What is NDI? and what can I use it for?

What is NDI and what are its benefits.

NDI stands for Network Device Interface and is an open protocol for streaming high quality, low latency video over IP networks such as a LAN or WAN. NDI is a rapidly evolving industry standard for connecting professional audio and video equipment and systems together for video production, video conferencing and video transport.

One of the biggest advantages of NDI is it uses everyday computer network architecture (LAN or WAN), cable and switches instead of legacy SDI cables and expensive broadcast equipment.

1)?????Using NDI turns a standard Ethernet-based LAN into a video network

Using a Gigabit LAN, you can connect your cameras, screens, control rooms, and your production facilities, and create a site-wide video ecosystem where everything sees everything—and any source can be used by anyone. Using NDI reduces the volume of because NDI uses standard IP networks, no SDI cables or connectors are required just standard network cables and connectors and ethernet switches.??

2)?????NDI links every device visible on the network

Network Device Interface technology makes every enabled device, connected source, and video signal on your network—camera, production switcher, replay system, computer, graphics machine, video conferencing system, etc.—visible and available as a source and/or destination for video over IP. Every new NDI source/device that is connected is Self-advertised via mDNS/Bonjour on the LAN

3)?????NDI enables bi-directional video and audio over IP

Emerging IP workflows marginalize gains by simply replacing SDI cabling with Ethernet infrastructures. Many methods comprise linear, one-way, point-to-point distribution of a single video output signal over IP to a single destination. NDI workflows permits multi-directional, two-way signal transmission over IP, to and/or from any NDI?-enabled device on your network.

4)?????NDI handles up to 10x more video than alternate video transport methods

Transporting HD video over IP typically requires high-bandwidth, dual-10Gbit networking to accommodate just a few source. With NDI’s IP Workflows, it’s entirely possible to access double-digit HD video streams over IP using just a Gigabit. With NDI’s high-end performance over standard GigE networks, it makes it possible to transition facilities to an incredibly versatile IP video production pipeline without negating existing investments in SDI cameras and infrastructure, or costly new high-speed network infrastructures.

5)?????There are 2 types of NDI

NDI | HX which is H.264 compressed for lower datarates and is built into lots of different makes of PTZ cameras. Then there is broadcast quality full NDI with lower latency and higher datarates as well as 4K support.

6)????Visually?Lossless

NDI is generationally lossless meaning that loss only occurs in the first generation of video and all subsequent re-compression steps in the NDI system are lossless.

7)?????Format Agnostic

The same NDI network can be used for SD, HD, 4K or above. Once your IP network has been designed with sufficient bandwidth, any format can be used.

8)?????Compressed Video

NDI uses video compression to enable transmission of video streams in the network. NDI achieves significantly better compression than the majority of codecs that have been accepted for professional broadcast use. NDI compresses the video streams so that the NDI video streams are distributed through the network at a ratio 15:1 to an uncompressed video of the same format. The following is an estimate of bandwidth load per NDI video stream for common delivery formats;

1 x stream SD video = 20 Mbps

1 x stream HD video = 125Mbps

1 x stream 4K?UHDp30 video = 200Mbps

1 x stream 4K?UHDp60 video = 250Mbps

What can I use NDI for?

·????????Networking and production in TV Studios and Video Production Facilities

·????????Live events and live streaming productions to social media

·????????Remote video productions

·????????Linking different locations for the same production

·????????More advanced video conferencing, e.g. House of Parliament, Zoom calling onto large format video walls in event spaces or TV Studios

·????????To simplify video networking a video production.

Coming soon NDI 5

Coming soon is NDI 5 with NDI Bridge which enables users to securely share NDI sources between remote sites using a simple and secure network setup. NDI Bridge, therefore, handles all the complexity of remote sources on a global scale. NDI 5 also releases with NDI Remote which allows anyone using just a URL to contribute live audio and video using an Internet-connected device, such as a camera phone or a web browser, to another point anywhere in the world.?

For more information on NDI? video and production systems, solutions, studios and equipment

contact [email protected]