SMPTE 2110 is a suite of standards created by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) for professional video production workflows. The standard defines a set of protocols for transmitting uncompressed or lightly compressed video, audio, and ancillary data over IP networks. SMPTE 2110 is designed to provide a high degree of flexibility and interoperability for video production workflows, allowing for the use of a wide range of network switches and other devices.
NDI, on the other hand, is a proprietary protocol developed by NewTek for transmitting video, audio, and data over IP networks. NDI is designed to be easy to use and flexible, with low latency and high quality. It is widely used in a range of applications, from live streaming and virtual productions to video conferencing and other uses.
One of the main differences between SMPTE 2110 and NDI is that SMPTE 2110 is an open standard, while NDI is proprietary. This means that anyone can develop and implement devices that support SMPTE 2110, while NDI is owned and controlled by NewTek. However, NewTek has made the NDI SDK (software development kit) available to third-party developers, allowing for a wide range of NDI-enabled devices.
Another difference between the two is that SMPTE 2110 is designed for use in professional video production workflows, while NDI is designed to be more flexible and accessible for a wider range of users. SMPTE 2110 is designed to provide a high degree of interoperability between devices from different manufacturers, while NDI is designed to be easy to use and set up, with minimal configuration required.
In terms of technical differences, SMPTE 2110 is designed to support uncompressed or lightly compressed video, while NDI uses a more efficient compression algorithm to reduce bandwidth requirements. This makes NDI more suitable for use in environments with limited network bandwidth. While uncompressed or lightly compressed video provide superior SMPTE 2110 provide superior image qualities at almost no latency, NDI utilizes 1Gb Network to optimize workflow within the 1 gigabit networking equipment.
Overall, both SMPTE 2110 and NDI are valuable standards for transmitting video over IP networks, with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. The choice of which one to use depends on a range of factors, including the specific needs of the user and the requirements of the video production workflow. As the overhead pricing of SMPTE 2110 device supersedes that of NDI, I would prefer and recommend NDI over SMPTE 2110.