NDI Webcam Input

The NDI® Webcam Input is a welcome addition to the NDI® tool kit. The tool is designed to improve the use of NDI® with popular video communication software such as Google Hangouts, GoToMeeting, and Zoom. NDI® Webcam Input allows you to access NDI® sources with a virtual webcam that is selectable inside of any application that works with webcams. Because most video communication solutions are designed to use a webcam as the video source, NDI® has created a virtual webcam driver that shows up just like a regular webcam. The application, which lives in your system tray, allows you to select between any NDI® source on your network and display it as a webcam. 

NDI® Webcam Input makes it possible to use any NDI® source in place of a regular webcam. As an example, imagine that you are conducting a Zoom meeting and you want to show the meeting participants an NDI® video source on your network. You could choose an NDI® source from a video production studio that has access to multiple cameras, or you can choose an NDI® source like a PTZ camera to show a specific area of your office. It’s handy to switch between NDI® sources using an NDI® Webcam Input without having to connect each video source to your computer with USB like regular webcams. 

To use NDI® Webcam Input, download the latest version of NDI® tools at ndi.tv/tools.  Once installed, launch the software and find the program icon in the system tray. During installation, you will be given the option to run NDI® Webcam Input at start-up. This is useful if you plan to use NDI® Webcam Input as the default video source for your video conferencing software. 

Right-click the software icon to access a list of all available NDI® sources. When you click on an NDI® source, it’s ready to be used as a webcam source under the name “NewTek NDI Video.” From within your video conferencing software, choose NewTek NDI Video as your webcam source, which will show the NDI® source you have selected. You may also select an NDI® source for your audio using a virtual audio option called “NewTek NDI Audio.”

Because you can choose any NDI® source, you’re also able to share the program output of another video switcher, a single camera, screen capture, or any other NDI® source. You can even designate an iPhone connected to the NDI® network via WiFi as your NDI® source. This is particularly helpful for switching between multiple cameras and video assets with a production software like OBS. This also allows you to bring professional cameras and graphics directly into video communication tools.

Key Takeaways:

1. NDI® Webcam Input is a free tool available in the NDI® tools.
2. NDI® Webcam Input can be used to make any NDI® source on the network available as a webcam inside any application that uses a webcam (Skype, Zoom).
3. NDI® Webcam Input is an application that lives in the system tray.

Learn more about NDI:

1. What is NDI? - learn more here
2. Learn about the history of NDI - here
3. What is IP Video - learn more here
4. Learn about popular NDI software and hardware here
5. Learn about networking for NDI here
6. Learn about how much bandwidth NDI requires here
7. Learn how to use NDI with OBS here
8. Learn how to use NDI with vMix here
9. Why you should learn how to use IP video here
10. Learn how to use NDI cameras here
11. Learn how to use NDI for graphics generation here
12. Learn how to use NDI with WiFi here
13. Learn how to power displays with NDI here
14. Learn about NDI Studio Monitor here
15. Learn more about NDI Screen Capture here

Download the Unofficial Guide to NDI PDF Book

• You can purchase the paperback on Amazon here.
• You can enroll in the online course here.