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ADENAcademy · Only Pros Know · Lesson 2 of 6

Using NDI with AREC

This lesson introduces NDI and NDI|HX and explains how to connect, control, monitor and convert NDI sources for use with AREC and RADA devices.

Using NDI with AREC

Network Device Interface (or NDI) is a widely compatible protocol developed by NewTek that allows high-quality AV transmission with low latency. It is supported by AREC and thousands of other manufacturers worldwide. The protocol makes it very easy to connect and use devices through the network, whether they are Windows computers, iOS mobile phones, or PTZ cameras.


There are two types of NDI: full bandwidth NDI and high-efficiency NDI|HX. There are many differences between them, but to sum up, full bandwidth NDI primarily relies on the CPU and uses much more hardware resources and bandwidth than the HX version to transmit video with lower latency. NDI|HX, on the other hand, primarily relies on the GPU and uses less bandwidth and resources, but has a slightly higher latency. AREC stations that support NDI (e.g. LS-210, LS-310, LS-410, DS-9CU) output NDI|HX streams and are optimised to be used with sources working on NDI|HX, supporting multiple NDI|HX inputs simultaneously.


Note that while full bandwidth NDI sources can be found and selected on our devices, only NDI|HX sources are officially supported on AREC stations, since the hardware was not designed for full bandwidth NDI requirements. AREC stations work with sources running any of the NDI|HX versions: the original NDI|HX, NDI|HX2 and NDI|HX3.


On AREC and RADA devices that support NDI, this technology is enabled and activated by default. There are no licence purchases, subscriptions, or additional payments required to use NDI on AREC and RADA devices.


In AREC stations, NDI is used to:


  • Connect video inputs.

  • Control PTZ of video sources.

  • Connect AREC stations as video inputs for other systems, including conferencing software (using AREC stations as webcams).

  • Monitor AREC stations.



Connecting and controlling NDI video inputs



On stations that support NDI, NDI streams can be found on the “Administrator” → “Media I/O” → “Network device manager” page. Press “Scan” to find all visible streams in the network. To add a stream, press “Add”.


To detect and connect an NDI or NDI|HX stream as a video input on an AREC Media Station, both the streaming device and the Media Station must be in the same network and NDI Group.


By default, the NDI Group for most NDI-enabled devices is set to “Public”, allowing them to see each other out of the box. AREC Media Stations are predefined to be in the "Public" group. It is currently not possible to change the NDI group on Media Stations.


NDI settings page of RADA A-TC30


NDI Group settings are typically found on NDI configuration pages of NDI-enabled devices. For example, on RADA A-TC30 PTZ Camera, the group can be changed along with other NDI parameters on the "NDI Config" page.


Configuring the NDI Group through the NDI Tools application


For computers, the NDI Group can be configured through NDI Tools.


"Network device manager" can display both ONVIF and NDI streams of cameras


Note that the “Network device manager” page displays ONVIF streams as well. Thus, if you are connecting a camera that supports ONVIF, you may see multiple streams in the list for the same device. For more information on how to add ONVIF and NDI sources to a Media Station, please refer to Basics, Lesson 3: Adding video sources to AREC Media Stations.


Selecting an NDI source with NDI PTZ controls


After a stream is added, it can be selected through the “Administrator” → “Media I/O” → “Video inputs” page. Change “Signal type” to “Network Camera” on a channel where you need this stream to be, and select it from the drop-down menu under “IP address”.


If the device supports PTZ control, you can also select NDI in the drop-down menu under “PTZ control”. This way, it will be possible to control PTZ through the Media Station’s GUI, Administrator, Online Director, and other control methods.


Connecting AREC stations as video inputs to other systems


AREC stations can be connected to other devices and systems as video inputs. For that, open the “Administrator” → “Video” → “Streaming” page and enable “Stream” under “NDI settings”.


After this option is enabled, the station will become visible to other devices in the “Public” NDI Group. Software and hardware solutions with innate support for NDI will be able to use the Media Station immediately.




NDI Tools – utilities for connecting and managing AV sources via NDI


It is also possible to use the Media Station in software via NDI even when this software does not support NDI. For this, you will need to download NDI Tools from the official website of NDI creators, https://ndi.video/. This application contains a number of useful tools for connecting, managing, and previewing NDI streams. It is available for Windows and Mac operating systems and works largely the same on both of them, even though the names of the tools slightly differ.


Finding AREC and RADA devices with "Webcam Input"


One of the tools available in this application is called “Webcam Input” (“Virtual Input” on Macs). This application creates multiple standard Windows AV sources that can be selected like any webcam and microphone. When it is launched, a pop-up for selection of video sources in 4 channels appears. If the app was minimised, then left-clicking its icon in the system tray will bring it back.


To select a source, left-click on a preview of any channel. Available sources will be displayed in the menu that opens, divided into groups by their NDI device names. Find the required device name in the list and click on the stream that is available for it.


Using AREC and RADA devices in conferencing software via "Webcam Input"


Now, simply select this NDI Webcam channel as the camera (and/or microphone if you require audio) in any application that allows selecting cameras and/or microphones.


Monitoring sources and AREC Media Stations via NDI

One of the easiest ways to monitor NDI streams is to use “Studio Monitor” (“Video Monitor” on Macs) – another tool available in the NDI Tools application. It can display and control PTZ of NDI streams in the same network.


The tool is operated very similarly to “Webcam Input”. To monitor a source, left-click the menu button in the top-left corner of the tool. Available sources will be displayed in the menu that opens, divided into groups by their NDI device names. Find the required device name in the list and click on the stream that is available for it to start displaying it.


How AREC devices are identified in "Studio Monitor"

The process outlined above is the same when monitoring AREC Media Stations. Note that the station’s NDI device name is determined by the “Hostname” and its stream name is determined by the “Device description”. Both of these parameters can be changed on the “Administrator” → “System” → “General settings” page.


There are two other tools in the current iteration of the NDI Tools application that can be used with AREC. These are “Screen Capture” and “Bridge”.


Connecting computers to AREC via NDI

“Screen Capture” (“Scan Converter” on Macs) allows users to transform their computer content into NDI streams. The tool supports full bandwidth NDI and NDI|HX modes, but the mode must be chosen before the tool is started. To do that, click on the gear icon next to “Screen Capture” or “Screen Capture HX” inside the NDI Tools.


After this tool is launched, the computer becomes visible to other NDI devices. Every display captured by the tool is streamed separately, unless the display mode is set to duplicate. The stream names have the following format:


Device name (GPU Display Number).


For example, a stream of the second display on a computer with 1 GPU may appear as:


WORK-PC (Intel UHD Graphics 2)


You can adjust audio and video parameters of streams by right-clicking the tool’s icon in the system tray.


Assigning preferred GPU for the "Screen Capture" tool manually

If a computer with the tool has two or more GPUs, it may require additional configuration. By default, Windows computers automatically assign which GPUs are used for which applications and displays. In the case of NDI, incorrect assignments will lead to failures to capture content, i.e. black screens. To change which GPU is used for which application, open the Windows “System” → “Display” → “Graphics” page, add the tool’s executable, and choose the preferred GPU for it.


Computer running "Screen Capture" found in the "Network Device Manager"


If you are connecting this computer to an AREC Media Station, it must be found and added just like other NDI sources. To ensure source stability, make sure to select “Screen Capture HX” for screen capturing.


Using "Bridge" to connect networks and transcode streams

“Bridge” is a tool that allows you to connect two different NDI networks, turning a computer into either a host or a client in such networks. It also allows you to transcode local NDI streams – meaning that you can, for example, convert Full NDI into NDI|HX and back.



"Bridge" in transcoding mode

To transcode streams with the "Bridge", launch it, click “Local”, and then click on the gear icon next to “Settings and Diagnostics” → “Encoder Settings”. Select NDI|HX in the “Output” options to transcode full NDI streams into NDI|HX. Afterwards, type in a name for these bridged connections in “Bridge Name” – the text you type will become part of streams' host names and make them easier to identify.



Full bandwidth NDI stream transcoded and connected


That concludes the lesson. You can now test your knowledge and understanding by answering the questions on the lesson's form and watching the linked videos before moving on to the next lesson.


After you submit your answers on the form, make sure to click "View Scores" to see whether you answered correctly. You will also receive an email at the address you used when starting this lesson, containing your answers and a "View Scores" link.



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