WATCHOUT 7 Architecture

WATCHOUT 7 employs a distributed, network-centric architecture with specialized components that work together to deliver synchronized multi-display presentations.

Core System Components

Typical WATCHOUT 7 setup diagram

Primary Components

  1. Producer

    • User interface for show programming and control
    • Shows can run without Producer after setup

  2. Director

    • System coordinator and "brain"
    • Distributes show data and manages synchronization
    • Acts as NTP time server
    • Hosts Operative for external control protocols

  3. Runner

    • Handles audio and video playback
    • Continues functioning even if Director disconnects
    • Multiple Runners can be distributed across a network

  4. Asset Manager

    • Media repository and optimization system
    • Distributes assets to Runners as needed

Key Executables

  1. Process Manager (process-manager.exe)

    • Core component present on all machines
    • Handles node discovery and service management

  2. Producer (Producer.exe)

    • Main user interface for show creation and control

  3. Director (director.exe)

    • Maintains master show data
    • Synchronizes timelines and evaluates expressions

  4. Runner (runner.exe)

    • Receives show data from Director
    • Manages playback logic

  5. Renderers

    • Visual Renderer (visualrenderer.exe): Display output
    • Audio Renderer (audiorenderer.exe): Sound output

  6. Asset Tools

    • Asset Manager (asset-manager.exe): Media optimization
    • Asset Watcher (asset-watcher.exe): Folder monitoring

  7. Bridge Services

    • LTC Bridge (ltc-bridge.exe): Timecode input
    • MIDI Bridge (midi-bridge.exe): MIDI control
    • Operative (operative.exe): Protocol translation (OSC, ArtNet, HTTP)

Deployment Flexibility

WATCHOUT 7's architecture can scale from compact to expansive configurations:

  1. All-in-One: Single computer running all services (development/small shows)
  2. Small Production: Producer/Director on one machine, 1-3 Runners
  3. Large Production: Dedicated Producer, Director and multiple Runners
  4. Installation: Headless Director with multiple Runners

System Resilience

  • Runners continue playback if Director is lost
  • Renderers maintain output if Runner disconnects
  • Executables are stopped, started, and restarted automatically
  • Distributed processing eliminates single points of failure

Communication Flows

  1. Discovery: Multicast-based node detection
  2. Distribution: Show data and asset downloads over HTTP
  3. Synchronization: NTP-based time alignment
  4. Control: External protocol translation via Operative, and Bridges

NOTE: Discovery broadcast can be limited to specific network interfaces through Node Window settings. This is useful for redundant setups or when using separate networks for media and control (e.g., Dante audio networks).

This architecture allows WATCHOUT 7 to scale from simple presentations to massive multi-display productions while maintaining frame-accurate synchronization.