OBS NDI Plugin not using NDI-HX

[rkrocker77]

Hello,

I am using the latest version of OBS as well as the latest version of the NDI plugin here: https://github.com/Palakis/obs-ndi

I have installed NDI Tools in a separate computer and verified that I can stream the NDI output from OBS through the Studio Monitor on NDI Tools.

However, if I look at my performance tab on task manager it tells me my network is using 90-120 Mbps bandwidth. This is for retrieving a 1080p 30fps stream. If the software is using NDI-HX, shouldn't this be more like 8-12 Mbps? Is there a setting I need to turn on to use NDI-HX by default?

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[TryHD]

why would you ever want to use that if you are not bandwith limited? It would reduce the quality of your footage.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

My 1080p Panasonic NDI stream (at 60fps) consume closer to 30mbps, so I'd expect closer to 15+mbps for 1080p/30fps.
BUT, the extra compression takes a lot of processing (CPU) on both ends (to compress then decompress on other end)
The primary reason to consider is if your are trying to do this over WiFi (which is a terrible idea) but if you must, and you know how to really manage a WiFi spectrum and utilization, and you have the processing power, then, sure used compressed
Defaulting to uncompressed makes sense

 

[mikexilva]

There are some NDI encoder/Decoder boxes (such as the ZowieTek) that can decode NDI HD but not full NDI (HB) so this should be a motive to be able to choose an NDI HX stream output from OBS.
Another reason is if you are already running several cameras over IP and receiving 1 or 2 NDI streams from other PCs and your main OBS computer has a gigabit NIC you might want to have lower bandwidth in order not to break all the other IP streams on the network.
Most OBS PC's already have video encoding hardware acceleration so it could have a low impact on CPU and give additional room for extra LAN streams.

 

[mikexilva]

I was about to but an NDI decoder box from Zowietek but after some prior investiation found it can't decode Full NDI (HB) and also found this thread, so is NDI HX still not an option in OBS?
This is the box I was looking at:

Amazon.com

 

[rockbottom]

Remove the NDI runtime & install NDI Tools on the sending PC. Use the NDI Bridge to convert regular old NDI to NDI HX & then send it to the other PC.

NDI Bridge Bandwidth Usage

My configuration: 4 laptops outputting NDI feeds using a scene filter. 1 laptop intended to receive NDI feeds and aggregate them into a single, 4 tile scene for eventual streaming. If I use the high bandwidth option on the receiving laptop, each feed adds about ~200 Mb/s in receive bandwidth on...

obsproject.com

https://ndi.video/tools/ndi-bridge/

 

[rockbottom]

why would you ever want to use that if you are not bandwith limited? It would reduce the quality of your footage.

Picture quality remains quite good & only gets visually reduced if the bit-rate is set way too low. 16 - 24 Mb/s for 1080p is more than enough.

 

[rockbottom]

Looking at the newest version of NDI Tools (5.6.1.0), NewTek has been busy. NDI HX output is available using the Scan Converter & Screen Capture tools. Like the Bridge, Screen Capture does require an Nvidia GPU. Anyway, should be able to use either instead of OBS/Bridge combination.

https://ndi.video/tools/ndi-scan-converter/

NDI Screen Capture - Share your computer’s video and audio

NDI Screen Capture transforms any laptop or workstation in a multi-source IP video input device. Share your computer’s video and audio to any device.

ndi.video