing options for Avid workflows.

With Mimiq Pro's new Workspaces functionality, Avid editors can now enjoy full bin-locking and collaboration capabilities directly on Quantum StorNext systems. This groundbreaking integration eliminates the need for parallel NEXIS hardware investments, allowing facilities to leverage their high-performance SAN storage for both media serving and collaborative editing. By transforming StorNext folders into Media Composer-compatible volumes, post facilities can run Avid alongside other NLEs on the same infrastructure, simplifying project migration, archiving, and retrieval while dramatically streamlining operations—all with the exceptional performance and low latency StorNext is known for.

FoolCat 23.1 introduces our proprietary HERMES media engine, delivering long-awaited Sony X-OCN support alongside extensive codec expansion including Canon, ARRI Alexa 35, RED V-Raptor, and ProRes RAW. This rebuilt macOS version processes reports up to three times faster, with Windows updates coming later this year.

Hedge rebrands as OffShoot with revolutionary floating licenses, plus major updates across our product line—Amazon S3 integration, Connect 3.0 cloud dashboard, rebuilt FoolCat, Mimiq Workspaces for any storage, Canister for Windows, and EditReady Server.

On Hedge's seventh birthday, our CEO reflects on growing from an AppleScript solution for TV production to a technology company with eight workflow apps and a team of thirty spanning six timezones.

Hedge 23.1 introduces ProGrade integration, allowing direct communication with memory card firmware during offloads. This enables secure erasure by overwriting all sectors with zeros, restoring factory-fresh performance for faster write speeds, fewer dropped frames, and quicker future offloads.

With our growing suite of apps and features, we're switching up how we share news. Instead of separate emails for each update, we're introducing regular recaps on our blog. From Hedge's Speed 2.0 improvements and new Finder extensions to EditReady's Phantom CineRAW support and Canister's SCSI capabilities, catch up on all our latest developments.

EditReady evolves into three versions with distinct capabilities. Standard adds file-date-to-timecode conversion, Pro debuts with Phantom CineRAW support, and Server enables headless automation for specialized workflows.

Hedge 22.3 introduces Speed 2.0, a complete rewrite of our transfer engine delivering speed increases from 20% to 250% without hardware changes. The update optimizes for modern storage technology, improves file system handling, and enhances network performance—making transfers dramatically faster across all equipment configurations.

Mimiq joins Hedge, enabling Avid Media Composer collaboration without expensive NEXIS hardware. Rebuilt as Apple silicon-native with cross-platform support and simplified licensing, editors can now collaborate using any storage solution.

EditReady 22.3 adds support for Canon Cinema RAW Light (CRM) and ARRI's new ALEXA 35 camera with its 17-stop dynamic range. The update includes compatibility with LogC4 color science and significantly speeds up Blackmagic RAW transcoding.

EditReady 22.2 introduces a Color Conversion panel that intelligently manages RAW footage from major camera systems. The color-aware pipeline properly applies LUTs after conversion, preventing common workflow errors while supporting Sony RAW and X-OCN formats in a high-precision floating point environment.

Hedge 22.2 introduces seamless integration with iconik's cloud MAM system, solving the metadata disconnect between camera originals and proxies. By generating iconik-compatible sidecar files during offload, your assets maintain their metadata throughout the entire workflow—whether uploaded immediately or processed later. This bridging technology supports flexible workflows for DITs, post houses, and anyone planning future MAM adoption. Plus, Hedge Pro users gain fine-grained control with per-preset sidecar generation and a preview of the new ASC-MHL standard.

Hedge 22.1 introduces Elements, a groundbreaking metadata solution developed over two years with production partners VICE and DPG Media. This feature transforms how metadata travels through production pipelines by allowing custom fields within transfer presets. Unlike complex "space shuttle" interfaces, Elements appears only when needed, prompting users to add context-specific information before transfers begin. Whether you need to capture production IDs, color space values, scene descriptions, or automated data, Elements ensures that crucial information accompanies media from capture through post-production—bridging the gap between data handlers and editors while maintaining Hedge's streamlined workflow.

EditReady 22.1 introduces comprehensive RAW support including Apple ProRes RAW, Blackmagic RAW, RED R3D, and ARRI formats. Using each camera manufacturer's own decoders and Log profiles, it creates edit-ready files that maintain shooting intent while adding workflow flexibility.

Canister introduces two game-changing LTO features—Spanning for archiving data across multiple tapes without database lock-in, and Preflight Checks for solving Apple silicon compatibility issues by identifying missing drivers. These maintain our simplicity philosophy while addressing top user requests.

PostLab for Media Composer brings secure cloud-based collaborative editing to Avid editors. It’s a breakthrough, and a big deal for the Avid community.

Hedge 21.3 introduces official Codex support with a purpose-built copy engine that optimizes High Density Encoding (HDE) workflows. Get smaller ARRI files with identical quality, faster offloading, and enhanced compatibility.

Throughout my career, I've been drawn to innovation and the frontiers of technology—from early stereo audio to the digital revolution. When considering my next step, I wanted to work with forward-thinking people who understand exponential technological change. In Hedge, I found not just clever solutions to industry problems like remote collaborative editing, but a team with outstanding technical support and a gold-plated reputation. Their recent investment was the final confirmation that others see what I see in this company.

We've raised $3M from industry experts led by Steve Bayes—not for user growth metrics but to expand our team and products. We're acquiring EditReady and ScopeBox, investing in Colourlab, adding strategic advisors, making employees co-owners, and expanding cross-platform development to maintain our user-focused approach.

Hedge secures $3M seed funding to expand workflow technologies, acquiring Divergent Media assets and investing in Colourlab AI. The company also adds Steve Bayes, Estelle McGechie, and Robin Moran as strategic advisors.

Hedge 21.2 introduces SCRATCH integration, automatically loading backed-up footage directly into projects. This time-saving feature eliminates manual imports, allowing DITs and colorists to proceed immediately to QC, audio sync, and look matching on both macOS and Windows.

Hedge 21.1 introduces Auto Labels with intelligent counters for multi-camera shoots, an online License Manager, date controls for midnight shoots, and fixes Big Sur issues with untitled media cards.

Postlab 21.2 introduces two essential remote editing features—Pinning for keeping folders in local Drive cache with intelligent syncing, and Remote Locking that brings Avid's bin-level protection to cloud workflows using Drive or LucidLink Filespaces.

Netflix has just launched a Production Data Management category in their Production Technology Alliance program, establishing industry standards for media handling. This milestone benefits everyone—not just Netflix productions—by creating ground rules for data verification, folder structure, and file naming. Learn how Hedge implements these standards with features like MHL creation, organizational presets, and archive verification, ensuring your workflows meet Netflix's requirements while maintaining flexibility for creative choices.

Hedge 20.4 introduces four powerful media management features—Sorting with file creation/extension parameters, Copy Only for targeted transfers, Ignore Bundles for skipping AVCHD containers, and intelligent File Counters for global filename sequencing—transforming Hedge from simple offloading into comprehensive media organization.

Introducing Postlab Merge, our Final Cut Pro Workflow Extension replacing MergeX. This integrated tool eliminates XML import/export, enabling precise merging of Events, Clips, and Projects with intuitive priority controls for truly collaborative editing workflows.

Hedge 20.3 introduces Presets for organizing media transfers with independent counters, easy toggling, and sharable JSON settings. Create repeatable workflows with advanced automation options for API control, metadata management, and script integration.

PostLab Drive brings media teams cloud storage built specifically for video workflows—offering predictable pricing, low latency, and seamless integration with editing tools. Unlike consumer solutions with hidden limitations or expensive enterprise options, it provides reliable performance while behaving like local shared storage.

Canister introduces Catalogs, a lightweight alternative to databases for managing LTO tapes. This Finder-integrated system creates searchable snapshots of tape contents with versioning support, making archive management accessible without vendor lock-in or corruption risks.

Hedge's Checkpoint 2.0 introduces three transfer modes - Archive for permanent storage with source verification, Backup for simultaneous transfers with real-time verification, and Copy for speed-focused transfers. Features include early error detection, multi-algorithm checksums, and synchronized transfers that optimize workflow efficiency.

Hedge has acquired MergeX, the Final Cut Pro X tool that enables editors to merge Events between different Libraries. This strategic integration enhances Postlab's collaborative capabilities by streamlining Assistant Editor workflows, allowing team members with different tasks to work simultaneously on the same footage without interruptions. MergeX will be fully incorporated into Postlab in the coming months, while existing MergeX users will continue to receive updates and bug fixes for at least a year, with special Postlab discounts available.

PostLab expands with four major updates—Adobe Premiere Pro support, flexible monthly pricing starting at $9, 30% educational discounts, and a new Team plan with advanced features including temporary users, document sharing, and custom S3 storage integration—designed to support remote collaboration.

The rebuilt Connect now supports Android, monitors multiple Hedge installations simultaneously, provides live transfer tracking, and offers an open API for third-party integration—transforming it from simple notifications into a comprehensive workflow tool.

Postlab 20.1 eliminates FCP X relinking hassles with "Individual" mode, letting editors maintain unique media paths. Final Cut asks for locations just once, regardless of how collaborators organize their files.

Postlab enables collaborative editing for Final Cut Pro X and Premiere Pro, providing version tracking and preventing conflicts with bin-style locking. Working from local copies for performance, it syncs changes through a specialized cloud system that preserves NLE file integrity.

Hedge 19.3 introduces two powerful organizational features that transform your media workflow. Filter lets you selectively exclude unnecessary files during transfers—from thumbnails to render caches—with a customizable blacklist that adapts to your specific needs. Meanwhile, Rename adds critical context to generic camera filenames by intelligently appending project names, dates, and source counters without breaking metadata links. These tools work seamlessly with your existing workflow, ensuring your media is properly organized during transfer instead of requiring time-consuming reorganization afterward.

Hedge 19.2 introduces seamless Frame.io integration, automatically detecting watch folders and displaying them as destinations. This allows direct proxy uploads to cloud storage while maintaining Hedge's verification features and Frame.io's accelerated upload capabilities.

Hedge acquires Postlab, a collaborative tool for Final Cut Pro X that enables version control and team workflows. Creators Jasper Siegers and Felipe Baez join Hedge as the platform evolves from open-source to a cloud service supporting multiple NLEs.

Hedge 19.1 introduces two queueing modes - Single Source and Single Transfer - giving you precise control over offload priorities. When time is critical or network bandwidth limited, these features optimize your workflow.

What Nike, bronze doors and orphanages have to do with metadata.

Hedge 18.3 introduces Checkpoint, a source integrity feature that detects hardware issues early in media workflows. As storage becomes more reliable, card readers and peripherals have become the weakest link, with read errors silently propagating to all destinations unless detected through double-verification.

Mojave vs. High Sierra

Nature filmmaker Dick Harrewijn recounts his underwater experience with protective humpback whales, a hidden shark, and his passion for connecting people with nature through documentary work—from exotic ocean encounters to local beaver families.

With almost 50K subscribers on YouTube, Jeven Dovey and his wife Rachel have been able to fulfill a dream many have: to be able to travel…

First up is Foolcat 6 with ARRI RAW support

Hedge 18.2 introduces Duplicate Detection, intelligently checking if files already exist in destination folders using a five-step verification process. This feature enables incremental backups for more efficient offloading and project folder management while maintaining data integrity.

LAUSCHSICHT's Kevin Blanc discusses their cinematic run-and-gun approach—from three-week Namibian shoots to four-hour World Cup ski productions. They maintain quality with lightweight equipment, Canon Cinema cameras, and careful workflow management while delivering content quickly for social media.

Hedge 18.1 brings Fast Lane to Windows, improving transfer speeds by 11%. The "Car Wash" workflow enables flexible media management with multiple sources/destinations on the same drive, within-drive copying, and resetting sources/destinations during active transfers—perfect for editors, colorists, and photographers.

Step-by-step guide to properly install Panasonic P2 card drivers on macOS. Learn how to verify driver functionality, troubleshoot unsigned kexts, and ensure maximum transfer rates from P2 media.

Create reports on the fly, with Hedge & foolcat

Introducing Canister, our LTO app that simplifies tape archiving with an intuitive interface, Shoeshine Protection, smart index handling, and driver management. It addresses common LTO pitfalls while maintaining Hedge's user-friendly approach to complex media workflows.

Hedge 17.12 introduces Labels and Collections—powerful new features for media organization. Labels replace generic folder names with custom identifiers, while Collections enable selective file transfers without intermediate folders. Combined with enhanced Folder Formats, these tools significantly streamline offloading workflows while maintaining simplicity.

After seven months of development and intensive beta testing, Hedge for Windows launches with native performance and Labels feature. While some Mac features are still coming, cross-platform licenses are available for users working in both environments.

Why supporting beta OSs is a bad idea

Hedge 1.8 introduces Auto-Source and Auto-Destination features that recognize media drives based on content structure and remember destination folders. These time-saving automations detect camera cards by folder patterns or naming conventions, making them instantly ready for high-volume productions.

Hedge for Windows launches with pre-orders at 50% discount. Development is underway, with September 2017 release target and money-back guarantee. Windows users have been requesting this version since Hedge's initial release, citing its ease of use as key attraction.

Checkpoint verifies media file integrity using MHL checksums to confirm backups are complete and healthy. The app detects missing files or corruption, creates new MHLs when needed, and supports verification before ingest, of archives, or without copying data.

Hedge's Recents feature provides intelligent shortcuts to frequently used folders—automatically detecting available media folders on sources while enabling quick creation of non-existent destination folders. Combined with multi-level folder formats, it streamlines workflow when managing content from multiple camera types.

Celebrating Hedge's first anniversary with remarkable metrics - from 10TB in beta to 10 petabytes transferred in just one year. This exponential growth reflects widespread adoption among video professionals globally, with upcoming products and enhancements announced for NAB.

While modern cameras create essential video files, they also generate countless technical files and complex folder structures that clutter your drives. Our free Cleaner AppleScript solves this by identifying file types, letting you selectively trash unnecessary files like THM thumbnails, moving remaining clips to the root folder, and removing empty directories. Whether you need occasional cleanup, thorough organization before archiving, or continuous automated sorting during transfers with Hedge, this versatile tool helps maintain a tidy workflow without risking your important media.

Our free macOS plugins transform technical MHL files into accessible workflow tools. The QuickLook plugin enables preview directly in Finder, while the Spotlight plugin indexes all metadata, turning your Mac into a mini media asset manager for searching across offloads.

Guide to concatenating camera footage split into 4GB chunks due to FAT32 limitations. Learn optimal timing for stitching—during editing, transcoding, or offloading—and use our VLC-based AppleScript solution.

Media Hash List (MHL) files serve as effective sidecars for video offloads, storing both transfer and clip metadata without altering source files. This approach provides searchable context throughout production while remaining compatible with NLEs and MAM systems.

When trying to get Bootcamp installed…

Hedge Connect, our free iOS companion app, delivers real-time notifications about transfer status to your mobile device when offloading on set. Multiple team members can connect simultaneously, freeing you from constantly checking your computer.

Comparing frame-based versus clip-based workflows and their impact on storage speed. SSDs significantly outperform HDDs for frame-based workflows, while optimizing file structure with disk images can improve transfer efficiency for archiving and cloud storage.

File size significantly impacts backup speeds. Large files (like ProRes) transfer faster than thousands of small files (like CinemaDNG) due to metadata processing overhead. Our tests show transferring small files over networks can be 60% slower despite identical total size.

Step-by-step guide to optimize video for website backgrounds using Handbrake and QuickTime. Learn how to reduce file size from gigabytes to just megabytes while maintaining quality, with specific settings for resolution, bitrate, and encoding parameters.

Update: documentation and examples can be found on GitHub — https://github.com/HedgeForMac/hedge-scripts

Combining NAS and RAID technologies creates ideal video workflow storage—NAS delivers redundancy and accessibility while RAID provides speed. This marriage offers a flexible system that balances performance and protection, easily transitioning between on-set backups and post-production environments.

Introducing Hedge 1.0, our solution that automates tedious video workflow tasks by reducing repetition, providing meaningful feedback, and removing technical complexity. By handling burdensome technical aspects, Hedge creates more space for creativity and constructive collaboration throughout the production process.

Benchmark-proven strategies to accelerate your media offloads—use AC-powered drives (saving 22 minutes per hour), powered USB3 hubs for simultaneous transfers, modern verification algorithms like xxHash (68% faster than MD5), and maintain a filled import queue. These simple optimizations dramatically reduce waiting time while preserving data safety.