NDI Protocol Version 4 Makes IP Accessible for Live, Post-Production, Mobile, and Distribution

The latest version of the NDI protocol presented at IBC offers huge quality improvements allowing anyone to create software-based IP workflows.

IS, the network device interface technology developed by NewTek, now in the hands of the group Vizrt, has presented in IBC 2019 the fourth generation for both developers and end users.

Using software, hardware and networks, NDI is a crucial part of the organization's mission to make the Software-defined visual storytelling (#SDVS) be accessible to everyone through the universal power of IP-based video. NDI is an IP protocol that is widely accepted in the market and is based on the use of standard Ethernet networks and mobile environments. NDI changes the picture by giving everyone access to high-quality, easy-to-use video and audio over IP. Additionally, it is available to hundreds of developers who make thousands of NDI-enabled products that are now in the hands of millions of customers around the world.

Over the past 4 years, NDI has become the way game producers work, from game streamers to top-tier broadcasters, and is supported by products from the industry's biggest brands, such as Panasonic, Avid, Microsoft Skype, Magewell, Adobe, Grass Valley, EVS, Vizrt, ChyronHego, Atomos, Sony, Vaddio, NewTek…

NDI 4 combines live video and post-production with the revolutionary ability to record nearly unlimited NDI video channels, making the IP-based multi-camera editing be truly accessible for the first time. Continuous recordings are easily available for instant editing and playback without stopping video capture. Time-stamped recordings import seamlessly as synced files on Adobe Creative Cloud with full synchronization on any video or audio format, including 4K UHD and higher.

Andrew Cross, presidente de I&D del grupo Vizrt, comenta que “nuestra misión es hacer que el vídeo sea accesible para todos y divertido de usar. Está claro que el vídeo definido por software está cambiando la forma en que se produce el vídeo. La cuarta generación de tecnologías NDI busca usar video IP para cerrar la brecha entre el directo y la postproducción y así crear nuevos flujos de trabajo que antes eran imposibles. Con miles de millones de dispositivos en todo el mundo, debería quedar claro que los dispositivos móviles que conectan el mundo de hoy desempeñarán un papel fundamental en el futuro de la producción de vídeo, por lo que estamos impulsando la tecnología NDI para que funcione sin problemas en estos dispositivos, haciendo que muchos de ellos ya funcionen como cámaras 4K inalámbricas de alta calidad”.

NDI 4 is a new tool that uses high bandwidth NDI over one connection WiFi in resolutions up to 4K UHD, from an iOS-based mobile device. The aspect ratio, frame rate, and resolution-independent nature of NDI not only allow the use of mobile devices as sources, but also allow other NDI-enabled systems, including production switchers, to deliver content ready for viewing on mobile devices.