NETWORK SETUP

WATCHOUT 7 is a distributed system where Producer, Director, Runner, and Asset Manager services communicate over a dedicated network to deliver synchronized multi-display playback. Correct network configuration is the foundation for reliable show operation - from initial device discovery through media distribution to frame-accurate synchronization. This chapter covers every aspect of getting your WATCHOUT network running and maintaining it over time.

Architecture and Basics

Understand how the network components fit together.

  • Network Overview - the distributed architecture of Producer, Director, Runner, and Asset Manager services and how they coordinate across the network
  • Display Servers - Runner nodes responsible for rendering and output, their hardware role, and how they connect to the production network
  • Connecting Devices - binding displays, audio devices, and capture sources to discovered node aliases in your show

Protocols and Services

Network services and media transport protocols used by WATCHOUT.

  • Firewall Configuration - required ports, installer-created firewall rules, and manual configuration for restrictive network environments
  • NDI Video Sources - NDI ingest and output workflows for video-over-IP integration with cameras, switchers, and other NDI-enabled devices
  • Capture Sources - Spout, Deltacast, and MediaFoundation capture for bringing live video into your show from local applications, professional capture cards, and USB devices
  • Dante Audio - networked professional audio routing using Dante as an audio device type within WATCHOUT
  • Time Synchronization - how all nodes share a precisely aligned clock for frame-accurate multi-display playback

Maintenance and Management

Day-to-day operations for keeping your WATCHOUT network healthy.