Technical
NDI®: video over your network
NDI is a protocol that carries live video over an IP network. Understanding NDI means understanding why many modern productions replace part of their SDI or HDMI links with IP network connections, without making traditional video workflows disappear.
What is NDI?
NDI stands for Network Device Interface. It is a protocol developed by NewTek (now owned by Vizrt) that allows video equipment to communicate over an IP network, much like computers share files on a local network.
In practice, on a simple setup: an NDI camera plugged into your network switch is detected by other NDI-enabled devices on the same network (switcher, computer, monitor...). On a corporate network (multiple VLANs, Wi-Fi, firewalls, filtered multicast, several rooms), rollout can instead require real configuration: source discovery, segmentation, network rules or an NDI Discovery Server.
In short
NDI carries video, audio, tally, PTZ control and metadata over an IP network. But an IT network is not automatically a good video network: a well-designed Gigabit network can be enough for several HD streams, especially in NDI|HX/HX3, while multi-camera or 4K installations must be sized seriously (bandwidth, switches, uplinks, PoE, segmentation).
Before NDI, carrying professional video required SDI coaxial cables, distance extenders, or expensive converters. NDI makes these workflows significantly simpler, provided the network is designed accordingly.
Network infrastructure
Your Ethernet network can act as the video backbone, with no dedicated cabling, provided it is correctly sized and often segmented for video (VLAN).
Source discovery
On a simple setup, NDI sources announce themselves and are detected automatically. On segmented or larger networks, discovery may require configuration (VLAN, network rules) or an NDI Discovery Server.
Bidirectional
Every NDI device can be both a source and a destination. A switcher can receive cameras and send its program output to a recorder, all on the same network cable.
Low latency
NDI is designed for live production. In NDI High Bandwidth, and in well-configured NDI|HX3, latency is low enough for real-time camera monitoring and live switching.
Wi-Fi and WAN possible
NDI can run over Wi-Fi, WAN or the internet (with tools like NDI Bridge). Critical productions still favour a controlled wired network: Wi-Fi and WAN require prior validation of bandwidth, latency and stability.
NDI is not a single codec. Depending on the format, it relies on different compression schemes, with distinct trade-offs between quality, bandwidth and latency. The two most common profiles today are NDI High Bandwidth (often called "Full NDI" in the BirdDog ecosystem) and NDI|HX3. Separately, NDI|HX2 is very bandwidth-efficient but adds more latency (best avoided for live switching).
NDI High Bandwidth ("Full NDI")
Maximum quality, high bandwidth
- + Maximum image quality (SpeedHQ codec, intra-frame compression), very low latency
- + Ideal for multi-channel processing (software switchers, graphics)
- - High bitrate: ~130 to 150 Mbps at 1080p60, ~250 Mbps at 2160p60
- - Needs a network sized for many simultaneous streams (uplinks, backbone)
Best suited for studio control rooms, post-production, large software switchers.
NDI|HX3
High quality, network-efficient
- + H.264 / H.265 compression, reduced bandwidth: ~50 to 62 Mbps at 1080p60, ~84 to 110 Mbps at 2160p60 depending on the codec
- + Very good image quality, very low latency (on average under 100 ms depending on implementation), suitable for live
- + Much easier to integrate on an existing network than NDI High Bandwidth
- ! Bandwidth, segmentation and discovery still need checking (not "zero constraints")
Widely used on recent PTZ and live production cameras.
On the BirdDog side, recent models (the X Series, MAKI Ultra) emphasise NDI|HX3, up to 4K60 depending on the version, while keeping NDI High Bandwidth ("Full NDI") on several models. Older generations may be Full NDI / NDI|HX2 only.
TV studio or live production
Multiple BirdDog NDI PTZ cameras connect to the production network switch. The software switcher (vMix, TriCaster, OBS...) detects them on the network. Zero SDI cabling. The control room can also send tally and prompter signals back to each camera over the same network.
Corporate conference room
An NDI PTZ camera installed in the room sends its stream over the existing company network. An AV operator or remote user can control it (pan, tilt, zoom) and pull the video feed from anywhere on the network.
House of worship
Several cameras cover the nave and altar. A volunteer manages the program from a booth computer running vMix. BirdDog NDI cameras run on PoE: one network cable per camera handles both power and video.
Education and campus
NDI cameras installed in multiple classrooms stream over the campus network. A central control room can monitor, record, or broadcast any room in real time, without a dedicated video cable infrastructure.
Live events
On stage or outdoors, NDI PTZ cameras feed directly into the mobile production truck via a Gigabit switch. Mobility is simplified: moving a camera means unplugging and replugging one network cable.
NDI is supported, natively or via plugin/integration, by a large share of professional video production software. Among the most widely used:
NDI Tools is available for free at ndi.tv for Windows and macOS (SDKs and third-party solutions cover Linux). Note: some hardware switchers such as the Blackmagic ATEM do not receive NDI natively; they require an NDI-to-SDI/HDMI converter or an intermediate software workflow.
BirdDog is one of the pioneers of NDI. Founded in Australia in 2016, the company built its entire product range around this technology and is today one of the leading global specialists.
- • BirdDog cameras are historically very NDI-focused: depending on the range, they offer NDI High Bandwidth ("Full NDI"), NDI|HX2 and/or NDI|HX3; recent models (the X Series, MAKI Ultra) emphasise NDI|HX3.
- • The BirdDog converter range adds NDI to any existing HDMI or SDI source.
- • BirdDog Central software manages, updates, and monitors an entire fleet of NDI cameras from a single interface.
Let's talk about your installation.
HoriCast supports integrators and end users in France with their BirdDog NDI projects. Technical questions, network sizing, equipment selection: one call is enough.
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