Connecting Devices

In WATCHOUT, the outputs that render your show — displays, audio devices, and capture sources — are not tied to fixed IP addresses. Each display and audio device is bound to a node by the node's name. This name-based binding survives IP changes and hardware swaps, as long as the replacement node uses the same name.

How device-to-node binding works

Every display and audio device has a Node property that selects which node drives it. Set a display's Node to "Stage-Left-1" and WATCHOUT renders it on whichever node currently identifies itself as Stage-Left-1.

When the Director starts a show, it reads each device's Node assignment and tells the matching Runner to take ownership. The Runner then initializes the physical output. If the node is not on the network, the device stays unconnected and Producer shows a warning. When the node is discovered, the Director assigns the device to it.

Assigning a Node to a display

1. Open the Devices window (Window > Devices) or select the display in the Stage.
2. Open the display's properties in the Properties panel.
3. In the Node field, select the target node from the dropdown. The dropdown lists all discovered nodes.
4. Configure the output type (GPU, SDI, NDI, ST 2110, or Virtual) and its settings.
5. The Director assigns the display to that node's Runner at the next show update.

Assigning a Node to an audio device

1. Select the audio device in the Devices window.
2. In the Properties panel, set the Node to the target node.
3. Choose the device type and configure the interface, channels, and routing.

The Audio Renderer runs on each Runner node. It starts with the Runner, not when you enable a specific audio device. For channel mapping, the masterVolume control, and enabling a device, see Audio Devices. For Dante, see Dante Audio.

Assigning capture sources

Capture sources behave differently from displays and audio devices:

• NDI® sources are discovered network-wide by stream name and have no Node field. Add an NDI source by choosing its stream name. The Runner that uses the source receives and decodes it.
• Hardware capture sources (capture cards, webcams, ST 2110 inputs, Spout) are bound to the node where the hardware sits. Set the Node to that node's name.

See Capture Devices for configuring each capture type.

The Devices window

The Devices window (Window > Devices) shows all output devices grouped by node, with filters for All, Display, Virtual, Capture, and Audio. A warning icon marks any device whose node is not connected. For the full window reference, see The Devices Window.

Best practices for node names

• Use descriptive, unique names. Names like "FOH-Left" or "LED-Upstage" tell you what each node does. Avoid generic names like "PC1".
• Keep names stable. Renaming a node breaks any device that references the old name. Update device assignments if you rename.
• Document the name-to-hardware mapping for touring shows and multi-venue installations.
• Reuse the name on replacement hardware. Give a replacement node the same name and all device assignments transfer with no show-file change.

Replacing a node

To replace a node — after a failure or for service — give the replacement the same name as the original. This is a cold spare. The Director reassigns every device that references that name to the replacement Runner. The replacement needs matching hardware (same outputs, same audio interfaces). Run only one node with a given name at a time.

Related

• Network Overview — how services communicate and discover each other
• Nodes — setting up the nodes that host the outputs
• Audio Devices — channel mapping, volume, and enabling audio devices
• The Devices Window — the Producer interface for device assignments
• Network Issues — device not connecting, name collisions, intermittent drops

NDI® is a registered trademark of Vizrt NDI AB.