What is NDI and How Does It Work?

NDI (Network Device Interface) is a technology developed by NewTek that lets you send high-quality video between devices over a standard local network — no capture cards, no cables, just your existing ethernet or Wi-Fi connection.

Before NDI, connecting video sources to software meant buying expensive SDI or HDMI cables and capture cards. NDI eliminates that. With NDI, you can:

• Send video from one PC to another over your local network
• Connect cameras, mixers, and playout systems wirelessly
• Share video feeds between multiple software applications
• Build a professional multi-source production with minimal hardware

InstaPlayout supports both NDI input and NDI output:

NDI Input

Receive a live NDI feed from another source (e.g. a camera, OBS, or vMix) and use it as a live input in your playlist. This lets you insert live segments into your automated channel.

NDI Output

Send InstaPlayout's output as an NDI stream to another application on your network. For example, send your playout output into OBS for additional mixing, then stream from OBS to YouTube.

Step 1: Make sure all devices are on the same local network.

Step 2: In InstaPlayout, go to Settings → NDI and enable NDI Output.

Step 3: On another device, open an NDI-compatible app (OBS with NDI plugin, vMix, etc.) and select InstaPlayout as an NDI source.

Step 4: The video feed appears instantly — no configuration needed.

| | NDI | HDMI | SDI | |---|---|---|---| | Cable needed | No | Yes | Yes | | Max distance | Network range | ~5 metres | Hundreds of metres | | Cost | Free (software) | Low | High | | Quality | Up to 4K | Up to 8K | Up to 12G | | Best for | Local networks | Short runs | Professional broadcast |

NDI is a game-changer for small and mid-size broadcasters. It lets you build a flexible, cable-free production setup — and InstaPlayout's built-in NDI support makes it easy to integrate into any workflow.