diff --git a/sys/applemedia/vtapi.h b/sys/applemedia/vtapi.h
index 69c4fa39ee..b4df7ba037 100644
--- a/sys/applemedia/vtapi.h
+++ b/sys/applemedia/vtapi.h
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ typedef enum _VTStatus VTStatus;
 
 typedef guint32 VTFormatId;
 
-typedef struct _VTCompressionSession VTCompressionSession;
-typedef struct _VTDecompressionSession VTDecompressionSession;
+typedef CFTypeRef VTCompressionSessionRef;
+typedef CFTypeRef VTDecompressionSessionRef;
 typedef struct _VTCompressionOutputCallback VTCompressionOutputCallback;
 typedef struct _VTDecompressionOutputCallback VTDecompressionOutputCallback;
 
@@ -69,48 +69,50 @@ struct _GstVTApi
   GstDynApi parent;
 
   VTStatus (* VTCompressionSessionCompleteFrames)
-      (VTCompressionSession * session, CMTime completeUntilDisplayTimestamp);
+      (VTCompressionSessionRef session, CMTime completeUntilDisplayTimestamp);
   VTStatus (* VTCompressionSessionCopyProperty)
-      (VTCompressionSession * session, CFTypeRef key, void* unk,
+      (VTCompressionSessionRef session, CFTypeRef key, void* unk,
       CFTypeRef * value);
   VTStatus (* VTCompressionSessionCopySupportedPropertyDictionary)
-      (VTCompressionSession * session, CFDictionaryRef * dict);
+      (VTCompressionSessionRef session, CFDictionaryRef * dict);
   VTStatus (* VTCompressionSessionCreate)
       (CFAllocatorRef allocator, gint width, gint height, VTFormatId formatId,
       gsize unk1, CFDictionaryRef sourcePixelBufferAttributes, gsize unk2,
       VTCompressionOutputCallback outputCallback,
-      VTCompressionSession ** session);
+      VTCompressionSessionRef * session);
   VTStatus (* VTCompressionSessionEncodeFrame)
-      (VTCompressionSession * session, CVPixelBufferRef pixelBuffer,
+      (VTCompressionSessionRef session, CVPixelBufferRef pixelBuffer,
       CMTime displayTimestamp, CMTime displayDuration,
       CFDictionaryRef frameOptions, void * sourceTrackingCallback,
       void * sourceFrameRefCon);
   void (* VTCompressionSessionInvalidate)
-      (VTCompressionSession * session);
+      (VTCompressionSessionRef session);
   void (* VTCompressionSessionRelease)
-      (VTCompressionSession * session);
-  VTCompressionSession * (* VTCompressionSessionRetain)
-      (VTCompressionSession * session);
+      (VTCompressionSessionRef session);
+  VTCompressionSessionRef (* VTCompressionSessionRetain)
+      (VTCompressionSessionRef session);
   VTStatus (* VTCompressionSessionSetProperty)
-      (VTCompressionSession * session, CFStringRef propName,
+      (VTCompressionSessionRef session, CFStringRef propName,
       CFTypeRef propValue);
 
   VTStatus (* VTDecompressionSessionCreate)
-      (CFAllocatorRef allocator, CMFormatDescriptionRef videoFormatDescription,
-      CFTypeRef sessionOptions, CFDictionaryRef destinationPixelBufferAttributes,
+      (CFAllocatorRef allocator,
+      CMFormatDescriptionRef videoFormatDescription,
+      CFTypeRef sessionOptions,
+      CFDictionaryRef destinationPixelBufferAttributes,
       VTDecompressionOutputCallback * outputCallback,
-      VTDecompressionSession ** session);
+      VTDecompressionSessionRef * session);
   VTStatus (* VTDecompressionSessionDecodeFrame)
-      (VTDecompressionSession * session, CMSampleBufferRef sbuf, gsize unk1,
+      (VTDecompressionSessionRef session, CMSampleBufferRef sbuf, gsize unk1,
       gsize unk2, gsize unk3);
   void (* VTDecompressionSessionInvalidate)
-      (VTDecompressionSession * session);
+      (VTDecompressionSessionRef session);
   void (* VTDecompressionSessionRelease)
-      (VTDecompressionSession * session);
-  VTDecompressionSession * (* VTDecompressionSessionRetain)
-      (VTDecompressionSession * session);
+      (VTDecompressionSessionRef session);
+  VTDecompressionSessionRef (* VTDecompressionSessionRetain)
+      (VTDecompressionSessionRef session);
   VTStatus (* VTDecompressionSessionWaitForAsynchronousFrames)
-      (VTDecompressionSession * session);
+      (VTDecompressionSessionRef session);
 
   CFStringRef * kVTCompressionPropertyKey_AllowTemporalCompression;
   CFStringRef * kVTCompressionPropertyKey_AverageDataRate;
diff --git a/sys/applemedia/vtdec.c b/sys/applemedia/vtdec.c
index 6b007560a2..a323c3d9ef 100644
--- a/sys/applemedia/vtdec.c
+++ b/sys/applemedia/vtdec.c
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ static CMFormatDescriptionRef gst_vtdec_create_format_description
 static CMFormatDescriptionRef
 gst_vtdec_create_format_description_from_codec_data (GstVTDec * self,
     GstBuffer * codec_data);
-static VTDecompressionSession *gst_vtdec_create_session (GstVTDec * self,
+static VTDecompressionSessionRef gst_vtdec_create_session (GstVTDec * self,
     CMFormatDescriptionRef fmt_desc);
 static void gst_vtdec_destroy_session (GstVTDec * self,
-    VTDecompressionSession ** session);
+    VTDecompressionSessionRef * session);
 static GstFlowReturn gst_vtdec_decode_buffer (GstVTDec * self, GstBuffer * buf);
 static void gst_vtdec_output_frame (void *data, gsize unk1, VTStatus result,
     gsize unk2, CVBufferRef cvbuf);
@@ -333,10 +333,10 @@ gst_vtdec_create_format_description_from_codec_data (GstVTDec * self,
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static VTDecompressionSession *
+static VTDecompressionSessionRef
 gst_vtdec_create_session (GstVTDec * self, CMFormatDescriptionRef fmt_desc)
 {
-  VTDecompressionSession *session = NULL;
+  VTDecompressionSessionRef session = NULL;
   GstCVApi *cv = self->ctx->cv;
   CFMutableDictionaryRef pb_attrs;
   VTDecompressionOutputCallback callback;
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ gst_vtdec_create_session (GstVTDec * self, CMFormatDescriptionRef fmt_desc)
 }
 
 static void
-gst_vtdec_destroy_session (GstVTDec * self, VTDecompressionSession ** session)
+gst_vtdec_destroy_session (GstVTDec * self, VTDecompressionSessionRef * session)
 {
   self->ctx->vt->VTDecompressionSessionInvalidate (*session);
   self->ctx->vt->VTDecompressionSessionRelease (*session);
diff --git a/sys/applemedia/vtdec.h b/sys/applemedia/vtdec.h
index e8c6a853ad..4176a09843 100644
--- a/sys/applemedia/vtdec.h
+++ b/sys/applemedia/vtdec.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ struct _GstVTDec
   gint caps_width, caps_height;
   gint caps_fps_n, caps_fps_d;
   CMFormatDescriptionRef fmt_desc;
-  VTDecompressionSession * session;
+  VTDecompressionSessionRef session;
 
   GstBuffer * cur_inbuf;
   GstFlowReturn cur_flowret;
diff --git a/sys/applemedia/vtenc.c b/sys/applemedia/vtenc.c
index 51046d4fa5..a2601db31b 100644
--- a/sys/applemedia/vtenc.c
+++ b/sys/applemedia/vtenc.c
@@ -54,27 +54,27 @@ static void gst_vtenc_clear_cached_caps_downstream (GstVTEnc * self);
 static GstFlowReturn gst_vtenc_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buf);
 static gboolean gst_vtenc_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event);
 
-static VTCompressionSession *gst_vtenc_create_session (GstVTEnc * self);
+static VTCompressionSessionRef gst_vtenc_create_session (GstVTEnc * self);
 static void gst_vtenc_destroy_session (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession ** session);
+    VTCompressionSessionRef * session);
 static void gst_vtenc_session_dump_properties (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session);
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session);
 static void gst_vtenc_session_configure_usage (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, gint usage);
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, gint usage);
 static void gst_vtenc_session_configure_expected_framerate (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, gdouble framerate);
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, gdouble framerate);
 static void gst_vtenc_session_configure_expected_duration (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, gdouble duration);
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, gdouble duration);
 static void gst_vtenc_session_configure_max_keyframe_interval (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, gint interval);
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, gint interval);
 static void gst_vtenc_session_configure_max_keyframe_interval_duration
-    (GstVTEnc * self, VTCompressionSession * session, gdouble duration);
+    (GstVTEnc * self, VTCompressionSessionRef session, gdouble duration);
 static void gst_vtenc_session_configure_bitrate (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, guint bitrate);
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, guint bitrate);
 static VTStatus gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_int (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, CFStringRef name, gint value);
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, CFStringRef name, gint value);
 static VTStatus gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_double (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, CFStringRef name, gdouble value);
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, CFStringRef name, gdouble value);
 
 static GstFlowReturn gst_vtenc_encode_frame (GstVTEnc * self, GstBuffer * buf);
 static VTStatus gst_vtenc_output_buffer (void *data, int a2, int a3, int a4,
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ gst_vtenc_sink_setcaps (GstPad * pad, GstCaps * caps)
 {
   GstVTEnc *self = GST_VTENC_CAST (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
   GstStructure *structure;
-  VTCompressionSession *session;
+  VTCompressionSessionRef session;
 
   GST_OBJECT_LOCK (self);
 
@@ -478,10 +478,10 @@ gst_vtenc_src_event (GstPad * pad, GstEvent * event)
   return ret;
 }
 
-static VTCompressionSession *
+static VTCompressionSessionRef
 gst_vtenc_create_session (GstVTEnc * self)
 {
-  VTCompressionSession *session = NULL;
+  VTCompressionSessionRef session = NULL;
   GstCVApi *cv = self->ctx->cv;
   GstVTApi *vt = self->ctx->vt;
   CFMutableDictionaryRef pb_attrs;
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ beach:
 }
 
 static void
-gst_vtenc_destroy_session (GstVTEnc * self, VTCompressionSession ** session)
+gst_vtenc_destroy_session (GstVTEnc * self, VTCompressionSessionRef * session)
 {
   self->ctx->vt->VTCompressionSessionInvalidate (*session);
   self->ctx->vt->VTCompressionSessionRelease (*session);
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ typedef struct
 {
   GstVTEnc *self;
   GstVTApi *vt;
-  VTCompressionSession *session;
+  VTCompressionSessionRef session;
 } GstVTDumpPropCtx;
 
 static void
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ gst_vtenc_session_dump_property (CFStringRef prop_name,
 
 static void
 gst_vtenc_session_dump_properties (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session)
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session)
 {
   GstVTDumpPropCtx dpc = { self, self->ctx->vt, session };
   CFDictionaryRef dict;
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ error:
 
 static void
 gst_vtenc_session_configure_usage (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, gint usage)
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, gint usage)
 {
   gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_int (self, session,
       *(self->ctx->vt->kVTCompressionPropertyKey_Usage), usage);
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ gst_vtenc_session_configure_usage (GstVTEnc * self,
 
 static void
 gst_vtenc_session_configure_expected_framerate (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, gdouble framerate)
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, gdouble framerate)
 {
   gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_double (self, session,
       *(self->ctx->vt->kVTCompressionPropertyKey_ExpectedFrameRate), framerate);
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ gst_vtenc_session_configure_expected_framerate (GstVTEnc * self,
 
 static void
 gst_vtenc_session_configure_expected_duration (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, gdouble duration)
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, gdouble duration)
 {
   gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_double (self, session,
       *(self->ctx->vt->kVTCompressionPropertyKey_ExpectedDuration), duration);
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ gst_vtenc_session_configure_expected_duration (GstVTEnc * self,
 
 static void
 gst_vtenc_session_configure_max_keyframe_interval (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, gint interval)
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, gint interval)
 {
   gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_int (self, session,
       *(self->ctx->vt->kVTCompressionPropertyKey_MaxKeyFrameInterval),
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ gst_vtenc_session_configure_max_keyframe_interval (GstVTEnc * self,
 
 static void
 gst_vtenc_session_configure_max_keyframe_interval_duration (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, gdouble duration)
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, gdouble duration)
 {
   gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_double (self, session,
       *(self->ctx->vt->kVTCompressionPropertyKey_MaxKeyFrameIntervalDuration),
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ gst_vtenc_session_configure_max_keyframe_interval_duration (GstVTEnc * self,
 
 static void
 gst_vtenc_session_configure_bitrate (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, guint bitrate)
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, guint bitrate)
 {
   gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_int (self, session,
       *(self->ctx->vt->kVTCompressionPropertyKey_AverageDataRate), bitrate);
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ gst_vtenc_session_configure_bitrate (GstVTEnc * self,
 
 static VTStatus
 gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_int (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, CFStringRef name, gint value)
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, CFStringRef name, gint value)
 {
   CFNumberRef num;
   VTStatus status;
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@ gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_int (GstVTEnc * self,
 
 static VTStatus
 gst_vtenc_session_configure_property_double (GstVTEnc * self,
-    VTCompressionSession * session, CFStringRef name, gdouble value)
+    VTCompressionSessionRef session, CFStringRef name, gdouble value)
 {
   CFNumberRef num;
   VTStatus status;
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ gst_vtenc_encode_frame (GstVTEnc * self, GstBuffer * buf)
     gst_vtenc_clear_cached_caps_downstream (self);
 
     if (self->reset_on_force_keyframe) {
-      VTCompressionSession *session;
+      VTCompressionSessionRef session;
 
       gst_vtenc_destroy_session (self, &self->session);
 
diff --git a/sys/applemedia/vtenc.h b/sys/applemedia/vtenc.h
index 1d9fbcf035..b430e85d28 100644
--- a/sys/applemedia/vtenc.h
+++ b/sys/applemedia/vtenc.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ struct _GstVTEnc
   gint negotiated_fps_n, negotiated_fps_d;
   gint caps_width, caps_height;
   gint caps_fps_n, caps_fps_d;
-  VTCompressionSession * session;
+  VTCompressionSessionRef session;
   CFMutableDictionaryRef options;
 
   GstBuffer * cur_inbuf;