How much does a video capture card or NDI encoder cost?

The cost of a video capture card or NDI encoder depends mainly on five things: the type of device, the resolution it handles, the protocols it supports, the number of channels and how you buy. We don’t publish a price list, because pricing depends on the model, the volume and whether you’re buying on a trade or end-user account. But “roughly what am I looking at” is a fair question, so here is what moves the figure up or down.

Interface is the biggest single factor. USB capture is the cheapest way into video capture. A USB device such as the USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 relies on a computer you already own to do the streaming or recording, so the device itself only has to bring the signal in. A standalone hardware encoder such as the Ultra Encode HDMI costs more because it does the encoding and streaming itself, in one box, with no computer needed.

Resolution and format support. 1080p-only hardware sits at the lower end. 4K support moves the cost up, and so does flexibility, such as several input types on one device. This is usually the most direct lever. Paying for 4K makes sense if your cameras or displays are 4K now or will be soon. If everything you own is 1080p, a 1080p model does the same job for less.

Protocol support. A device built for one protocol is simpler, and usually cheaper, than one that handles many. The Pro Convert HDMI TX, for example, outputs NDI High Bandwidth and nothing else, while the Ultra Encode HDMI Plus supports RTMP, SRT, RIST, NDI HX2 / HX3 and more. If you only need one protocol, paying for several you will never use is the easiest way to overspend.

Channel count. Multi-channel devices cost more than single-channel ones. Examples are a card with four inputs, such as the Pro Capture Quad HDMI, or a decoder that shows several streams on one screen. They usually work out cheaper per channel than buying several single-channel units for the same job, and they take up less space in the computer or rack.

Volume and account type. Trade and reseller accounts get different pricing from list, and a multi-unit order changes the figure again: a few units is one conversation, a fifty-unit rollout is another. This is why we quote and do not publish a price list. A fair number for one buyer is often not the right number for another.