Mini HDMI to NDI Encoder/Decoder with Comms Lite

Como siempre BirdDog lo mejor!!

When I first got this BirdDog I was able to encode with the device and view the stream on a PC within 30 minutes after taking it out of the box. This setup should've gone much faster, however, except that the device has a really frustrating flaw.For the initial test I connected a computer's HDMI output to the input of the BirdDog, and then connected a monitor to the output of the device. Nothing appeared on the monitor, and the monitor displayed "invalid signal."Next I used the web-based UI to check the settings. I found that by default the HDMI output is set to decode, not to loop the input (which is what I wanted). After changing to "loop out" mode, however, my monitor finally displayed an image but it was a solid pink field...the kind of image that is common for defective DVI/HDMI ports or cables. After much head scratching and consternation (ie, troubleshooting cables and connections) I discovered that the UI has a place to change color-space settings. Changing the color-space solved the problem and I was able to get a clean "loop" of the source.What's frustrating about this is that this is not a true loop; conversion is occurring, with the wrong setting having the potential to foul the signal. The UI should be fixed so that if "loop out" is enabled, the device defaults to using the same color-space as the source. Period.This is unfortunately indicative of the web-UI as a whole, which feels clunky.Also, the device runs really hot. I know it is a cliché to say so but I really think I could fry an egg on the case, and that's just using it indoors on a desk. I will be nervous to use this device outdoors in the summer in a live production environment.

(Image of HDMI encoded to NDI attached.)I hate stuff that doesn't work, and especially stuff that only works intermittently. That said, I can pleasantly say this is NOT the case (so far) with these two Bird Dog Mini encoders currently operating in our podcast studio. I added these puppies to utilize more inputs on my TriCaster Mini Advanced Edition, which has been maxed at 4 HDMI inputs for the last year or so. Previously, I had 4 HDMI cameras plugged into the TC, and wanted to utilize the extra inputs for our Two SEALs and a Walrus Podcast, which meant I needed some NDI magic, which I had never even played with. I first tried out an AIDA 12x PTZ NDI|HX as an extra camera, but the TC would not recognize it via NDI, nor would the NDI software monitor on a Mac on the network recognize it either, so I sent that POS back. Then, rather than get some more expensive ($2k/ea) PTZ NDI cameras to use as extra cameras via the network, I opted to try using some existing HDMI cameras and plugged them into a BirdDog Mini to send the HDMI signal through IP Ethernet to the TC over Cat-5 cabling.I bought one BidDog Mini, I plugged in the HDMI cord from the camera to the HDMI Input on the BirdDog, plugged the Cat-5 from the 24 port NetGear switch connecting all the other Cat-5s from computers and the TC, plugged in the BirdDog power to the socket, simply let our Google Home Router assign the DHCP IPs for the BirdDog (Google Home also wired into the NetGear), and after about 2 minutes, it simply appeared as an HDMI input option on the TC, which I assigned to channel 5 on the TC. It just worked. And yes, it was that simple. I had a new camera 5 from an HDMI camera in about 5 minutes. Then I bought another BirdDog Mini, and now have a camera 6 in the same amount of time. I may wind up with two more before this is all said and done. Just because I can.The latency on the signal is almost non-existent, enough where the audio going through the sound mixer from the Shure and Heil mics on the set looks likes it's sync'd with mouth movements when rejoined with the BirdDog video signal on the TC. So no extra work there.I don't know where BirdDog came from, but the NDI performance from these little Mini encoders is stellar and I'm glad BirdDog exists.

Don't waste time and money looking for other cheap NDI hardware. They don't work. You will be frustrated and confused because you just spent $200+ on product x from AMAZON, so it must be legit...WRONG. Birddog has come up with a perfect compact NDI Solution with practically zero setup. Works with Apple OS & ios. Software from birdodog won't be available but there are several paid and free options on the Newtek (inventors of NDI) website and the ios app store. In addition Newtek.com and their team are a great resource for support concerning all things NDI, production implementation, and API; haven't tried their Newtek Spark but I imagine it's highly comparable considering they were close partners in developing the BD Mini. Good luck!

Best NDI products. We purchased 5 of these and they all work amazing.