A method of providing a user interface for managing a digital video compression system comprises the steps of receiving system configuration information relating to the digital video compression system being managed, and partitioning the system into a plurality of transform stages, each transform stage representing a transformation that can be performed on a signal stream as a signal stream flows through the system. A signal stream is represented using one or more signal blocks, wherein a signal block contains information relating to a signal stream within a transform stage. A view of the system is generated, wherein the view of the system is represented as one or more signal streams through the system, and one or more signal blocks along each of said signal streams. The view of the system is modified in response to user commands.