An IP-based protocol from NewTek/Vizrt for transporting low-latency, frame-accurate video and audio between devices on a standard Ethernet network.
What it is
NDI (Network Device Interface) is an open IP transport for broadcast-quality video, multi-channel audio, and metadata over Gigabit Ethernet. Originally released by NewTek (now Vizrt) in 2015, NDI is widely used as a software replacement for SDI cabling in studios, production galleries, conference rooms, and — increasingly — control rooms.
How it works
Each NDI source advertises itself on the local network via mDNS/Bonjour. Receivers discover the source and pull the stream over TCP. Full-bandwidth NDI uses adaptive intra-frame compression (~125 Mbps for 1080p60); NDI HX adds H.264/H.265 modes for tighter pipes (~10–30 Mbps). End-to-end latency is in the 1–4 frame range — low enough for live switching.
Why it matters in video walls
Capturing camera feeds, second-screen conferencing, or any local app as an NDI source lets the wall display them like any other window — no capture cards, no SDI cabling, no per-source matrix routing. See video wall and AV over IP for the broader context.
Common pitfalls
- mDNS discovery is single-subnet; for multi-subnet deployments enable NDI Discovery Server.
- Full-bandwidth NDI saturates a 1 GbE port at ~6 streams — plan switch uplinks accordingly.
- IGMP snooping must be configured on switches if multicast NDI is used, otherwise the entire VLAN floods.