From SDI Workflows to IP Based Production | The Big Shift

1. Customer Struggles with IP Transition

The most common challenges are not about capability. They are about complexity.

IP introduces networking disciplines that many broadcast engineers were not originally trained in. In SDI, connecting a cable often solved the problem. In IP, it is far more complex. The configuration, protocol alignment, and network behavior determine success.

A major underestimation is choice. “Moving to IP” could mean ST 2110, SRT, NDI, JPEG XS, MXL, or other emerging standards. Each carries different architectural implications.

Two issues that consistently surface:

• System timing – ST 2110 relies on IEEE 1588 PTP instead of black burst. Managing lip sync and distributed timing sources requires new operational awareness.
• Diagnostics – Troubleshooting shifts from tracing cables to validating router configuration, multicast setup, protocol compatibility, and hardware support.

IP offers flexibility, but it also demands discipline.

2. Education Gap and Culture Shift

The move to IP is not a talent issue. It is a training issue.

Many engineers built their expertise in baseband environments. IP introduces enterprise networking concepts that require new coursework and hands on experience.

Manufacturers must simplify deployment and provide training resources. Organizations must invest in skill development and allow time for learning.

Infrastructure and education must evolve together.

3. Ross’s Internal Journey to ST 2110

Ross did not immediately commit to ST 2110.

Earlier standards such as SMPTE 2022 were evaluated but did not demonstrate sufficient advantages or market readiness at the time.

With ST 2110, Ross assessed:

• Technical merit
• Market adoption
• Customer demand
• Ecosystem maturity

Adoption accelerated once 2110 became widely distributed across the industry. At the same time, SDI remains viable. Many facilities operate hybrid environments based on operational needs.

4. Openness, Interoperability, and Real World Friction

Standards have always enabled broadcast interoperability. SDI succeeded because devices shared a common format.

Today’s IP landscape is more fragmented. Beyond ST 2110, facilities encounter NDI, JPEG XS, SRT, MXL, and others depending on the environment.

Closed ecosystems increase long term risk through limited flexibility and vendor dependency. Open standards reduce that risk and protect investment.

Ross’s experience with automation systems supporting hundreds of communication protocols illustrates how fragmented control layers can become without shared frameworks. Interoperability is no longer optional.

5. Catena and the Future

As production systems become more software driven, communication frameworks are emerging as critical infrastructure layers.

Troy discussed Catena, aligned with SMPTE ST 2138, as a standardized approach to software to software communication in multi vendor environments.

Instead of supporting hundreds of custom protocols, unified control models aim to simplify orchestration across devices and applications.

Initiatives such as MXL under the EBU and AMWA reflect a broader shift toward more structured media exchange between software systems.

The next phase of IP is not only about transport. It is about coordinated control.

Closing Thoughts

The move from SDI to IP is an architectural evolution, not a simple upgrade.

IP introduces flexibility and scalability. It also introduces new choices, new training requirements, and new operational complexity.

For teams evaluating IP, the priority is clarity. Define objectives, understand standards, and engage partners who understand the technical tradeoffs and deployment realities. Preparation matters more than speed.

Designing Broadcast and Hybrid Infrastructure

Key Code Media designs, integrates, and supports AV, broadcast, and post production systems across on location premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. As organizations evaluate ST 2110 and emerging IP standards, the focus remains consistent: build resilient infrastructure aligned with operational goals and long term adaptability.