Network Device Interface

Network Device Interface (NDI) is a royalty free 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. The protocol is designed to be highly robust and is used in many network-connected video devices. It has been widely adopted and the installed based for NDI exceeds 1 million users [1].

Technology

Whilst the NDI technology has been developed by NewTek it is made available to anyone with a royalty-free license, and has been widely adopted by many broadcast vendors, including those sometimes seen as competition for NewTek's own products. A free code library and examples is available [2] for Windows, Linux and macOS. NDI has also been ported to iOS,[3] Android,[4] Raspberry PI, and FPGA.[5] There is also a range of free NDI tools for end users provided by NewTek,[6] Sienna,[7] VMix[8] and others.

Unlike other professional IP Video protocols such as SMPTE2022-6 and ASPEN which require 10 Gigabit networks,[9] NDI is designed to run over existing 1 Gigabit networks allowing easy adoption of the protocol without new infrastructure. This is achieved through the use of video data compression with the NDI codec which delivers 1080 full HD video at VBR data rates typically around 100mBit/sec.[10]

NDI uses the mDNS (Bonjour / Zeroconf) discovery mechanism to advertise sources on a local area network, such that NDI receiving devices can automatically discover and offer those sources. Sources are created using an arbitrarily selected TCP port from a range of ports on the NDI send host. When a source is requested a TCP connection is established on the appropriate port with the NDI receiver connecting to the NDI sender.

NDI carries video, multichannel uncompressed audio and metadata. Metadata messages can be sent in both directions allowing the sender and receiver to message one another over the connection with arbitrary metadata in XML form.[11] This directional metadata system allows for functionality such as active tally information fed back to sources to understand that they are on-air (program / preview). NDI also allows senders to determine the number of connected receivers, so they can skip unnecessary processing and network bandwidth utilisation when there are no NDI receiver clients connected.

Comparison of NDI With Other Protocols

Other IP Video protocols emerging for use in professional video production (rather than IP Video used for distribution to end users) include SMPTE 2022, SMPTE2110, ASPEN and Sony NMI. There are clear differences in the technology used by these protocols.

Parameter NDI / NDI HX SMPTE2022-6[12] SMPTE2110[12] ASPEN[13] NMI[14]
Transport TCP, UDP** UDP UDP UDP UDP
Image Format Size / Aspect Independent SDI Formats only SDI Formats only
Tally Feedback Yes No No No
Integrated Alpha Channel Yes No No
Compression NDI / NDI HX NONE * NONE * / 2110-21 NONE NONE / LLVC Codec
Connection Socket (i.e. Unicast) / Multicast with FEC MultiCast MultiCast MultiCast MultiCast / ?
HD Data Rate ~ 100Mbit/Sec / < 15Mbit/Sec (HX) >1.5GBit/Sec >1.5GBit/Sec >1.5GBit/Sec >1.5GBit/Sec / up to 14:1[15]
Essence Packing Discrete Audio, Metadata and Video Frame packets Packetized Raw SDI bitstream Discrete Essence Streams Multiple MPEG Transport Streams Frame Aligned 2022-6 / LLVC
Infrastructure Gigabit / Wireless req. 10GBit req. 10GBit req. 10GBit + Evertz Switch req. 10GBit / Gigabit
Service Discovery Bonjour (mDNS) NMOS[16] NMOS[16] JSON-RPC Plug & Play (NDCP)
API free license, SDK Libraries for Win, Mac, Linux, iOS[17] paid-for SMPTE Standards paid-for SMPTE Standards paid-for SMPTE RDD

*The TICO codec can be used to compress UHD by 4:1 so an encoded stream can be carried along a SMPTE 2022-6 channel at the same uncompressed bandwidth as HD.[18] SMPTE 2110 with TR-03 also offers the potential to use TICO.[19] This requires a proprietary encoder and decoder which are generally implemented as silicon on each end. * * NDI 3.0 supports TCP and also UDP including Multicast as appropriate

History

NDI was publicly revealed by NewTek on 8 September 2015 [20] and was demonstrated at the IBC broadcast exhibition in Amsterdam that week. The first device shown using NDI was the NewTek TriCaster which delivered an NDI feed from each of its SDI inputs as well as 4 output feeds from its vision mixer. TriCaster could also receive up to 2 NDI sources from other devices (increased to 12 in later releases and up to 44 in NewTek's IP Series [21]).

NDI devices from other vendors followed during 2016. The first 3rd party products came from Gallery Sienna[22] and included an NDI signal generator for macOS, a desktop scan converter for macOS and the NDICam[23] camera app for iPhone which delivers a native NDI stream from iOS devices.

NewTek had previously created a predecessor of NDI called AirSend to get video from external devices into their TriCaster products. AirSend had been implemented by a number of CG manufacturers including VizRT and Chyron. In order to quickly bring these products into the NDI space, NewTek created a new driver to replace the existing AirSend driver, which could be installed on these existing AirSend compatible devices, instantly converting them to NDI compatible devices with no change required by the original CG vendors.[24]

Another early adopter of NDI was VMix, a Windows based vision mixer which offers NDI inputs and outputs.[25] The biggest increase in the NDI installed base came when live streaming application XSplit added support for NDI.[26]

Later in 2016, NewTek delivered NDI 2.0 which added features including support for service discovery across subnets.

In the first half of 2017, BirdDog began demonstrating and shipping BirdDog Studio NDI[5] - a PoE powered portable FPGA based NDI encoder with HDMI and SDI inputs with full Tally, supporting up to 1080p60 video resolutions.

On 12th July 2017 NewTek announced NDI 3.0 which added multicast, NDI/HX and other new features. [27]

Use in Wifi and Wide Area Networks

NDI was designed to work on good quality gigabit local area networks using TCP and Bonjour technologies. Mobile apps like NDICam have shown that NDI can also work well on Wifi networks, although the need for c. 100mBit communications requires very good quality communication between the device and the Wifi router to achieve full frame rates.

NDI 3.0 with NDI HX introduced a lower data rate codec which can be used more easily over Wifi and even potentially 4G connections.

Some NDI adopters have run the protocol across medium distance Fibre connections up to 15 km,[28] although NDI's use of the TCP protocol make it less suitable for longer distance, high latency connections due to factors such as Bandwidth Delay Product and TCP packet loss recovery. NDI HX uses a lower data rate and as such is more suitable for WIFI.[29]

To provide an extension of NDI to wide area networks, the NDI.Cloud[30] protocol uses node gateways in each LAN to bridge NDI sources across continents.[31]. In July 2017, using NDI.Cloud USSSA (United States Speciality Sports Association) successfully made the first truly wide area network NDI sports coverage with 5 cameras backhauled across the public internet from a stadium, to 200 miles away into an NDI based production gallery. [32]

Adoption

The NDI Protocol has been widely adopted by a diverse variety of software and hardware vendors. The table below includes a list of products known to support the NDI Protocol

Vendor Product Description OS Platform
NewTek TriCaster[33] Multi Camera Production System
NewTek IP Series[34] Modular Production System
NewTek 3PLAY[35] Slow Motion & Instant Replay System
NewTek NDI Camera[36] iOS / Android based NDI Camera iOS, Android
NewTek Connect Pro[37] NDI Converter Windows
NewTek IsoCorder Pro[38] Multi Source Recorder Windows
NewTek NDI Telestrator[39] Telestrator Windows
NewTek NDI Transmit[40] WebCam Emulator Windows
NewTek NDI Video Monitor[41] NDI Source Viewer (Windows) Windows
NewTek TalkShow[42] Skype TX Interface
NewTek LiveText[43] Computer Graphics Windows
NewTek Connect Spark [44] HDMI / SDI to NDI HX Converters [HX]
NewTek PTZ Camera [45] NDI HX PTZ Camera [HX]
Sienna NDICam[23] iPhone based NDI Camera iOS
Sienna NDI ScanConverter[46] Desktop ScanConverter macOS
Sienna NDI Monitor[47] NDI Source Viewer macOS
Sienna NDI Source[48] SDI to NDI Converter macOS
Sienna NDI Outlet[49] NDI to SDI Converter (Fill & Key) macOS
Sienna WebCam for NDI [50] WebCam to NDI Converter macOS
Sienna NDI SignalGenerator [51] NDI Test Signal Generator macOS
Sienna WebNDI [52] WebBrowser with NDI Output iOS
Sienna Cloud for NDI [30] Wide Area Network for NDI macOS, Windows, linux
StudioCoast VMix[53] Video Production System Windows
JVC StreamStar [54] Live Production System
CombiTech VidBlasterX [55] Video Production System Windows
Broadcast Pix Flint [56] Integrated Production Switcher
Nagasoft NSCaster[57] Multi Camera Production System
Livestream Livestream Studio 4.5[58] Live Production Switcher Windows
Panasonic AV-HLC100 [59] Live Production Center
Panasonic AW-HN38,40,130 AW-UN70[60] NDI HX PTZ Cameras [HX]
Panasonic NewTek AutoLink [61] IP Camera Translator Windows
Inklen MixEmergency [62] VJ Mixer macOS
Telestream Wirecast 7 Live Production Streaming macOS, Windows
OBS Open Broadcaster [63] Live Production Streaming Windows, macOS, Linux
BlueFrame Technology Production Truck software [64] Multi Camera Switcher and Graphics macOS
Boinx mimoLive[65] Live Production and Streaming macOS
LiveU LU2000[66] Bonded Video Transceiver
VizRT Viz Engine[67] Computer Graphics
NewTek & Vizrt NVG1[68] Computer Graphics
ChyronHego PRIME, Lyric[69] Computer Graphics
Ross Video Xpression[70] Computer Graphics Windows
NewBlue Titler Live Broadcast[71] Computer Graphics macOS, Windows
AGF Multimedia CharacterWorks 3[72] Computer Graphics Windows
ClassX LiveBoard [73] Computer Graphics Windows
SQD Technologies Squid [74] Computer Graphics
BannisterLake Chameleon [75] Computer Graphics
CasparCG CasparCG [76] Computer Graphics Windows
AJT Systems LiveBook GFX [77] Computer Graphics
Graphics Outfitters ScoreHD [78] Computer Graphics Windows
LiveXpert Live CG[79] Computer Graphics Windows
Nautilus Studio NSport[80] Computer Graphics Windows
Ventuz Director[81] Computer Graphics Windows
Vset3D Vset3DPro [82] Virtual Set Windows
Brainstorm Multimedia Infinity Set[83] Virtual Set
Epic Unreal Engine 4[84] Game Rendering Engine
Zero Density Reality[85] Virtual Studio Windows
LiveXpert LiveMediaServer NDI[86] Video Server Windows
Gnural Net LiveToAir[87] Video Server
PlayBox ProductionAirBox Neo[88] Video Playout
Renewed Vision ProPresenter 6 [89] Video Playout macOS, Windows
Renewed Vision PVP 3 Video Playout macOS
VideoLAN VLC (via Newtek Plugin) [90] Video Player Windows
BirdDog BirdDog Studio NDI[5] Portable HDMI/SDI encoder FPGA Embedded
Adobe CreativeCloud (via NewTek Plugin)[91] Video Editing / Graphics macOS, Windows
Adobe Character Animator Real time Animation synthesiser macOS, Windows
NewTek & Wowza MediaDS[92] Streaming Server
SplitMediaLabs XSplit [93] Streaming Server Windows
Streambox Streambox [94] Streaming Server
DVEO Gearbox / Brutus [95] Transcoder
Zen NDI Router[96] NDI Source Router Windows
Zen RTx [96] NDI Source Repeater Windows
Evertz SDVN [97] Data Switch
Autocue QStart [98] Teleprompter Windows
Pizazz NDI2HDMI[99] Converter
Pizazz NDI Viewfinder[99] Converter / Monitor
Capture Sweden Capture Nexum[100] Live Visualisation Windows
mogmoglogic DPX Analytics[101] Media Analyser Windows
Dataton Watchout [102] MultiScreen Display System
Quicklink Quicklink TX [103] Skype TX Interface
Derivative TouchDesigner [104] Projection Mapper Windows
PTZOptics NDI HX Cameras [105] NDI HX Cameras [HX]

References

  1. ↑ "NewTek Claims One Million NDI-Enabled Products in the Market". Thebroadcastbridge.com.
  2. ↑ "NewTek NDI SDK". Newtek.com.
  3. ↑ "Home". Sienna-tv.com.
  4. ↑ "NewTek NDI - Android Apps on Google Play". Play.google.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "bird-dog". Bird-dog.
  6. ↑ "NewTek NDI Tools". Newtek.com.
  7. ↑ "FreeNDITools". Sienna-tv.com.
  8. ↑ "NDI - IP Video Production - vMix". Vmix.com.
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  10. ↑ "NDI Network Bandwidth". NewTek Knowledge Base.
  11. ↑ "NewTek Announces NDI – Open Protocol for IP Production Workflow - Technical Standards". Content-technology.com.
  12. 1 2 "Num" (PDF). Smpte.org. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  13. ↑ "ASPEN Community - Home". aspen-community.com.
  14. ↑ "Sony launches Networked Media Interface in collaboration with leading broadcast industry organisations : Press : United Kingdom : Sony Professional". Sony.co.uk.
  15. ↑ "NMI Core - Nextera Video Inc". Nexteravideo.com.
  16. 1 2 "What are the Networked Media Open Specifications?". Nmos.tv.
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  21. ↑ Kerschbaumer, Ken; Monday, Editorial Director; 19, September; Story, 2016-9:34 am Print This. "NewTek’s IP Series Video-Production System Targets New Markets". Sports Video Group.
  22. ↑ "First 3rd Party NDI Tools Available !". forums.newtek.com.
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  25. ↑ Bridge, The Broadcast. "StudioCoast vMix Adopts NewTek NDI Standard - The Broadcast Bridge - Connecting IT to Broadcast". Thebroadcastbridge.com.
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  32. ↑ http://www.sienna-tv.com/ndi/ndicloudblog.html
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  34. ↑ "IP Series Modular Video Production System - NewTek". Newtek.com.
  35. ↑ "NewTek 3Play". Newtek.com.
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  37. ↑ "NewTek Connect Pro". Newtek.com. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  38. ↑ "NewTek IsoCorder Pro - NewTek". Newtek.com.
  39. ↑ "NewTek Telestrator - NewTek". Newtek.com.
  40. ↑ "NewTek NDI Transmit". Newtek.com.
  41. ↑ "NewTek NDI". Newtek.com.
  42. ↑ "NewTek TalkShow". Newtek.com.
  43. ↑ "LiveText Sofware - NewTek". Newtek.com.
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  45. ↑ https://www.newtek.com/camera/ndihx-ptz1/
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  47. ↑ "NDIMonitor". Sienna-tv.com.
  48. ↑ "NDI Source". Sienna-tv.com.
  49. ↑ "NDI Outlet". Sienna-tv.com.
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  51. ↑ "NDI Signal Gen". Sienna-tv.com.
  52. ↑ "WebNDI". Sienna-tv.com.
  53. ↑ "NDI - IP Video Production - vMix". Vmmix.com.
  54. ↑ www.the-bridge.co.uk, The Bridge -. "Welcome to JVC". jvcpro.eu.
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  56. ↑ Madio, Sarah. "Broadcast Pix - Broadcast Pix Version 6.0 Software Now Available, Includes BPNet Workflow Management Software". Broadcastpix.com.
  57. ↑ "NSCaster - NAGA SOFT". nagashare.com.
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  60. ↑ https://www.productionhub.com/press-release/60785/panasonic-introduces-ndi-line-up-of-professional-ptz-cameras-and-switcher
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  62. ↑ "MixEmergency". inklen.com.
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  64. ↑ https://www.blueframetech.com/blog/blueframe-in-2016-a-year-in-review/
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  80. ↑ "NSport". nautilusstudio.hu.
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  91. ↑ "NewTek NDI for Adobe Creative Cloud". Newtek.com.
  92. ↑ "MediaDS Hardware - Wowza Media Systems". Wowza.com.
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  96. 1 2 "NDI software utilities from ZEN Computer Services". Zenvideo.co.uk.
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  98. ↑ "Autocue Adopts NewTek NDI for IP Production Workflow". Autocue.com.
  99. 1 2 "PIZAZZ virtual office". Pizazz.com.
  100. ↑ "Capture Sweden > Products > News in Nexum > NDI". Capturesweden.com.
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  102. ↑ "Press - ISE 2017: Dataton previews key new features in its WATCHOUT multi-display system". Dataton.com.
  103. ↑ "Quicklink products integrate NewTek NDI™ IP Technology - Quicklink". quicklink.tv.
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  105. ↑ http://ptzoptics.com/ndi-cameras/
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