Traditional AV networks are set up on their own infrastructure, with cables running between AV transmitters, receivers and a matrix system, with the number of sources limited by the ports on the matrix.
With AVoIP systems the basics are similar – transmitters become encoders, receivers become decoders and the matrix is replaced by an IP switch, but that is where the similarities end. AVoIP frees workflows from the limitations of point to point systems and allows content to be distributed in the same way as other IP traffic with both flexibility and scalability. It also allows remote monitoring, control and contribution. Moving away from traditional AV networks opens the door to new ways of working, the world of NDI and its boundless capacity for remote production.
So What's NDI?
NDI (Network Device Interface), is a free protocol developed by NewTek that enables devices and applications to connect and communicate over standard IP networks to share video, audio and data. There has never been a simpler way to connect video equipment together. New devices are automatically discovered and available to all other systems on the network making video production, streaming and conferencing applications simple to deploy, manage and scale.
NDI Bandwidth Requirement
The required bandwidth for NDI transmission will vary, depending on resolution and frame rate. The NDI encoding algorithm itself is resolution and frame-rate independent, and supports resolutions up to 4K and beyond. With its 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.
* source: https://support.newtek.com/hc/en-us/articles/217662358-NDI-Network-Device-Interface-Overview
NDI Format
NDI supports all resolutions, frame rates and video streams, with and without alpha channel.The most common implementations are expected to utilize 8-bit UYVY and RGBA video, however support for 10-bit and 16-bit is available. The internal pipeline of the codec is maintained entirely at 16-bit or better.
NDI vs NDI HX
NDI HX is a high-efficiency version of NDI.
NDI | HX is much slimmer, so it can be used in much more bandwidth restrictive environments. At 15mb, an NDI | HX camera can be connected through a wide area network, the tradeoff being that there are a few frames (3) of latency with NDI | HX.
Why NDI?
Easy to setup/configure
- Auto Discovery
- Ability to span networks & subnets
- Find sources by name
Completely interoperable
- Auto Discovery
- Ability to span networks & subnets
- Find sources by name
- Works on all networks and even in the cloud delivering frame-accurate, high quality video at the lowest latency.
- Allows multiple video sources to work simultaneously on 1GbE networks and grows to 10Gbit and beyond for massive scaling up to almost unlimited streams and resolutions.
- Supports embedded alpha channel for keying, control, tally, metadata, precision time stamps and now, via BirdDog even Dante audio.
- Extends to mobile integration over WiFi using mobile devices as sources and streaming out to websites and social media platforms, utilising computers, webcams, media players, and media applications as NDI sources and destinations.
- NDI is bi-directional, so any source can also be a destination.
What Kind of NDI-Supported Equipments are Available?
NDI is supported by a wide range of manufacturers and developers of both hardware and software. As it benefits any network-connected video device and software, you find video mixers, graphics systems, capture cards, and many other production devices with NDI support. Here are a few of the major ones:
Resources
To find out more about NDI visit https://ndi.tv/
