Installing FFmpeg on a Mac M1: A Native Experience

The excitement of switching to a new Apple Silicon-based Mac is undeniable. As a developer, I was eager to dive into the world of native compilation and testing on my shiny new Mac Mini M1. However, before I could start exploring the possibilities, I needed to get FFmpeg installed and running natively on my machine.

Why Native Mode?

I chose to install FFmpeg in native mode because I wanted to benchmark its performance without any potential bottlenecks introduced by Rosetta 2, Apple's translation layer for running Intel-based applications on ARM architecture. Where's the fun in that? By installing FFmpeg natively, I could ensure a more accurate representation of its capabilities.

Getting Started with Homebrew

To get started with native compilation, I needed to set up Homebrew, a popular package manager for macOS, on my Mac Mini M1. After some trial and error, I finally managed to get it running in native arm64 mode, without the need for Rosetta 2. This was essential for me, as I rely heavily on bash and scripting in my development workflow.

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

One of the challenges I faced was finding a suitable adapter to connect my Apple Cinema display (2013) to the new Mac Mini M1's Thunderbolt 3 port. Fortunately, Apple offers a 55 euro Thunderbolt 3 (with USB-C connector) to Thunderbolt 2 (with mini Displayport connector) adapter that works perfectly. I also discovered that not all adapters are created equal, and some may only support USB-C passthrough without actual Thunderbolt 2 functionality.

Satechi Hub: A Lesson Learned

In my enthusiasm to get started, I made the mistake of assuming that any USB hub with a Mini Displayport connector would work seamlessly with my Apple Cinema display. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The Satechi hub I purchased did not support Thunderbolt 2, leading to some frustrating hours spent troubleshooting.

Installing FFmpeg on my Mac Mini M1 has been an enlightening experience, despite the initial challenges. By choosing native mode and setting up Homebrew correctly, I've been able to unlock the full potential of this powerful package manager. With my Apple Cinema display connected via a suitable adapter, I'm now ready to dive into the world of FFmpeg development on my new Mac M1.

Ffmpeg mac m1