Network Device Interface (NDI) Explained

I have a camera. I have a network switch (connected to a LAN or WAN). I have a computer.
 
I can take all three of these, link them together, and have them talking to one another like old friends. With a Ethernet cable, I can take the output of a camera, plug it into a switch, and have the camera’s output become a video and audio source on my network.
 
But this isn’t your typical streaming video. This is Network Device Interface video. It’s broadcast quality video, perfect for live production and recording.
 
Let’s say you have four cameras. Or maybe a bunch of cameras. And let’s say you want all of the cameras visible on different computers throughout your facility. Safe. Secure. Password protected. Plug all of the cameras into your local network switch, with the blessing of your IT department, and depending on user permissions, each computer can monitor, record, and control (i.e. a PTZ camera) the video. The beauty, in this case, is there’s very little bandwidth needed on the switch. No expensive video routing, no expensive HDMI or video cable runs. Plug in the camera, and it’s available to everyone with the proper permissions.

Recorded video can be sent to production or further encoding. Monitored video can be used for quality control. And the PTZ cameras can be controlled remotely- every pan, tilt, and zoom.
 
Whether you work in a post-production facility or with a government PEG channel, or any points in between or outside the norm, NDI is a technology you should be looking at now. It will revolutionize how your facility produces, records, monitors, and all-around wrangles your video.

Network Device Interface (NDI) is a royalty-free software standard developed by NewTek to enable video-compatible products to communicate, deliver, and receive broadcast-quality video in a high-quality, low-latency manner that is frame-accurate and suitable for switching in a live production environment.

For more information or to request a demo, contact Warren Baker, Post Production Specialist.   ✆ 800 532 1099   ⓔ Warren@clark-powell.com