Revolutionising NDI Control and Monitoring: Introducing Two New Software Products from BirdDog

By James Tremayne | Senior Technical Product Specialist, Holdan

In the realm of innovative technology solutions, BirdDog continues to push the boundaries with its cutting-edge products. Today, we're thrilled to introduce you to two exceptional creations from BirdDog that are set to redefine the way we control and monitor NDI® PTZ cameras. We explore the features and capabilities of the Birddog NDI PTZ Control App and the Birddog Android NDI TV Monitor App.

1. Birddog NDI PTZ Control App: Taking PTZ Camera Control to New Heights

The Birddog NDI PTZ Control App is a game-changer for professionals seeking precise and seamless control over NDI® PTZ cameras. Regardless of the manufacturer, this iOS app offers comprehensive support for all NDI® PTZ cameras, opening up a world of possibilities were providing wireless PTZ control is required, or where a fully fledged PTZ controller might be too complicated for ad-hoc users.

At the core of this app is the ability to effortlessly maneuver Pan, Tilt, and Zoom functions through a live joystick control. The app's intuitive interface allows users to define Pan, Tilt, and Zoom speeds with adjustable slider bars, giving them granular control over their shots. The beauty lies in the flexibility – each control can be set independently, offering an unmatched level of precision.

Moreover, the Birddog NDI PTZ Control App takes convenience to the next level with its ability to save and recall pre-set PTZ positions. Once you've framed your camera exactly how you want it, saving the position as a pre-set is a breeze. When you need to return to that precise angle, a quick recall gets you right back where you need to be. The app also seamlessly integrates an inbuilt viewing monitor, allowing full-screen viewing of NDI®, NDI® HX2, and NDI® HX3 sources, making it a true multitasking powerhouse.

For BirdDog PTZ Camera users, there's an added bonus – built-in Cam Control. This feature provides access to the Colour Matrix tools, empowering users to finely shade their BirdDog PTZ cameras for impeccable visuals. All this control and functionality is available right from your iPad or iPhone, making the Birddog NDI PTZ Control App a must-have tool for professionals in various fields.

James’ thoughts

For the minimal cost it’s a great option for a camera agnostic NDI controller and viewer. I see this being an asset to corporate events spaces, where you can walk around the space with the client and set up the camera positions with them on the fly, ahead of the event, without the need of a larger control system to provide the GUI. Obviously, you can get similar control via the free Camcontrol app – however this being an app available on iOS is a huge selling point as it can be deployed on both iphones and iPads.

2. Birddog Android NDI TV Monitor App: Transforming Android TV into an NDI Monitor

The Birddog Android NDI TV Monitor App is a groundbreaking innovation that transforms your Android-enabled TV into an NDI Monitor, redefining how you view and interact with NDI® sources.

With this app, your Android TV becomes a window into the world of NDI® sources. The automatic NDI® source detection feature populates your TV screen with all available sources on your network, making it incredibly easy to browse through them using your TV remote. If you have a Chromecast with Google TV device, worry not – this app seamlessly integrates with it as well, ensuring a seamless viewing experience.

Changing sources is as simple as using your TV remote's channel up/down buttons. And that's not all – for those using NDI PTZ cameras, the app enables control using the TV remote's arrow buttons, allowing for easy panning, and tilting.

The Birddog Android NDI TV Monitor App doesn't stop at visuals. It also provides comprehensive information about each NDI source, including frame rate and resolution, giving users a holistic understanding of the content they're viewing.

James’ thoughts

If you already have Google devices in your venue or studio, then you can leverage the technology you already own and get extended functionality by turning all your chromecast/android TVs into dedicated NDI receiver endpoints. Great for setting up ad-hoc green rooms or monitoring areas, additional show relay screens or even just distributing content across a large site. This provides similar functionality to the Birddog PLAY hardware decoder, however if you already have compatible hardware then why not give it a new lease of life.

In Conclusion, BirdDog's commitment to innovation is unmistakable, and these two software products are prime examples of their dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible. These software tools perfectly compliment any Birddog system making controlling and monitoring your NDI® devices as simple as a quick swipe on an app.