Sending NDI Video to Lights

This guide covers the general workflow for using NDI (Network Device Interface) video streams to control lighting in Spectralite. This works with any NDI-capable application.

Overview

NDI allows you to send video over a network without dedicated video hardware. Spectralite can receive these streams and use the pixel data to generate lighting effects.

What You'll Need

• NDI-capable application (Resolume, TouchDesigner, VDMX, OBS, etc.)
• Network connection between your video application and Spectralite
• Spectralite with NDI input enabled

Basic Setup

Step 1: Enable NDI Output in Your Application

In your video/media application:

1. Locate the NDI output settings (usually in Preferences or Output settings)
2. Enable NDI output
3. Choose a descriptive name for your NDI stream
4. Set the output resolution (lower resolutions reduce network load)

Step 2: Configure Network

For best performance:

• Use wired Ethernet when possible
• Ensure both devices are on the same network subnet
• For wireless, use 5GHz WiFi for better bandwidth

NDI uses automatic discovery, so devices on the same subnet will find each other automatically.

Step 3: Enable NDI in Spectralite

1. Open Spectralite
2. Go to Edit > Inputs
3. Enable NDI input enabled
4. Enable Auto-discover sources
5. Select your NDI stream from the dropdown
6. Verify the connection status shows as connected

Using NDI in Spectralite

There are two ways to use NDI video in your lighting:

Quick Start: Built-in NDI Layer

For immediate use, add an NDI layer directly to your timeline:

1. In the Timeline panel, click the + button to add a layer
2. Select the built-in NDI effect
3. The NDI video will control your lighting immediately

This is the fastest way to get started with NDI reactive lighting.

Advanced: Custom Effects with NDI Nodes

For more complex control over how NDI affects your lighting:

1. Open the Node Editor
2. Create a new effect or edit an existing one
3. Add an NDI Input node to sample video data
4. Connect it to other nodes to create custom NDI-reactive effects

This gives you full control over how the video stream influences your lighting.

Performance Optimization

Network Optimization

• Lower resolution (720p instead of 1080p) reduces bandwidth
• Wired connections eliminate WiFi interference
• Dedicated network for video/lighting if possible

Application Settings

• Reduce NDI output frame rate if real-time isn't critical
• Use NDI HX codec for lower bandwidth (if supported)
• Disable unnecessary alpha channels

Spectralite Settings

• Sample at lower resolution in effect nodes
• Use fewer sample points for pixel mapping
• Limit effect complexity when using NDI

Troubleshooting

NDI Stream Not Appearing

1. Verify both devices are on the same network
2. Check firewall settings (NDI uses UDP port 5353 for discovery)
3. Restart NDI output in source application
4. Try manual IP entry if automatic discovery fails

Latency Issues

1. Switch to wired Ethernet
2. Reduce NDI output resolution
3. Lower NDI frame rate
4. Simplify effect node graph

Dropped Frames

1. Reduce video resolution
2. Close unnecessary applications
3. Check network congestion
4. Monitor CPU usage in both applications

Color Accuracy

1. Verify color space settings (sRGB vs. Rec.709)
2. Check gamma/brightness settings
3. Calibrate monitors if critical

Advanced Techniques

Multiple NDI Streams

Use multiple video sources:

1. Enable multiple NDI outputs from one or more applications
2. Add each as a separate source in Spectralite
3. Create effects that blend or switch between streams

Alpha Channel Usage

If your source includes alpha:

1. Use alpha to control visibility/intensity
2. Composite multiple streams
3. Create transparency effects

Time-Based Sampling

Sample different video regions over time:

1. Use animation nodes to modify sample coordinates
2. Create scanning effects across the video
3. Implement beat-synchronized sampling

Application-Specific Guides

For detailed setup with specific applications:

• Resolume to Lights
• TouchDesigner to Lights
• VDMX to Lights

Related

• Node Editor - Create NDI-reactive effects
• Pixel Map Editor - Map video to fixtures
• Effects - Available effect nodes