NDI Output lets you send your video and audio sources from Iris as NDI (Network Device Interface) streams on your local network. Any NDI-compatible software or hardware on the same network — such as OBS, vMix, TriCaster, or another NDI receiver — can pick up those streams in real time.
This is useful when you want to route your Iris camera feeds into a separate production tool, a second monitoring station, or any workflow that accepts NDI sources. Each source you enable becomes its own NDI stream, identified by the source's name in Iris.
NDI Output is currently available as an Early Access (beta) feature. You may experience occasional issues while it's in beta.
What You'll Need
An Iris agent that is online. If your agent is offline, no sources will appear in the Output settings and NDI Output can't be started.
At least one video or audio source connected to your Studio.
Early Access enabled for Output. If you haven't opted in yet, clicking "Start Output" will prompt you to enable it. You can enable or disable Early Access at any time.
NDI-compatible receiving software or hardware on the same local network to consume the stream.
NDI Output is not available when Iris is running in an embedded context.
Starting NDI Output
In your Studio, find the "Start Output" button in the production controls area at the bottom of the screen.
If you haven't enabled Early Access yet, a prompt will appear asking you to enable it. Click "Enable Early Access" to proceed.The Recording and Output settings panel opens. Click the "Output Settings" tab, then select the "NDI" sub-tab.
You'll see two columns: Video sources and Audio sources. Each connected source is listed with a selection circle.
Click on each source you want to include in the NDI output. A checkmark appears when selected. The source you currently have selected in the left tray is automatically pre-selected.
Click "Start Output" (at the top-right or in the footer). The button briefly shows "Starting..." while the output initializes.
While Output Is Active
Once output starts, here's what you'll see:
A success notification: "[Source name] is now outputting via NDI."
The "Start Output" button changes to "Stop Output" and turns red.
Each actively outputting source displays a stats bar showing:
Duration — a live timer (HH:MM:SS)
Memory — data size
Resolution — e.g., "1080p" (video sources only)
Bitrate — in kbits/s
FPS — frames per second (video sources only)
Actively outputting sources show a red icon in your source list.
NDI stream name: Each stream is published using the device name you've assigned in Iris. Look for that name in your NDI receiver software.
You can still use Iris normally while NDI Output is running — control cameras, switch views, adjust settings, everything works alongside active output.
Stopping NDI Output
From the production bar: Click the red "Stop Output" button. A confirmation dialog appears: "Are you sure you want to stop output? All sources will stop outputting immediately." Click "Stop Output" to confirm.
From the Output Settings panel: Click the "Stop All Outputs" button at the top-right of the NDI tab.
You'll see a notification: "[Source name] has stopped outputting via NDI." The button returns to the idle "Start Output" state.
Monitoring Your Output Streams
While output is running, you can monitor performance through the stats bar on each source card. Keep an eye on:
Bitrate and FPS — If these drop, your machine may be under load.
Resolution — Confirms the output is matching your source configuration.
If you notice issues, consider reducing the number of active NDI streams or lowering the quality settings of your sources.
Limits and Restrictions
One NDI output per source at a time. If output is already running for a source, trying to start another will be rejected.
Agent must be online. If the agent goes offline, the device list clears and output stops.
Not available in embedded mode.
No time limit. NDI Output runs continuously until you stop it or an error occurs.
Auto-restart on crash. If the NDI output process encounters an unexpected failure, it's configured to automatically restart. If it can't recover, the status changes to "Failed."
What Happens If…
…you try to start NDI Output while it's already running for a source? The system rejects the request. Only one NDI output session per source at a time.
…your agent goes offline while output is active? The device list clears, the NDI stream stops. You'll need to restart output once the agent is back online.
…the NDI output process crashes? It's configured to auto-restart. If it can't recover, the status changes to "Failed" and an error is reported.
…you don't have Early Access enabled? Clicking "Start Output" shows a tooltip explaining that NDI Output is an Early Access feature. You can enable it from the prompt that appears.
…no sources are connected? The NDI tab shows "No video sources are connected" and/or "No audio sources are connected." You can't start output without at least one selected source.
…you close the Iris app? NDI output stops because the agent process is no longer running. You'll need to restart it when you reopen Iris.
Tips and Best Practices
Performance matters. Each NDI stream uses CPU and RAM on your agent machine. Monitor system resources if you're outputting multiple sources.
Source quality carries through. NDI Output uses the same configuration as your original video source. Be mindful of bitrate and quality settings.
Name your sources clearly. The NDI stream name in your receiver software matches the device name in Iris. Descriptive names (e.g., "Stage Camera 1" instead of "Device 3") make it much easier to find the right stream.
Same network required. Your NDI receiver must be on the same local network as the Iris agent. NDI doesn't work across different networks without additional routing.
NDI and RTMP can run together. They're independent features — you can have NDI output and RTMP streaming active at the same time.
Troubleshooting
What's happening | Likely cause | What to do |
"Start Output" button isn't visible | Embedded mode, or feature not enabled | Make sure you're using the full Iris Studio (not embedded). Contact your administrator if the feature isn't available. |
Clicking "Start Output" shows an Early Access prompt | You haven't opted in | Click "Enable Early Access" in the prompt |
Source list is empty in Output Settings | Agent is offline, or no sources connected | Check that your agent is online and you have at least one source added |
NDI stream not appearing in receiver software | Receiver is on a different network, or stream hasn't fully started | Make sure your receiver is on the same local network. Wait a few seconds for initialization. |
Output shows "Failed" status | NDI process encountered an error | Stop and restart the output. If it persists, check that the source is still connected. |
"Starting..." stays for a long time | Output process is having trouble initializing | Wait up to 10 seconds. If it doesn't resolve, close the Output Settings and try again. |
FAQs
What is NDI? NDI (Network Device Interface) is a protocol developed by Vizrt that allows video and audio to be shared over a standard local area network. It's widely supported by production software and hardware.
Can I output multiple sources at the same time? Yes. Each selected source becomes its own separate NDI stream on your network.
What name will my NDI stream have? The device name you've assigned in Iris. Look for that name in your NDI receiver.
Can I output both video and audio from the same source? Each source outputs its own track type — video sources output video, audio sources output audio. They're separate NDI streams. You can select both video and audio sources for simultaneous output.
Is there a time limit? No. NDI Output runs continuously until you stop it or an error occurs.
Does NDI Output affect Iris performance? It runs as a separate process on your agent machine. Impact depends on how many sources you're outputting and your machine's capabilities.
Can I use NDI Output and RTMP streaming at the same time? Yes. They're independent features and can run simultaneously.
Do I need a specific plan? NDI Output is currently gated behind the Early Access program, not a specific billing plan. Availability may change as the feature matures.
What happens if I close Iris? NDI output stops because the agent process stops. Restart it when you reopen Iris.
Can I change which sources are outputting without stopping everything? You can modify your source selection in the Output Settings panel and save changes. The "Stop All Outputs" button stops all sources at once.
Use Cases
Live event production — Route Iris camera feeds into OBS, vMix, or TriCaster for switching and graphics overlay while keeping Iris as your camera control platform.
Remote monitoring — Send NDI streams to a second monitoring station on the same network without additional hardware.
Multi-software workflows — Use Iris for camera control and NDI Output to feed other production tools that accept NDI sources.
Educational webinars — Incorporate multiple camera angles into presentation software via NDI.
Backup recording — Send NDI streams to a separate recording application as a redundant capture path.