new NDI coming!

[Richard Ragon]

I want to let everyone know about a pretty kewl technology coming down the pike used currently in live camera switching environments.
 

It's called NDI (https://www.newtek.com/ndi/).  In a nutshell, it's basically what Daunte is to Audio, NDI is to Video.  It allows for IP based video to be driven over and routed from anywhere to anywhere over standard cheap routers, switches, and WiFi.  And the remarkable thing is that its open source, and a lot of hardware coming!
 

Why is this huge for Sound Mixers?  Because getting video from video village has been a huge cumbersome deal, and it gets even harder if you times this by three cameras!!

So, here's how it works.  You place a small device at video village that loops through 3g-SDI and turns that into NDI.  A single Ethernet plug then runs to your Mixer Cart where you view the video on a laptop, iPhone, iPad, Raspberry Pi, or any other computer.  So, three camera shots, convert ALL video signals over a single Ethernet cable.  Then converters run on PoE so no need for any power adapters at video village and at the video end, you can watch the video through a Mac mini, or your iPad.  And even split screen the video feeds to see three/four screens on one monitor.

The reason why this is so awesome?  Because less hardware the better.. by having only 1 encoder box at video village, and a software solution at your cart, connected with a cheap Ethernet cable. It makes this solution very inexpensive.
 

And, as a bonus, you can send a video feed to each boom op from the camera they are attached to.  This means that your boom op can 'see the shot' from his iPhone.

Here's an example of one of the converters.

https://www.markertek.com/product/bds-bdstum01/birddog-studio-bdstum01-sdi-and-hdmi-to-ndi-network-device-interface-encoder-with-tally-and-poe?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebase&cvsfa=3786&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=4244532d42445354554d3031&ne_ppc_id=1360273584&gclid=CjwKCAjwuO3cBRAyEiwAzOxKstel4gMWdTp-808EbuGu8zaaL3ZN8L3stazPHgJkRWu89Uo80hWcmRoC1gQQAvD_BwE

There are some really attractive possibilities with this new open NDI standard coming.  We might even have WiFi based video feeds everywhere on set too.

Just thought I'd give you guys and girls a heads up on this new stuff.

-Richard

 

[pindrop]

Thanks for posting this very interesting information.

[Vincent R.]

Indeed a cool technology, I'm following this already for a couple of years, the SDK is not that complicated so it shouldn't be too difficult to implement it in existing products. 

 

One correction though, it is not open source, it is royalty free.

[dolo72]

Great info - many thanks

[IronFilm]

The new Atomos Ninja V will have a NDI module. 

Atomos is also working with Timecode Systems to support wireless timecode with the Atomos Ninja V. 

 

https://www.dpreview.com/news/9268966987/atomos-ninja-v-shipping-at-the-end-of-the-month-with-new-atomx-expansion-modules

 

[inaudible distortion]

 

Is there any silent Atomos monitor out there?

Or can you at least adjust fan levels?

Couldn't find any info on this...

[IronFilm]

I own a couple of Atomos Samurai Blades, and a Ninja 2 as well. Which are quiet. However those are 1080 only.