ndi

NDI, or Network Device Interface, is a royalty-free IP-based standard for transporting video, audio, and related metadata over standard Ethernet networks. Developed by NewTek and introduced in the mid-2010s, NDI is designed to enable multiple devices and software on the same local network to share live video streams with low latency and frame-accurate timing. By using common network infrastructure, NDI provides an alternative to traditional SDI cabling in live production workflows.

NDI sources announce their availability on the network and can be discovered by other devices or software running on the same LAN. A single NDI stream can carry video, multi-channel audio, timecode, and user metadata, all synchronized for real-time production. NDI supports two main operating modes: standard NDI, which prioritizes quality and latency, and NDI|HX, a bandwidth-efficient variant that uses H.264 or HEVC compression to reduce network load at the expense of some quality and latency. Both modes support features such as tally indicators to show on-air status and basic control signaling to aid routing and switching.

The NDI ecosystem includes a broad range of software and hardware that either natively support NDI or provide plugins and tools. Common components include software video players, switchers, and production suites, as well as utilities such as NDI Studio Monitor for viewing streams, NDI Scan Converter for desktop capture, and NDI Bridge for routing sources across subnets or networks. NDI is widely used in broadcast, live events, education, houses of worship, and remote production workflows.

Operational considerations include network bandwidth and topology, as NDI streams can be bandwidth-intensive, especially with multiple HD or 4K sources. While designed for local networks, cross-subnet or WAN use typically relies on bridging solutions like NDI Bridge or VPN-based approaches. Security and encryption depend on network configuration, as NDI itself emphasizes performance and interoperability within trusted networks.