NDI to Cloud Streaming:
The Live Producer's Guide

Take an NDI signal from your switcher to a global audience in 15 to 25
seconds glass-to-glass. Three production-tested workflows, two protocols,
and full configurations for vMix, Wirecast, OBS, Magewell, Kiloview, and
Haivision.

Guide contents

What's Inside

01

The Full Latency Chain

Most producers only measure the segment they control: the encoder. This guide maps every stage from camera sensor to viewer screen, with realistic ranges for each. NDI capture, encoder buffer, RTMP or SRT transport, Dacast ingest and transcoding, HLS packaging, CDN propagation, player buffer. Total with standard HLS: 15 to 25 seconds. You will know exactly where your milliseconds go before you go live.
02

Three Workflows, Step by Step

Not a generic 'how to stream' overview. Exact configuration steps for the three setups that cover the full range of NDI productions, with RTMP and SRT instructions for each:
  • Software switcher: vMix and Wirecast: multi-camera events, corporate broadcasts, live sports
  • Hardware transcoder: Magewell, Kiloview, Haivision: 24/7 channels, unattended streams, fixed installations
  • Lean setup: OBS + DistroAV: solo producers, education, nonprofits, proofs of concept
03

SRT vs. RTMP: When Each Protocol Wins

A side-by-side decision table covering packet loss tolerance, native encryption, real-time diagnostics, configuration complexity, and encoder support. Includes a plain-language recommendation so you can choose the right protocol for your network conditions without reading the RFC.
04

Encoder Settings Quick Reference

One table. Every setting you need for all three workflow paths: codec, resolution, bitrate, rate control, keyframe interval, SRT latency value, SRT mode, and AES encryption key length. Print it and put it on the production desk.
05

Troubleshooting Checklist for Production Day

Five common issue categories with step-by-step diagnostic procedures for live troubleshooting.
  • NDI source not appearing
  • Stream disconnecting from Dacast
  • Choppy or pixelated output
  • SRT-specific issues
  • High glass-to-glass latency
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Dacast Expert Blog

How to Stream NDI to the Cloud: The Dacast Workflow Guide

By Dacast Editorial Team | Reviewed by Jon Whitehead, COO at Dacast | Updated July 2026 NDI has always been one of the most powerful protocols for video over IP, but it was built for LAN. Send an NDI signal across the internet and you’re fighting packet loss, latency spikes, and a protocol that was [...]

Jon Whitehead · July 16, 2026 · 12 min read

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Who This Guide Is For

This is a technical guide written for practitioners, not managers. It assumes you already know what NDI is and that you are configuring a real production, not evaluating whether to try IP video.

Live Producers

Running vMix or Wirecast for multi-camera events who need a reliable cloud endpoint

Broadcast Engineers

Operating unattended 24/7 channels with hardware transcoders where uptime is non-negotiable

AV Integrators

Deploying NDI in fixed installations and needing a professional CDN without managed-service complexity

OBS Producers

Using DistroAV for education, house-of-worship, or nonprofit streaming on a tight budget

Frequently Asked
Questions

  • What is NDI cloud streaming?
    NDI cloud streaming is the workflow of taking an NDI signal from a production environment over the public internet to a global audience using RTMP or SRT transport. Unlike LAN-only NDI, cloud workflows require an encoder or bridge utility, an ingest endpoint, and a delivery CDN. This guide covers three workflow paths and the protocol decision between RTMP and SRT.
  • What's the difference between RTMP and SRT for NDI cloud streaming?
    RTMP is simpler to configure and reliable on stable connections. SRT adds built-in packet loss recovery and native encryption, making it the better choice on congested or unpredictable networks. The guide includes a side-by-side decision table so you can choose the right protocol for your network conditions without reading the RFC.
  • Does this guide cover NDI 6?
    Yes. The workflows are built around NDI 6 and the NDI Bridge Utility, which enables WAN routing across the public internet. Current as of June 2026, NDI 6.3, the current version, is the recommended download before following any of the three workflow paths.
  • Can I stream NDI to Dacast without a hardware transcoder?
    Yes. The guide covers three paths: software switcher (vMix or Wirecast), hardware transcoder (Magewell, Kiloview, Haivision), and lean setup (OBS + DistroAV). All three output RTMP or SRT to Dacast. The hardware transcoder path is recommended for 24/7 unattended streams. The software paths work perfectly for live events and smaller productions.
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