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BirdDog 4K 12G-SDI NDI Encoder/Decoder

BH #BIBD4KSDI • MFR #BD4KSDI
6 reviews
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BirdDog 4K 12G-SDI NDI Encoder/Decoder
Key Features
  • Up to UHD 4K/60 Input
  • Full-Bandwidth I-Frame Compression
  • 12G-SDI Input, 12G-SDI/HDMI 2.0 Output
  • 3.5mm Audio Input/Output
Based on BirdDog's custom NDI silicon chip, the BirdDog 4K 12G-SDI NDI Encoder/Decoder supports up to UHD 4K/60 video input for distribution on NDI networks in full-bandwidth I-frame compression. The compact device is housed in an aircraft-grade aluminium case and features a 12G-SDI input and 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 individual outputs. It also has a built-in cross converter that allows the SDI input to be looped out via the HDMI output.
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BirdDog BD4K Overview

Based on BirdDog's custom NDI silicon chip, the BirdDog 4K 12G-SDI NDI Encoder/Decoder supports up to UHD 4K/60 video input for distribution on NDI networks in full-bandwidth I-frame compression. The compact device is housed in an aircraft-grade aluminium case and features a 12G-SDI input and 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 individual outputs. It also has a built-in cross converter that allows the SDI input to be looped out via the HDMI output.

Another major feature is an SFP+ expansion slot that supports SFP+ modules for fiber connectivity and Ethernet protocols from 1-10GbE. A tally system with a large bicolor tally light is also built for indicating which camera is live to on-air talent. The tally system also allows user-selectable tally borders on loop out. The device is complete with 3.5mm audio input/output, a 4-line OLED display, and USB 3.0 interface. It can be powered by a standard power supply or over PoE+.

The 4K 12G-SDI NDI Encoder/Decoder comes with the BirdDog Comms Lite audio intercom software, which supports up to four BirdDog devices. Comms Lite is Windows compatible and offers features such as director push to talk, mute camera operator, auto-detect NDI sources, monitor camera audio, and shortcut to web console. For a more complete version of the application, an optional upgrade is available to Comms Pro. The Encoder/Decoder is also compatible with the optional BirdDog Central software, which helps you decode NDI back to SDI or HDMI.

Key Features
  • Up to UHD 4K/60 video input
  • Distribution on NDI networks in full-bandwidth I-frame compression
  • 12G-SDI input
  • 12G-SDI output
  • HDMI 2.0 output
  • 3.5mm audio input/output
  • Built-in cross converter
  • SFP+ expansion slot
  • Bicolor tally light
  • Selectable tally indicator on video loop outputs
  • PoE+ support
  • 4-line OLED display
  • Includes BirdDog Comms Lite audio intercom software for Windows (upgradeable to the complete Comms Pro application)
  • Compatible with the optional BirdDog Central software for decoding NDI back to HDMI/SDI
  • Aircraft-grade aluminium housing
  • Control any PTZ camera that supports NDI, NDI|HX, or Visca over IP using an optional USB-to-Ethernet dongle
Network Connectivity
  • Ethernet RJ45 1000baseT with integrated PoE
  • Open SFP+ Cage (10GB SFP+ adapters sold separately)
  • Embedded Web configuration panel
External Interface Support (Requires Optional Cables)
  • USB to RJ45 for additional network in device support
  • USB to RJ45 for VISCA over IP PTZ control
  • USB to Serial PTZ control (RS-232)
  • USB ISO recording
Included Comms Lite Software
  • Windows 10 and above compatible
  • Groups: 1
  • Max BirdDog devices per group: 4
  • Live video windows: 4
  • Director Push to Talk buttons: 1
  • Director to All
  • BirdDog to Director
  • Mute Camera Operator
  • Shortcut to Web Console
  • Monitor Camera Audio
  • Auto-detect NDI sources
  • Volume sider bar
Additional Features with Optional Comms Pro Upgrade
  • BirdDog Push to Talk
  • Director to Group
  • BirdDog Operator Broadcast
  • Mix Minus
  • Keyboard shortcuts / hot case
  • Refresh NDI Sources

BirdDog BD4K Specs

Key Specs
Video I/O
Input
1x BNC (12G-SDI)
Output
1x BNC (12G-SDI)
1x HDMI 2.0
Audio I/O
Input
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS
Output
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo
Video Resolution
SDI Output
3840 x 2160 at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps
1920 x 1080p at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps
1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps
1280 x 720 at 50/59.94/60 fps
HDMI Output
3840 x 2160 at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps
1920 x 1080p at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps
1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps
1280 x 720 at 50/59.94/60 fps
Broadcast System Compatibility
NTSC
Inputs/Outputs
Video I/O
Input
1x BNC (12G-SDI)
Output
1x BNC (12G-SDI)
1x HDMI 2.0
Audio I/O
Input
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS
Output
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo
Other I/O
Input/Output
1x USB-A (PoE)
Expansion Slots
1x SFP+ Slot
Format Support
Video Resolution
SDI Output
3840 x 2160 at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps
1920 x 1080p at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps
1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps
1280 x 720 at 50/59.94/60 fps
HDMI Output
3840 x 2160 at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps
1920 x 1080p at 23.98/24/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps
1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps
1280 x 720 at 50/59.94/60 fps
Reclocking
No
Standards
Broadcast System Compatibility
NTSC
Display
Display
OLED
Power
Power I/O
1x Barrel (12 VDC ) Input
1x RJ45 Input
PoE Support
Yes: PoE+ 802.3at
Power Consumption
Device: 16 W
General
Dimensions
5.31 x 3.35 x 0.98" / 13.5 x 8.5 x 2.5 cm
Weight
0.57 lb / 260 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight
1.995 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
7.5 x 6.25 x 4.25"

BirdDog BD4K Reviews

Works great! IF you understand the nuances of NDI

By Jay Tee
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2025-11-28

This unit does exactly what you needed to do, once you get it to an up-to-date firmware. I think that was my biggest challenge with this was at first I could not find the correct firmware for it. The version five firmware that’s listed on the support page of their website, cannot be upgraded to unless you’re already on version five. The problem is these things do not ship with that new version. They shipped with an extremely old buggy version 1.1 that will not work. However, if you go to their previous releases, you will find up to a version 21. There’s about 10 previous versions on there, and you will have to upgrade the unit through each version one by one to get it to want to work with the newest version 21. Once you do that, the unit actually works amazing. Now understand this is a full NDI encoder, so those expecting it to be HX need to look for something else. Additionally, if you’re looking to use this with V-Mix, VMIX only outputs full NDI. There is a trick documented online to get HX feeds, but it adds some delay. So yeah it does take a little TLC to get this thing to function correctly. But if your goal is to use full NDI, and you have a network that supports it, once you get through the lack of documentation and the firmware weirdness, this QUAD 4K is rock solid and I’ve never had a single problem on a show.

Finally working reliably

By Jacob
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2023-06-27

I had purchased these units about 18 months ago and they were totally unusable, and ended up returning them (the other review here is mine). They've finally got this thing working reliably and I use it in a 24/7 environment without issue. Did knock 1 star as they originally advertised it as it could be a mix of encode and decode, but that eventually changed to all of one or the other.

See any errors on this page?

Will BirdDog 4K 12G-SDI NDI Encoder/Decoder ...

Will BirdDog 4K 12G-SDI NDI Encoder/Decoder Silicon 2 update add NDi-HX encoding decoding?
Asked by: Shyam
Yes, the 4K encoder/decoder line will all get the options of full NDI, NDI HX, SRT, and RTMP for the Ethernet jack.
Answered by: Michael S
Date published: 2024-09-05

Is this one unit or two? Send and receive or is ...

Is this one unit or two? Send and receive or is it a unit that does both?
Asked by: warren
This is one box. It is an encoder/decoder so it does both send and receive.
Answered by: Dennis L
Date published: 2020-12-15

The 12G-SDI non-QUAD unit has a separate input ...

The 12G-SDI non-QUAD unit has a separate input and output connector. Can it encode one NDI stream to the network while decoding a different NDI stream from the network at the same time?
Asked by: Chad
The outputs would be looped-out signals from the input, which supports only one NDI stream. A different NDI stream from the input is not possible.
Answered by: Raymond B
Date published: 2021-08-10

Can this product handle four simultaneous UHD 4K ...

Can this product handle four simultaneous UHD 4K inputs converted to NDI? can it handle the reverse?
Asked by: John
Yes, this has Four 12G-SDI connections that are selectable between and input or output. This is both an Encoder/Decoder.
Answered by: Joe P
Date published: 2020-11-11

Am I able to have 4 1080p59.94 (3G-SDI) video ...

Am I able to have 4 1080p59.94 (3G-SDI) video feeds running through this instead of 4k?
Asked by: Jacob
Yes, the unit supports up to 4K, as follows: SDI: UHD 4K: 23.98/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps 1080p: 23.98/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps 1080i: 50/59.94 fps 720p: 50/59.94/60 fps HDMI UHD 4K: 23.98/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps 1080p: 23.98/25/29.97/30/50/59.94/60 fps 1080i: 50/59.94 fps 720p: 50/59.94/60 fps
Answered by: Bruno
Date published: 2023-09-15

can I use 2 of these to: 1) Turn SDI to NDI, TX ...

can I use 2 of these to: 1) Turn SDI to NDI, TX across my network. 2.) use 2nd box to decode the NDI back to an SDI signal
Asked by: Henry
The 4K HDMI unit is just an HDMI Encoder or Decoder. You will need a 4K SDI unit to encode SDI into NDI. Depending on how you want the signal to come out, you will need either an SDI or HDMI unit.
Answered by: Nick Y
Date published: 2021-01-28

Does this equipment work or not? Also, based on ...

Does this equipment work or not? Also, based on BD Website, the BNCs can be independently assigned as an encoder or decoder; is this not true?
Asked by: Matt
The 4K Quads will be able to do that, once the final firmware is released. It is not in that current state, but eventually that feature is planned to be on the QUAD. Right now, you can ENCODE all or DECODE all.
Answered by: Nick Y
Date published: 2021-04-12

how much latency from UHD 4K 60fps HDMI input to ...

how much latency from UHD 4K 60fps HDMI input to NDI stream?
Asked by: Damian
From 1080p25 HD SDI to NDI and back to 1080p25 HD SDI it takes at least 2 frames. So end to end latency min. 2 frames, encoding 1 decoding 1 for HD. With 60fps that would be about 17ms for encoding only in HD. For 24 fps it is about 42ms in HD oder over 80ms end to end!
Answered by: Chris
Date published: 2020-11-02
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