5 minute read
Simplify House of Worship Live Streaming with NDI®
By Eamon Drew, CMO BirdDog
Let’s face it. Putting together a video streaming set up can be expensive and quite daunting using traditional video equipment. Even more so when you are using multiple cameras. Video cable runs are very complex, difficult to route, require high-end computers with capture cards, custom cables, converters to move from SDI to HDMI and then back to SDI, USB capture boxes, frame rate converters, video recorders, and the costs just keep climbing. But it doesn’t have to be this way. By creating an NDI® network at your church, you are not only going to save a ton of money, time, and complexity, you are also future proofing your investment.
OK, what is NDI®?
NDI®, or Network Device Interface, is a protocol developed by NewTek® and is a way of sending audio and video over regular computer networks. It’s a true plug and play format that requires very little configuration, offers extremely low latency, and is already compatible with millions of devices. In fact, it’s already built into Microsoft Teams and Zoom Rooms.
BirdDog are global leaders in NDI® products and have a huge range of PTZ (PanTilt-Zoom) Robotic cameras, NDI® converters, and software applications. BirdDog are proudly the first company in the world to put NDI® into a dedicated silicon chip.
So, how to get started with NDI®?
With NDI it all starts with a network switch and BirdDog have partnered with Netgear to ensure maximum compatibility with their M4250 series. The Netgear M4250 series have NDI profiles ready to go that make any size set up a breeze. They even have an offering that can fit into even the tightest of budgets.
Once the NDI® network is set up, it’s time to choose a streaming platform. There are all kinds of software-only streaming products on offer, serving both Mac and PC, ranging from free tools such as OBS Studio, through to Telestream Wirecast, vMix, Pro Presenter, and many more. There are also dedicated hardware streaming solutions such as the NewTek TriCaster.
The next step is to bring some PTZ cameras into the set up. BirdDog offer a complete range of native NDI cameras that leverage the power of the BirdDog silicon chip to do NDI processing at the highest picture quality. BirdDog NDI cameras require only a SINGLE cable for video, audio, power (using PoE), and control! This eliminates the need to run power to each camera, giving greater flexibility to choose camera locations where access to power was not previously available.
PTZ Cameras are perfect for House of Worship installations, as you can permanently mount them in discreet locations, without the need for a dedicated camera operator for each camera. Total remote control over all functions is possible from the control desk. You can control the Pan, Tilt, Zoom functions of the BirdDog PTZ cameras in a variety of ways, including using the dedicated PTZ Keyboard from BirdDog, the free NewTek Studio Monitor software, thirdparty hardware controllers, or even from within the streaming software platform you are using.
Teaming up BirdDog’s free software, Cam Control, with the BirdDog PTZ cameras allows for total remote control of the cameras. The ability to color correct the cameras, adjust all settings, and match cameras side by side, is all possible over the same single cable without the need to physically touch the cameras. This truly highlights the power of an NDI based production over traditional baseband video, as previously the only way to remotely color correct cameras was by using extremely expensive CCU controllers.
Existing cameras, such as production or shoulder cameras, can also become NDI cameras by simply adding a BirdDog NDI converter. These converters take the traditional SDI or HDMI signal and turn it into NDI so they can be included into the production. BirdDog NDI converters not only breathe new life into old cameras, but also reduces the cost of long video cable runs by using low cost, CAT6a Ethernet cable.
BirdDog also offers a range of globally connected Cloud solutions so you can control and monitor the cameras on the NDI network from anywhere in the world. Cloud and Cloud Connect applications can extend your NDI network over the public internet and allow for collaboration between multiple Houses of Worship. In a House of Worship environment this could help spread the message to greater audiences, whilst eliminating the need for traveling between locations.
