Asset Manager

The Asset Manager is the service that prepares and distributes all assets in a WATCHOUT show. It optimizes source files into playback formats built for fast GPU decode and fast SSD reads, creates low-resolution previews for Producer, and distributes the results to the Runner nodes on demand.

Demo Mode

Without a license, the Asset Manager runs in Demo Mode. A DEMO MODE banner shows in the Assets window, and optimization is limited. Use Demo Mode to evaluate WATCHOUT before you license a node.

In Demo Mode you can add and optimize:

• HAP and HAP Alpha video.
• 8-bit images (8-bit RGB, RGBA, or grayscale).
• WAV and MP3 audio.
• SVG shapes, fonts, EDID, and Art-Net fixtures.

Everything else needs a license: the other video codecs (H.264, MPEG-2, HEVC, ProRes, QuickTime Animation), HAP Q, HAP Q Alpha, HAP Alpha Only, HAP R, Notch LC, 16-bit images, image sequences, 3D models, and display data. The Formats and Codecs table marks which source codecs need a license.

One Playback Format

Source files arrive in many containers and codecs: MP4, MOV, ProRes, H.264, and more. Rather than play each one directly, the Asset Manager converts every source into one internal format, the WATCHOUT Asset Format (WAF). WAF is built for fast seeking and optimal SSD reads. It is also a robust format that keeps playback reliable. The Runner plays only WAF.

Many containers and codecs are designed to play one file at a time, the way a media player does. A WATCHOUT show is different: it plays many files at once across the whole stage. WAF is designed for exactly that. Supporting one format also keeps the Runner lean and robust, since it is tuned for WAF playback alone.

This matters because the Runner is mission-critical. During a live show its playback must be reliable and predictable, frame for frame. The Asset Manager and Optimizer do the heavy, variable work of converting many formats. That work is not mission-critical. It runs on the Asset Manager, ahead of time and off the show's playback path.

The conversion is called optimization, not transcoding, because the content is usually unchanged. With the default mapping, most video is repackaged into WAF without re-encoding. The pixels are moved, not altered. Still images are kept as uncompressed data. Only codecs the Runner cannot play directly are re-encoded, and WATCHOUT matches the source quality so the result looks the same.

The codec mapping can be customized to produce the output formats your show needs. See Formats and Codecs.

How the Asset Pipeline Works

A source file passes through several stages before it reaches the Runner nodes. Add it by drag-and-drop, the web interface, or a watched folder.

1. Upload — the source file is copied into the Asset Manager storage, organized by asset UUID. The state shows Uploading with tracked progress.
2. Optimize — the Optimizer converts the source file to WAF. When possible, it passes the original pixels through unchanged. Otherwise it transcodes them to the output codec set by the mapping (see Formats and Codecs). A low-resolution preview is also encoded. The state shows Optimizing.
3. Store — the optimized data is stored. Identical data across assets is kept only once. The original source is also retained.
4. Distribute — each Runner downloads the optimized asset over the network. Transfer starts automatically based on stage and display assignment (see Asset Transfer). Up to 8 downloads run in parallel. When every step finishes, the state reaches Ok.

Optimization Priority

The Optimizer processes assets by type priority. A higher value is processed sooner:

Priority	Asset Type	Reason
Highest	Image	Small and fast to process. Clears the queue quickly.
High	Other (Model, Font, etc.)	Lightweight processing.
Medium	Audio	Moderate processing time.
Low	Video	Longer to optimize.
Lowest	Image Sequence	Many frames take the most time.

Quick assets become available first. Long video and sequence jobs run in the background.

Preview Generation

The Asset Manager also builds a low-resolution preview of each video and image asset for Producer. A preview is about a quarter of the source width and height — one sixteenth of the pixel count.

Previews are encoded as HAP, or HAP Alpha when the content has an alpha channel, for fast GPU playback.

A Runner node usually plays only the assets that cover its own outputs (see Asset Transfer). Producer renders the whole stage at once and uses previews to keep its performance footprint low and the experience smooth.

The Assets Window

The Assets window is the main interface for browsing and managing assets. Open it from Window → Assets or press Ctrl+Alt+A.

The window shows assets in a tree table. These columns are visible by default:

• Name — file name, with an icon for asset type and status.
• Image — thumbnail preview.
• Dimensions — pixel resolution (width x height) or 3D bounding box.
• Duration — length for video and audio assets.
• Date — the source file's creation or modification date, not the date the asset was added to Producer.

Enable more columns from the column menu:

• Type — the asset kind (Video, Image, Audio, etc.).
• FPS — frame rate for video assets.
• Codec — the optimized or original codec name.
• Color — color space and transfer function.
• Channels — audio channel count.
• Original Path — the source file location, shown as folder\file.ext. Web-uploaded assets show only the file name.

Asset Status Indicators

Each asset shows an icon next to its name:

• Star — the asset is new. It has not been clicked since it was added.
• Hourglass — the upload finished. The asset is queued for optimization.
• Upload arrow — the asset is uploading to the Asset Manager.
• Gears — the asset is optimizing.
• Recycle — the asset is a dynamic (auto-updating) asset.

A linear progress bar appears under the name during upload and optimization. While optimizing without a known percentage, the bar runs as an indeterminate (looping) bar.

A failed asset shows a red name and an alert icon. Select it and read the error at the top of the Properties panel.

Asset Activity

While the Asset Manager is working, a job-queue summary appears in the Assets window toolbar. It counts the jobs in progress, grouped by what they are doing: syncing, optimizing, uploading, and pending.

Click the summary to expand the full job queue. Each entry lists the asset and its current job with a progress value. Use it to confirm the Asset Manager is working through a large import, rather than stuck.

Missing Assets

An asset is missing when the Asset Manager cannot find its original source file. This happens when the file is moved, renamed, or deleted from disk.

To resolve a missing asset, restore the original file to its path. You can also re-add the correct source file and update any cues that reference it.

Creating Asset Versions

Create Version clones the selected asset with a new name. Find it in the context menu under New → Create Version. Use versions to keep content variants for one cue slot, for example language versions of a title card.

The Create Version dialog can also re-encode the asset to a different output codec. See Asset Properties for the full dialog.

Create Version is disabled for failed assets and for folder and composition assets.

Adding Assets

There are several ways to add assets to a show:

• Drag and drop — drag files from your file manager into the Assets window. Drop onto a folder row to place them there.
• Add Media File — right-click in the Assets window and choose New → Add Media File. A file browser opens to select one or more files.
• Add Image Sequence — right-click and choose New → Add Image Sequence, then select the folder of numbered frames (see Image Sequences).
• Asset Watcher — configure watched folders that import new or changed files automatically (see Asset Watcher).
• Web User Interface — upload files through the browser interface at http://<asset-manager-ip>:3023 (see Web User Interface).

Organizing Assets with Folders

Create folders to keep large shows organized:

1. Right-click in the Assets window and choose New → New Folder.
2. Enter a name and press OK.
3. Drag assets into the folder to move them.

Folder operations:

• Collapse All Folders / Expand All Folders — available from the context menu.
• Drag to reorder — drag assets or folders to reorder them within the same parent.
• Folder open and closed states persist between sessions.

Missing assets cannot be moved, and nothing can be moved into the Missing Assets folder.

Deleting Assets

Select one or more assets and press Delete, or choose Delete from the context menu. A confirmation dialog appears first.

Some assets are protected. When a delete is refused, a dialog explains why. WATCHOUT does not delete:

• Assets used in the current show.
• Folders that contain assets hidden by an active filter.
• Fonts mapped to SVG text assets.
• The last remaining version of a dynamic asset that is used in the show.
• Assets used in cue sets.

Searching and Filtering

Click the magnifying glass icon, or press Ctrl+F when the Assets window is active, to open the search panel.

The search panel provides:

• Text search — type one or more keywords. The list filters to assets whose name or folder path contains all keywords (case-insensitive).
• Type filter — a dropdown to restrict results: All, Video, Image, Audio, Model, Other, Failed, Used, or Unused.
• The Video filter also matches Audio + Video assets. The Audio filter does the same.
• New — show only assets not viewed yet.
• Selected Cues — show only assets referenced by the selected cues.
• Preparing — show only assets that are uploading or optimizing.

Press Escape to clear the search and deselect all assets.

Sorting

Click a sortable column header to sort by that column. Click again to reverse the direction.

Context Menu

Right-click in the Assets window to access:

• New — create folders, shapes (Rectangle, Ellipse, Text), Art-Net fixtures, dynamic assets, or asset versions.
• Delete — remove selected assets, with confirmation.
• Select Cues Using Asset — select all cues on the timeline that reference the selected assets.
• Collapse / Expand All Folders — toggle folder visibility.
• Asset Manager Settings... — open the codec and optimization settings dialog (see Asset Manager Settings).
• Transfer Assets — export selected or all assets, import from another location, or cache assets on Runners (see Asset Transfer and Import and Export).
• Asset Web — open the web interface in your browser.

Keyboard Navigation

Key	Action
Enter	Open the Properties panel for the selected asset
Delete	Delete the selected asset(s)
Escape	Clear the search and deselect all assets
Ctrl+A	Select all visible assets
Ctrl+F	Open the search panel

Relationship to Other Systems

The Asset Manager works with other WATCHOUT components:

Component	Interaction
Director	Coordinates asset version upgrades across Runners.
Runner	Downloads optimized assets from the Asset Manager. Uses an earlier version as a substitute while a new version transfers.
Producer	Provides the Assets window. Sends add, delete, and organize commands.
Optimizer	Optimizes source files into playback codecs.
Web UI	Web server on port 3023 serving an upload and browse interface.
Asset Watcher	Watches folders for new or changed files and imports them.

Producer's Assets window reflects changes in real time as assets are added, optimized, or change state.

Best Practices

• Name assets consistently. Set a naming convention early and use it across the team. Consistent names make search filters effective.
• Organize by scene or zone, not by type. Group assets by where they appear in the show (for example Act1/, Lobby/). This is more useful than grouping by format.
• Pre-optimize before show day. Large shows can take hours to optimize. Add all assets before the first rehearsal. Verify that every asset reaches the Ok state. Do not rely on real-time optimization during a live event.
• Plan storage and networking. Optimized video can be larger than the source file. Plan Runner storage and use a dedicated, high-speed network — see Asset Transfer.
• Monitor optimization status. Use the Preparing filter to watch assets still in the queue. A red asset name means a failure. Check the error in the Properties panel.

Related

• Asset Types — the asset kinds and their source formats.
• Asset Properties — metadata, states, and Create Version.
• Formats and Codecs — source codecs and optimization output.
• Asset Transfer — how assets reach the Runner nodes.
• Asset Manager Issues — troubleshooting optimization, transfer, and asset problems.