Capture · Record · Stream · Encode · DecodeWhat is NDI and why does it matter for OBS?
NDI (Network Device Interface) is a protocol, originally developed by NewTek, that lets video devices share live video and audio over a standard IP network. With a free plugin, OBS Studio receives NDI as a source. So a camera anywhere on your network reaches OBS over an ordinary Ethernet cable, with no long HDMI or SDI run.
For most OBS users the best choice is a Magewell Pro Convert encoder. It converts one HDMI or SDI source to NDI High Bandwidth, the full-quality version of NDI, and takes its power from the network cable using standard PoE. Choose an Ultra Encode instead when bandwidth is limited or you also want to stream from the same box: it sends compressed NDI HX alongside RTMP and SRT.
Which Magewell product for NDI + OBS?
OBS NDI Setup — Quick Workflow
- Connect your camera to the Magewell Pro Convert by HDMI or SDI
- Connect the Pro Convert to a gigabit network switch. A standard PoE (IEEE 802.3af) switch or injector powers it over the same cable; otherwise use the supplied USB power adaptor
- On the OBS computer, install the NDI Runtime and the DistroAV plugin (formerly OBS-NDI)
- In OBS, add a new source, choose NDI Source and select your Magewell device
- The camera appears in OBS with its embedded audio, ready to use like any other source
Common NDI + OBS Questions
Do I need an NDI licence?
No. NDI encoding is built into every Magewell Pro Convert encoder, so there is nothing extra to buy for the device. The DistroAV plugin for OBS and the NDI Runtime it needs are free downloads.
What latency should I expect?
Magewell describes the Pro Convert encoders as very low latency. The delay you see also depends on your network and on buffering in OBS, so test on your own network if timing is critical.
Do I need PoE+ switches?
No. Pro Convert encoders run on standard PoE (IEEE 802.3af) and draw between about 6 W and 10 W depending on the model, so an ordinary PoE switch or injector is enough. A USB power adaptor is supplied for networks without PoE.
Can I use NDI HX to reduce bandwidth?
Yes, with a different encoder. The Ultra Encode range sends NDI HX, a compressed variant that needs far less bandwidth, which helps on busy networks. The Ultra Encode AIO supports NDI HX2 and HX3. Pro Convert encoders send NDI High Bandwidth only, so give them a wired gigabit network.
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Install DistroAV, the free NDI plugin for OBS Studio. It was formerly called OBS-NDI. It adds NDI Source as an input type in OBS, plus NDI outputs. You also need the NDI Runtime installed on the same computer; it is a free download from NDI. The plugin is available for Windows, macOS and Linux; its download page gives the OBS and NDI Runtime versions it needs.
This is usually a network discovery problem. NDI devices announce themselves with mDNS, which does not normally cross between subnets or VLANs, so put the Pro Convert and the OBS computer on the same subnet. Then check that no firewall is blocking mDNS (UDP port 5353) or NDI itself, which uses TCP port 5960 for discovery queries and ports from 5961 upwards for streams. If the encoder has to sit on a different subnet, enter its IP address in NDI Access Manager, part of the free NDI Tools, or use an NDI Discovery Server.
Low enough for live production and camera monitoring. Magewell describes the Pro Convert encoders as very low latency, and the total you see also depends on your network and on OBS, which adds its own buffering. Where delay really matters, such as a presenter’s confidence monitor, feed the screen directly from the HDMI or SDI loop-through on a Plus model.