How to Get Free NewTek NDI Applications

NewTek provides several NDI applications for all NDI users at no charge. Some are watermarked trial products, but for this article we will look strictly at those that are fully-functional free applications. These will assist any production workflow that uses products that are NDI-enabled. Such workflows include NewTek’s TriCaster and 3Play, of course, but today there are NDI-enabled video production systems and software from many other manufacturers as well. Some of the free tools are applications that provide a subset of the functions of professional editions that are available. The others are free-standing tools built around the NDI protocol, and provided together in the NewTek NDI Tools Pack. Applications with Pro versions:

NewTek Connect: delivers two NDI sources from a standard PC (desktop or laptop). The application also supports a variety of I/O cards, receiving them as input and outputting as NDI sources to the network. The Pro version bridges the various IP standards, including NDI, ASPEN and SMPTE 2022, delivers four channels, and includes many additional features (see the chart on the Download page). Minimum System Requirements:

• 64-bit Microsoft^® Windows 7 operating system (OS) or better
• Intel i5 Sandy Bridge CPU or better with integrated GPU (NVIDIA discrete GPU, with 2GB video memory or better recommended)
• 8GB system memory
• Gigabit connection or better
• Display with screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher

NewTek Connect Download Page

NewTek IsoCorder: Enables a standard PC to record two channels of NDI sources simultaneously as high-quality Quicktime files (natively supported with NewTek-maintained codecs) with stereo audio. Expand your archiving capabilities for your content, whether you wish to capture raw camera feeds or finished, branded output from your production switcher. The Pro version is able to record up to 16 channels with 8-channel audio control, plus additional features (see the chart on the Download page). Minimum System Requirements:

• 64-bit Microsoft^® Windows 7 operating system (OS) or better
• Intel i5 Sandy Bridge CPU or better with integrated GPU (NVIDIA discrete GPU, with 2GB video memory or better recommended)
• 8GB system memory
• Gigabit LAN connection for signal transmission over IP via NDI technology
• Local, external or shared storage accommodating the desired number of recording channels and capacity (write speeds of 20 Mb/s per channel required; high-speed storage recommended)
• Display with screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher

Faster CPU, additional memory, and larger GPU highly recommended for optimal performance. NewTek IsoCorder Download Page NDI Tools Pack Applications:

NewTek NDI Test Patterns: Generates a variety of professional video test patterns and audio tones as an NDI source from a standard PC. Users can then calibrate audio and video on any networked device to broadcast standards. This is a free application in the NewTek NDI Tools Pack. NewTek NDI Video Monitor: Enables any standard PC to view any available NDI source on the network in a dedicated window. This is also free in the NewTek NDI Tools Pack.

NewTek NDI Scan Converter: Enables any combination of windows, applications, webcams, or the entire screen on the system where it is installed to become available as switchable video sources, without affecting other actions on those computers during production. Free application in the NewTek NDI Tools Pack. NewTek NDI VLC Plugin: VLC Media Player can send output to this plugin, which outputs the content as NDI. Transcoding is handled by the plugin on the fly so that any file format VLC can play is immediately and transparently available on the network. NewTek NDI Group Manager: A strength of NDI is the virtually unlimited number of sources that can be made available for video production use. These include not just the traditional video sources, but any computer display, most mobile device displays and most applications, including Powerpoint, web browsers, media players, etc. With so many possible sources, you need something to organize things, and that’s where NDI Group Manager comes in. Create groups and assign the individual sources to a group, and determine what groups are visible to the system you are running NDI Group Manager on. In short, you can make order out of the chaos of dozens or scores (or more) of available sources within a large facility or group of facilities. Minimum System Requirements for Tools Pack Applications:

• 32-bit or 64-bit Microsoft^® Windows Vista^® operating system (OS) or better (64-bit recommended)
• Intel Core i3 CPU (2008 or later) or better
• 6GB RAM
• Gigabit connection or better
• Display with screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher

Mac OS X versions of select tools also available. Minimum system requirements and features may vary. Subject to change without notice. NewTek NDI Tools Pack Download Page Learn More about NewTek NDI.