When looking to modernize and scale your PTZ camera installation, or if you’re setting up events or venues on small to large networks, connecting and controlling your PTZ cameras can become difficult to install, control, and scale if you’re using common SDI, HDMI, USB, or even HDBaseT PTZ camera connectivity.
What Is NDI?
“Network Device Interface” (NDI) is a widely used bidirectional IP video transport protocol created by NewTek (now Vizrt) for high-quality, low-latency live broadcast IP audio/video networks. NDI now has a developer community that develops and innovates the NDI Core software and SDK toolset to monitor, stream, switch, power, and control video, audio, and broadcast equipment over any IP network using wired or Wi-Fi to connect devices anywhere in the world over the Internet.
NDI is widely supported by hardware such as cameras, switchers, mixers, and graphics devices, as well as software applications such as NLEs, Adobe Premiere, After Effects, VLC, vMix, and others that offer NDI plugins that make integration simple.
Since the streams are such high quality, it requires a great deal of bandwidth, so NDI|HX (NDI high efficiency) streaming codecs were created to compress video, audio, and data into low-latency streams over slower networks. NDI networks make it easy to scale by just adding an NDI-enabled device onto the network, and it shows up ready to work. NDI is a lossless protocol that retains the quality of what the camera captures across the network, allowing you to stream many cameras over a single connection without any degradation in visual quality.
NDI vs. NDI|HX Streams
NDI supports IP transport of different streaming video codecs such as H.264 and H.265, as well as SpeedHQ, the default NDI high-bandwidth codec. Because the NDI high-bandwidth codec can take up a good amount of bandwidth and limit the number of streams on a single connection, the NDI|HX protocol was developed to utilize less bandwidth for each stream. HX3 transports the H.265 codec which is visually lossless and supports YUV 4:2:2, retaining high-quality color and image fidelity. This option is great when you need to add more camera streams but are running low on bandwidth. NDI|HX3 supports up to 50 Mb/s per stream and resolutions up to 1080p60, which is ideal for HD streaming broadcasts.
When/Where to Deploy an NDI Network
NDI can be deployed anywhere that features IP network infrastructure, from a small studio to a large stadium for live broadcast, house of worship, sporting and stage events, AR/VR virtual production, education, and corporate environments. It is a great choice when you need scaling, single-cable camera installations, and high-quality video from HD up to 4K.
Since NDI software tools are Mac and Windows compatible, they can also be used in most network environments. Basic NDI Tools developed by NDI community standards organizations include apps like Access Manger, Remote, Router, Bridge, Studio Monitor, Webcam Input, and more. There are even NDI apps for smartphones to add your camera as an NDI device for streaming and capture, as well as plugins for popular NLEs and broadcast apps as mentioned above.
Advantages of NDI Networks for PTZ Cameras
If you have an existing Ethernet network, you’re on your way to supporting an NDI network for your PTZ camera production. There are many advantages to choosing an NDI setup for your location:
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Transmit/stream any resolution from SD to 4K60 at any frame rate up to 150 Mb/s (NDI|HX limits to 1080p60 50 Mb/s)
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Accessible from anywhere in the world since it’s IP based
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Delivers audio and video over a single cable, along with power, control, and tally data
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Easy to scale, plug-and-play—drop in devices that will automatically be detected by software
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Low latency, high quality video and audio that is as close to the source camera quality as possible
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Cameras can be very far away from a streaming destination and operators
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Compatible with a wide range of devices and software
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Can be used with equipment that does not natively support NDI using NDI encoders/decoders
The cost of setting up an NDI network from scratch may seem high up front, as it may include purchasing cameras with included NDI licenses, NDI license upgrades, gigabit/fiber switches, encoders/decoders, and high-quality cable. Though in the long run, an NDI installation will likely have a lower price tag than other setups. When you need to scale up and/or change parameters of your productions, there are minimal infrastructure requirements to add cameras or devices using the easy, plug-and-play style of NDI.
Disadvantages of NDI Networks for PTZ Cameras
The more cameras you add, the more streams you simultaneously broadcast, the more saturated your network will become. This is why it is imperative that you plan ahead with a minimum of a Gigabit network when you start an NDI install, because if you continue to scale up, your network will slow down and there will be bottlenecks if you are limited to a 100 Mb/s network. Larger networks can utilize 5G and 10G fiber connections to ensure there are no bottlenecks when adding more camera streams.
Network setups may require more sophisticated knowledge of LAN support and more complex technology than operators are used to. But there is a lot of support out there since NDI has become so commonplace in broadcast and streaming that the learning curve may be minimal.
Equipment Requirements for an NDI PTZ Camera Network
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Ethernet switch: a minimum of Gigabit Ethernet, since a 100 Mb/s won’t support 4K or multiple streams
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Internet router with fast connection
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NDI-enabled cameras (some cameras come ready for NDI but may require an optional license purchase)
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NDI software or NDI-enabled hardware video switchers
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Fast Ethernet cable, Cat 6 or better
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NDI-enabled camera controller
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NDI decoder and/or encoder, if your cameras/gear do not support NDI
Case Studies
A case study setting up a live concert with multiple NDI-enabled BirdDog cameras.
A Stage production set up with NDI-enabled cameras.
Vizrt TriCaster TC1 and NDI PTZ cameras at a Thailand-based production company.
For more information about setting up PTZ cameras using NDI technology, feel free to give us a call, start a chat, or come visit us at the NYC SuperStore.
