BirdDog: Pioneering NDI Video Solutions with PTZ Cameras and Broadcast Gear

BirdDog is a leading innovator in professional video technology, known for its cutting-edge NDI® video solutions and high-quality PTZ cameras. Founded in 2016 in Melbourne, Australia, the BirdDog brand has quickly grown from a startup into a globally recognized name in broadcast and live streaming technology. With a focus on simplifying live video production through IP networks, BirdDog’s products cater to broadcast studios, live streamers, and corporate AV teams looking for broadcast-quality gear that is easy to deploy and operate.

History and Growth of the BirdDog Brand

BirdDog was co-founded in 2016 by Dan Miall and Eamon Drew, who saw an opportunity to disrupt traditional broadcast workflows by leveraging IP networking technology. In April 2016, the company unveiled the world’s first dedicated NDI® hardware encoder, the BirdDog Studio NDI, at NAB Show in Las Vegas. By bridging standard video signals (from SDI or HDMI cameras) into live network streams, the Studio NDI converter brought IP video “as close to the camera lens as possible,” fulfilling BirdDog’s mission to simplify video production with Network Device Interface technology. The first units shipped in late 2017, and BirdDog’s early innovation earned industry accolades – including a Best of NAB 2018 award for its NDI solutions.

Building on this success, BirdDog rapidly expanded its product lineup and global presence. By 2018, the company introduced new products like the BirdDog Mini (a miniature HDMI-to-NDI encoder) and BirdDog Comms (an NDI-based intercom system). That same year, BirdDog debuted its first NDI PTZ cameras (Pan-Tilt-Zoom robotic cameras) – the Eyes P100 and P200 – at the IBC show in Amsterdam. These launches marked BirdDog’s evolution from a converter maker into a full-fledged camera manufacturer. The brand’s growth continued with international expansion; BirdDog’s first customers were in the U.S., and soon its gear was being adopted across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. By 2021, BirdDog celebrated customers in over 100 countries, reflecting its strong worldwide footprint in the professional AV market.

Pioneering NDI® Video Transmission Technology

From its inception, BirdDog has been synonymous with NDI – a high-performance video-over-IP protocol developed by NewTek. BirdDog embraced NDI early and has chalked up an impressive list of industry firsts in NDI-based broadcasting. The company delivered the first NDI hardware encoders and decoders, the first NDI-enabled tally light system for on-air cues, and even the first NDI audio intercom software for communication between crew members. By integrating NDI into cameras and converters, BirdDog enabled broadcast-quality video to be sent over standard Ethernet networks with low latency and visually lossless quality. This was a game-changer for live production, allowing studios and streaming teams to replace complex SDI cabling with a single network cable carrying video, audio, power (PoE), and control signals. BirdDog’s use of a custom silicon chip for NDI processing in its devices further cemented its reputation for technical excellence, ensuring reliable, full-bandwidth NDI output for the highest image quality.

The impact of BirdDog’s innovation is felt across many industries. Traditional broadcasters have gained new flexibility in studio setups, live streamers and esports producers benefit from simpler multi-camera workflows, and corporate AV teams can deploy high-definition video systems over existing LAN infrastructure. The company’s commitment to open, IP-based workflows extends to supporting technologies like SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) for wide-area streaming and partnering with display makers (e.g. Sharp/NEC) to embed NDI receivers into digital signage and video wall displays. By championing NDI, BirdDog has helped democratize live video production, making it more accessible and scalable for organizations of all sizes.

Comprehensive Product Line for Broadcast, Live Streaming, and AV

BirdDog offers a broad range of products designed to work seamlessly together in modern video workflows. Its portfolio spans from cameras and converters to software and integrated AV solutions, all geared toward professional broadcast, live streaming, and corporate AV applications. Below is an overview of BirdDog’s key product categories and their strengths:

PTZ Cameras for Live Production and Streaming

BirdDog’s PTZ cameras, like the X Series shown here, offer remote pan-tilt-zoom control with broadcast-caliber image quality over NDI networks.

BirdDog’s PTZ camera lineup is the centerpiece of its current product range, known for robust performance in live production. As of today, BirdDog produces multiple PTZ models to suit different needs – from the entry-level BirdDog X1 and Max up to flagship BirdDog X4 Ultra and X5 Ultra. All BirdDog PTZ cameras come with full-bandwidth NDI output, meaning they deliver up to 1080p or 4K video at very high bitrates (~140 Mbps for 1080p60) with minimal compression, resulting in excellent detail and low latency. These cameras are built with broadcast-quality sensors and optics, including models that use Sony Exmor R CMOS sensors and true Sony zoom lens modules for fast focus and sharp imagery. They also provide simultaneous outputs (HDMI, 3G-SDI, and NDI) for hybrid setups, so studios transitioning from SDI to IP workflows can use them in either environment. PTZ control is achievable through standard IP or serial protocols, and BirdDog even offers a dedicated PTZ Keyboard controller for managing up to 255 cameras from a single console. For outdoor and extreme conditions, BirdDog’s A200 and A300 PTZ cameras are weatherproof housing variants, delivering the same HD image quality and NDI capabilities in rugged environments. By using PTZ cameras, live event producers and streamers can cover multiple angles with a limited crew – an operator can remotely pan, tilt, zoom, and focus each camera, which is invaluable for fast-paced broadcasts, sports, worship services, and corporate events. The combination of remote control, PoE power, and single-cable connectivity makes BirdDog PTZ cameras ideal for professional live streaming setups searching for flexibility and efficiency in production.

NDI Converters and Encoders/Decoders

BirdDog Studio NDI, the company’s first NDI encoder, converts HDMI or SDI video sources into high-quality NDI streams for IP-based production workflows.

BirdDog made its name by creating NDI converters – devices that convert traditional video signals to and from NDI streams – and this remains a core part of its product lineup. These compact units (such as the BirdDog Mini and Studio NDI) attach to cameras or other video sources and instantly put them on the network as NDI feeds. This is particularly useful in hybrid environments where you want to integrate existing HDMI/SDI cameras into an NDI live streaming setup. BirdDog’s converter range has grown to include the Flex 4K family and 4K Quad converters, which support up to 4K resolution and even multi-channel encoding in a single device. Notably, BirdDog was first to market with PoE-powered NDI converters, so you can deploy these units with just a single Ethernet cable for both power and data. On the decoding side, devices like the BirdDog Play serve as low-cost NDI receivers that output to HDMI, allowing you to display an NDI stream on any TV or projector – perfect for video distribution and digital signage in corporate AV scenarios. By bridging baseband video and IP networks, BirdDog’s encoders and decoders enable a flexible video workflow where any source can be made available anywhere on the network with minimal latency and without sacrificing quality. This gear is widely used in broadcast studios (for integrating computer outputs or distant cameras), live esports events (to bring gameplay and camera feeds together), and office environments (to carry video between meeting rooms or auditoriums over standard IT infrastructure).

Software and Workflow Solutions

To complement its hardware, BirdDog provides a suite of software tools that enhance live production workflows and tie the ecosystem together. One of the flagship offerings is BirdDog Cloud, a remote production platform that securely connects NDI networks over the internet. With BirdDog Cloud, broadcasters and event producers can send and receive live NDI video between distant locations, enabling distributed production and contribution from anywhere (a capability that proved especially valuable during the rise of remote productions in the 2020 pandemic era). On top of Cloud sits Cloud Connect, a set of mobile apps that extend these remote capabilities to tablets and smartphones for monitoring and control.

For multicamera monitoring, BirdDog offers NDI Multiview software, which creates mosaic-style multiviewer outputs from multiple NDI sources – useful in control rooms to watch all camera feeds on one screen. BirdDog Comms is another innovative solution: it’s an audio intercom system that runs over NDI, allowing directors and camera operators to communicate in real time using BirdDog converters or headsets connected to cameras. Comms Pro (the advanced version) and Comms Lite (a free basic version) give teams a simple, network-based comms channel without needing separate intercom wiring. Additionally, the Cam Control software is provided free to let users dial in camera settings (color balance, exposure, etc.) and manage multiple PTZ cameras from a PC interface. For routing and management of streams within a local network, BirdDog Central (available in Lite and Pro variants) enables operators to direct any NDI source to BirdDog decoders or displays with an intuitive control panel. Overall, these software tools are designed with an informative, user-friendly interface, aligning with BirdDog’s goal of making professional video production more accessible. By offering free apps like Cam Control and Multiview along with paid cloud services, BirdDog ensures that end-users have a complete toolbox to configure, monitor, and operate their NDI-based studios efficiently.

Integrated AV and Studio Solutions

Recognizing the needs of corporate AV and studio installations, BirdDog has also developed specialized products to streamline IP video integration in fixed facilities. For instance, BirdDog’s NDI Wallplates provide a wall-mounted interface that converts HDMI to NDI (and vice versa) in boardrooms or event halls, ideal for permanent AV installs that require clean cabling and simple connectivity. BirdDog was a pioneer in NDI-enabled Smart Display Modules (SDM) – working with Intel and Sharp/NEC, the company introduced SDM modules that slot into compatible commercial displays to give them direct NDI decoding capabilities. This effectively turns large-format displays into NDI monitors for digital signage or multi-room video distribution, without needing an external decoder box. Furthermore, BirdDog provides integration with control systems like Crestron, offering a control library that allows AV integrators to seamlessly manage BirdDog cameras and converters through popular corporate AV control panels. This focus on interoperability and integration means broadcast engineers and IT/AV professionals can incorporate BirdDog gear into larger production ecosystems with confidence. Whether it’s a live streaming setup in a church, a remote learning studio for a university, or a corporate auditorium using IP video, BirdDog’s end-to-end solutions cover cameras, conversion, communication, and control – all over standard networks with a consistent, workflow-friendly design.

A Trusted Choice for Modern Video Production

In summary, BirdDog’s rise in the industry is rooted in its technical leadership and understanding of what video professionals need. The company’s history of innovation – from launching the first NDI hardware encoders to developing high-bandwidth NDI PTZ cameras – has positioned it at the forefront of the IP video revolution. Today, with a comprehensive product lineup rich in features and industry-relevant keywords (like PTZ camera for live streaming, NDI video solution, and broadcast video gear), BirdDog appeals directly to how professionals search for gear that can improve their productions. Its equipment is technically accurate and reliable, designed by a team that continues to push the envelope of NDI technology. For broadcast studios seeking cost-effective, network-based broadcast gear, for live streamers needing pro-grade cameras that simplify setup, and for corporate AV teams aiming to modernize their video infrastructure, BirdDog offers a proven ecosystem of products. With clear benefits in flexibility, scalability, and quality, BirdDog has earned its reputation as a go-to brand for those looking to harness IP workflows and NDI video transmission in the pursuit of creating compelling, high-quality content.