NDI stands for Network Device Interface and is a great technology for pumping high-quality video over standard IT networks. It comes from the broadcasting world, but without the cost of broadcasting, and offers ease of use and flexibility for AV projects at all levels.
Australian manufacturer BirdDog has embraced the simplicity and elegance of NDI and incorporated it into the growing line of PTZ cameras, converters, monitor modules and wall panels that Holdan sells in the UK.
There are two types of NDI, but BirdDog only processes full NDI broadcast quality broadcasting content in HD or 4K. NDI is a unique technology in that apart from sending video over the network it also has other transmission functions such as measuring the view - so the moderator knows which camera to view - PTZ camera control and even the intercom. It also has simple automatic detection, which means that the source just appears on the network without any special knowledge.
Much less latency than frames, so NDI can be used for live events without the hassle of lip sync issues.
Many NDI tools are provided free of charge by NewTek, the developer of NDI. You can select and play any NDI video source on any Mac or PC, send a desktop from a computer via a network keyboard and mouse, and turn any computer into a multichannel network player without spending a penny.
The free virtual webcam plugin lets you use any NDI video source as a webcam on Zoom or Microsoft Teams or anything that sees a webcam.
BirdDog Converter
Affordable and with many unique features, we believe the BirdDog converter range is unmatched in the industry. Starting with the Flex 4K family. Dubbed "the world's smallest 4K NDI", this converter accepts HDMI and sends NDI to the network, or receives NDI and sends HDMI 4K. And with Power over Ethernet, you don't need an overloaded network adapter.
The 4K converter suite supports 4K at 50 or 60 fps and is housed in a heavy metal case. They can be set either as an encoder or as a decoder. The powerful 4K Quad can accept four 4K video feeds over SDI or output NDI streams back in SDI video. BirdDog also makes wall panel mounted NDI converters and monitor modules to streamline installation.
BirdDog PTZ Camera
BirdDog has taken the best of NDI hardware and integrated it into PTZ cameras to create a unique range. Because NDI transmits video, control, and display, each camera requires only one network connection. With minimal latency, ultra-high-quality videos can be sent from anywhere on the web. BirdDog even has waterproof outdoor cameras, one of which is used by major television networks to broadcast 24/7 from the White House.
BirdDog cameras and converters can be controlled remotely with BirdDog Cloud from anywhere in the world, and advanced audio systems can be activated with Dante.