ASSETS & ASSET MANAGER

The Asset Manager is the centralized service that handles every stage of the media lifecycle - upload, optimization, storage, and distribution to display servers. All media in a WATCHOUT 7 show passes through the Asset Manager, which transcodes source files into GPU-friendly formats, stores them in a content-addressed chunk system using Blake3 hashes, and distributes them to Runner nodes on demand. Understanding this system is essential for efficient show production and reliable playback.

Start Here

Core concepts for working with media in WATCHOUT.

  • Asset Manager - how the centralized service handles upload, optimization, chunk storage, and distribution across your production network
  • Asset Types - the complete catalog of asset types (Video, Audio, Image, SVG, Image Sequence, Composition, Model, Font, Display Data, Art-Net, EDID, Folder) with their optimization behavior and timeline characteristics
  • Asset Properties - the Properties panel for assets: metadata fields, the asset state pipeline (Uploading, Optimizing, Ok, Error), and type-specific diagnostics

Media Formats and Creation

Understanding what media WATCHOUT accepts and how to create content within the application.

  • Formats & Codecs - the codec mapping table that determines transcoding paths (e.g., H.264 to HEVC, ProRes to NotchLC), plus pass-through rules for already-optimized formats
  • SVG Shapes - the built-in shape editor for creating vector rectangles, ellipses, and text that are rasterized at configurable resolution
  • Image Sequences - importing numbered frame folders as single video assets for 3D render pipelines, HDR/EXR workflows, and per-frame quality control

Advanced Asset Workflows

Tools for dynamic content, collaborative uploads, automated imports, and network distribution.

  • Dynamic Assets - versioned asset containers for media swapping (languages, sponsors, seasonal content) without editing timelines
  • Web User Interface - the browser-based Asset Manager UI on port 3023 for collaborative upload and management from any networked device
  • Asset Watcher - OS-level file system monitoring that automatically imports new or changed files from watched folders
  • Asset Transfer - the pull-based distribution system where Runners download only needed content-addressed chunks, with substitution during transfers

Settings and Data Management

Configuring optimization behavior and moving assets between systems.

  • Asset Manager Settings - codec mapping overrides, optimization quality, bandwidth limiting, and alpha channel configuration
  • Import, Export, and Mapping - creating portable asset packages, atomic import into another Asset Manager, and codec mapping override workflows
  • Importing GDTF Files - importing manufacturer GDTF fixture definitions to create Art-Net Fixture assets with accurate channel layouts, named parameters, and mode support