BirdDog MINI
Ultra-compact Full NDI encoder and decoder in aircraft-grade aluminium. HDMI input for encoding or HDMI output for decoding. PoE+ powered, OLED display, tally and audio intercom.
- Full NDI encoder or decoder — configure as an HDMI to Full NDI encoder or a Full NDI to HDMI decoder. One unit covers both directions
- Ultra-compact form factor in aircraft-grade aluminium — the smallest BirdDog device, mounts at camera positions, behind screens and in tight rack spaces
- PoE+ powered — a single Ethernet cable provides both Gigabit network connectivity and power, with no separate PSU at the installation point
- OLED status display on the front panel — immediate visual signal status without management software access
- Built-in tally and audio intercom — camera operator tally and two-way intercom over the single Ethernet cable
- The most accessible entry point into BirdDog's Full NDI ecosystem — all core BirdDog features at the smallest size and most cost-effective price point
What is the BirdDog MINI?
The BirdDog MINI is BirdDog's compact, affordable Full NDI device — the entry point into the BirdDog ecosystem for deployments where size, cost and simplicity are priorities alongside the quality of Full NDI. It encodes HDMI to Full NDI in encoder mode, or decodes Full NDI to HDMI in decoder mode — the unit's direction is configured in the management interface.
The MINI retains all the core BirdDog features: Full NDI (not NDI|HX), PoE+ power over Ethernet, OLED status display, tally and audio intercom. It is simply smaller, lighter and more cost-effective than the 4K HDMI, without the loop outputs, SFP+ connectivity and cross converter of the larger unit.
When to choose the MINI over the 4K HDMI
Choose the BirdDog MINI when: loop outputs are not required at the camera position (a separate confidence monitor feed is not needed from the encoder), the installation is budget-constrained, physical size is a priority, or the application is a decoder rather than an encoder (the MINI is an excellent compact HDMI output device for NDI decoding at display positions).
Choose the 4K HDMI when: simultaneous HDMI and 12G-SDI loop outputs are required, SFP+ 10GbE connectivity is needed, or 4K60 Full NDI with the cross converter is a system requirement.
| Signal | |
| Encoder Mode | HDMI input → Full NDI output |
| Decoder Mode | Full NDI input → HDMI output |
| HDMI Connector | HDMI (Type A) |
| NDI Standard | Full NDI |
| Network and Power | |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) |
| Power | PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) via Ethernet |
| Broadcast Features | |
| Tally | Built-in |
| Audio Intercom | Built-in two-way |
| OLED Display | Front-panel status |
| Housing | Aircraft-grade aluminium |
| Product Information | |
| SKU / Model | BD-MINI |
| Warranty | 2-year BirdDog warranty |
| Pricing | Price on Application — contact us for a quote |
Specifications correct at time of publication. Contact us to confirm before specification.
The BirdDog MINI is the compact, cost-effective Full NDI device for installations where loop outputs and 10GbE are not required.
Compact NDI Decode Positions
Small HDMI decode positions throughout a facility — monitors in control rooms, displays in offices, screens in meeting rooms — receiving Full NDI sources without space for a larger decoder.
Conference Room NDI
Small conference room NDI encoder or decoder where a compact PoE+ device is preferable to a full-size unit at the display or camera position.
Classroom NDI
NDI encode or decode at classroom positions — camera input to NDI or NDI source to a classroom display — in a compact PoE+ device that mounts cleanly at the installation point.
Houses of Worship
Multiple MINI units as decoders feeding confidence monitors and lobby screens from NDI program output, or as encoders at secondary camera positions.
AV Integration
Budget-conscious Full NDI deployments where the additional features of the 4K HDMI (loop outputs, SFP+) are not required at specific positions.
Studio Monitor Feeds
Decode Full NDI program output to HDMI at studio monitor positions — a compact permanent installation that takes up minimal space at the monitor position.
Can the MINI be both an encoder and decoder?
One unit is configured as either encoder or decoder at any given time — you set the mode in the management interface. The same physical unit can be reconfigured from encode to decode mode without any hardware change.
Is the MINI the same as the FLEX?
The MINI and FLEX are similar compact BirdDog devices. The FLEX 4K IN and FLEX 4K OUT are separate fixed-direction devices (IN is encoder only, OUT is decoder only) that are even more compact. The MINI is configurable as either. Contact us to discuss which is most appropriate for your deployment.
All BirdDog devices output Full NDI — the highest quality NDI standard — making them immediately compatible with any NDI-capable production software on the local network.
NDI Production SoftwareBirdDog devices output Full NDI and are discovered automatically by all NDI-capable production software on the same Gigabit network subnet via mDNS. No manual IP configuration required.
Video Conferencing (via NDI plugin)Contact us to confirm compatibility with a specific platform or version not listed above.