What Is NDI?
Network Device Interface — the professional standard for sending live video over a standard Ethernet network. Everything you need to know about NDI, how it works and who uses it.
NDI (Network Device Interface) is a royalty-free video transport standard developed by NewTek that allows cameras, computers and AV devices to send and receive broadcast-quality live video over a standard Gigabit Ethernet network — the same network infrastructure used for internet, email and file sharing. No dedicated video cables required.
How NDI Works
In traditional video production, every camera needs its own dedicated cable run — HDMI, SDI or composite — to reach a production switcher or recorder. This means long cable runs, expensive infrastructure and fixed signal paths.
NDI replaces physical video cables with the Ethernet network. A camera or encoder connected to any Ethernet port on the network immediately broadcasts its video as an NDI stream. Every other NDI-capable device on the same network can see and receive that stream instantly — automatically, without any patching, routing or configuration. Open OBS Studio, vMix or NDI Studio Monitor and the camera appears in the source list within seconds.
NDI uses a combination of mDNS (multicast DNS) for automatic source discovery and its own compression codec (SpeedHQ for Full NDI, H.264/H.265 for NDI|HX variants) for efficient video delivery. The protocol handles connection management, bandwidth adaptation and audio embedding automatically.
Full NDI, NDI|HX and NDI|HX2
NDI comes in three variants with different bandwidth and latency trade-offs. Choosing the right one depends on your network capacity and how many simultaneous sources you need.
Full NDI
Visually lossless SpeedHQ compression. One-frame latency (~16ms at 60fps). Best quality for Gigabit LAN production.
NDI|HX2
H.264 or H.265 compression. 2–3 frame latency. High quality at much lower bandwidth — fits 25+ streams on Gigabit.
NDI|HX
H.264 compression. 3–5 frame latency. Lowest bandwidth — suitable for Wi-Fi sources or very large source counts.
💡 Which to use? Use Full NDI for studio and fixed installations where bandwidth is not a constraint. Use NDI|HX2 for productions with many simultaneous cameras on a shared Gigabit network. Use NDI|HX for Wi-Fi sources or environments where bandwidth is severely limited.
NDI vs SDI vs HDMI
NDI does not replace cameras — it replaces the cables between cameras and production systems.
- HDMI / SDI (traditional): one physical cable per camera, fixed signal path, limited by cable run length (HDMI typically 5–15m without extenders, SDI up to 100m). Any routing change requires physical reconnection.
- NDI (IP): any camera on the network is instantly available everywhere on that network. No fixed routing, no cable runs between camera positions and the production area, no routing switcher infrastructure required. Routing changes happen in software in real time.
In practice, most facilities use NDI encoders to convert existing HDMI and SDI cameras into NDI sources — the cameras themselves do not need to change. Magewell Pro Convert encoders, BirdDog encoders and Kiloview NDI encoders all connect to camera HDMI or SDI outputs and deliver NDI to the network.
Who Uses NDI
Houses of Worship
PTZ cameras around a sanctuary connected to a Gigabit switch — all visible in vMix or Wirecast without cable runs to a central point.
Broadcast Facilities
IP production replacing SDI routing infrastructure. NDI cameras and encoders on a network core for software-defined signal routing.
Universities
Lecture capture and campus production with cameras in multiple rooms feeding a central production system over the campus network.
Corporate AV
Boardroom cameras, conference room AV and corporate broadcast studios feeding central production systems via NDI over IT network infrastructure.
Sports Production
Multi-camera coverage with NDI cameras at multiple positions around a venue, all feeding a production system over venue Ethernet.
Medical
Surgical cameras and imaging equipment distributed over hospital networks as NDI sources for clinical communication and telemedicine.
Live Events
Temporary NDI networks at events — cameras plug into venue Ethernet ports and appear in the production system anywhere on site instantly.
Defence & Government
Secure video distribution over controlled networks. NDI over classified infrastructure for command and briefing facilities.
Getting Started with NDI
1. Verify your network is Gigabit
Every switch in the signal path must be Gigabit (1 Gbps). 100 Mbps switches cannot carry even one Full NDI 1080p60 stream. Most switches purchased in the last five years are Gigabit — check the spec label on your switch.
2. Install NDI Tools
Download the free NDI Tools package from ndi.video. Install NDI Studio Monitor on a computer on the same network — if you can see sources in Studio Monitor, NDI is working. NDI Tools also includes NDI Scan Converter, which outputs your PC screen as an NDI source immediately.
3. Add a hardware NDI source
Connect a Magewell Pro Convert encoder to your switch and a camera to its HDMI or SDI input. The camera appears on the network as an NDI source within seconds — visible in NDI Studio Monitor, OBS and vMix without any additional configuration.
4. Receive in production software
In OBS: install obs-ndi plugin → Add Source → NDI Source → select from list. In vMix: Add Input → NDI. In Wirecast: Shot Layer → NDI Source. Sources appear by name automatically.
For the full step-by-step NDI setup guide including managed switch configuration and troubleshooting, see How to Set Up NDI.
NDI Products at nuuo.co.uk
Encoders — convert cameras to NDI
Pro Convert HDMI Plus
Compact HDMI to Full NDI encoder. PoE powered. Plug any HDMI camera into the network. From £383 ex-VAT.
Pro Convert SDI Plus
3G-SDI to Full NDI. Integrate broadcast cameras into NDI networks. PoE powered. From £412 ex-VAT.
Full NDI PTZ Cameras
PTZ cameras with Full NDI built-in. Plug into a PoE switch — appears on network instantly, no encoder needed.
NDI Encoders
HDMI and SDI to NDI with SRT and RTMP outputs. Rack-mount options for permanent broadcast installations.
Decoders — receive NDI to physical outputs
Pro Convert NDI to HDMI
Receive any NDI source and output to HDMI display. Auto-discovers sources. PoE powered. From £370 ex-VAT.
Pro Convert NDI to AIO
NDI to simultaneous HDMI, SDI and analogue — one device feeds all output formats from one NDI source. From £338 ex-VAT.
Need help planning your NDI setup?
Our technical team can advise on network design, encoder selection and switch configuration for any NDI installation — from a single-camera church to a full broadcast facility.
Contact Technical SupportFrequently Asked Questions
What does NDI stand for?
NDI stands for Network Device Interface. It is a royalty-free standard developed by NewTek (now part of Vizrt Group) for sending professional video over standard Ethernet networks. NDI allows cameras, computers and AV devices to share live video over an IP network without dedicated video cables.
What is the difference between Full NDI, NDI|HX and NDI|HX2?
Full NDI: visually lossless SpeedHQ compression, ~125 Mbps at 1080p60, one-frame latency. NDI|HX2: H.264/H.265, 20–40 Mbps, 2–3 frame latency, high quality at much lower bandwidth. NDI|HX: H.264, 8–15 Mbps, 3–5 frame latency, for Wi-Fi and low-bandwidth environments. Use Full NDI on Gigabit LAN; use HX2 for many simultaneous sources; use HX for Wi-Fi.
What network do I need for NDI?
Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) is the minimum. Full NDI uses ~125 Mbps per 1080p60 stream, so a Gigabit switch handles 7–8 Full NDI streams simultaneously. For more sources, use NDI|HX2 or a 10 Gigabit switch. All devices must be on the same IP subnet for automatic mDNS discovery. A managed switch with IGMP snooping is required for 7+ Full NDI sources to prevent multicast flooding.
Is NDI free to use?
NDI runtime and NDI Tools are free from ndi.video. OBS NDI plugin is free. vMix includes NDI natively. Magewell Pro Convert hardware includes NDI licences. BirdDog cameras include NDI licences. Some third-party implementations may require a paid licence — check the product specification.
Can NDI work over Wi-Fi?
NDI|HX and NDI|HX2 can work over strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi 6. Full NDI at 125 Mbps is too demanding for reliable Wi-Fi in most environments. For production, always use wired Gigabit Ethernet for cameras and encoders. Wi-Fi is acceptable for monitoring via NDI Studio Monitor.
How does NDI compare to SDI?
SDI requires a dedicated coaxial cable from each camera to a central router. NDI sends video over standard Ethernet — cameras connect to any network port and are instantly visible everywhere on the network. NDI eliminates cable runs, removes the need for hardware routing switchers and allows any-to-any routing in software. SDI remains preferred for lowest latency and in environments without Ethernet infrastructure.
What software supports NDI?
Major compatible software: vMix (native), OBS Studio (free obs-ndi plugin), Wirecast (native), Adobe Premiere Pro (Magewell plugin), Microsoft Teams (NDI output in settings), Zoom (Pro accounts), Skype, XSplit and hundreds more. NDI Tools from ndi.video includes free monitoring and source creation tools.