ST 2110 vs IPMX vs NDI in 2026: How ProAV Vendors Actually Decide

A few years ago, the AV-over-IP discussion sounded deceptively simple. SDI was old, IP was new, and the question was mostly about when to migrate, not how. By 2026, that simplicity is gone.

Most ProAV vendors now accept that IP-based video is the default direction. What they struggle with is choosing which flavor of IP to build around. ST 2110, IPMX, and NDI all claim to solve the same problem, but in practice they sit in very different parts of the design space.

The real choice is no longer about standards. It is about control, latency, and who owns complexity.

Why this decision still causes friction

Moving from SDI to IP is not just a transport change. It reshapes the entire product.

Once video becomes IP-native, networking, synchronization, discovery, and software architecture move from the background to the foreground. Vendors who pick the wrong stack often discover it late, when hardware is frozen and customers expect interoperability.

By 2026, experienced teams approach this decision defensively. They ask not “what is the most powerful standard?” but “where will this break in real installations?”

ST 2110: still unmatched, still unforgiving

ST 2110 has not softened over time. It is still the most demanding option on the table, and also the most precise.

Uncompressed streams, strict timing, and PTP-based synchronization give ST 2110 something the others cannot offer: determinism. When systems must behave like a single coherent machine, frame-accurate and predictable, ST 2110 is hard to beat.

Why do broadcast vendors still choose ST 2110 in 2026?
Because nothing else gives them the same level of timing control and quality transparency. In multi-camera production, large studios, or OB vans, every added millisecond and every hidden buffer matters.

The cost is well known. Infrastructure must be designed, not improvised. Network switches, PTP domains, multicast planning, and operational discipline are mandatory. ST 2110 works best when the environment is controlled and professionally managed.

For vendors, choosing ST 2110 usually means targeting fewer customers — but demanding ones.

IPMX: where ProAV realism meets broadcast heritage

IPMX exists because ST 2110 is often too much for ProAV.

In 2026, IPMX is no longer just a promise. It is increasingly treated as a practical bridge between broadcast-grade thinking and ProAV reality. It keeps the architectural DNA of ST 2110 but relaxes assumptions about networks, compression, and device behavior.

Why does IPMX resonate with ProAV manufacturers?
Because it acknowledges that ProAV networks are mixed, shared, and cost-sensitive. HDMI-style workflows, optional compression, and NMOS-based discovery make IPMX easier to integrate into enterprise environments.

IPMX is not about beating ST 2110 on performance. It is about lowering the entry barrier without collapsing into proprietary chaos. For vendors migrating from closed AV-over-IP stacks, IPMX offers an open path forward with less operational pain.

The trade-off is maturity. In 2026, IPMX is still consolidating certification programs and ecosystem consistency. Vendors adopting it early accept some uncertainty in exchange for strategic positioning.

NDI: speed beats purity, by design

NDI never tried to be a broadcast standard, and that honesty is part of its success.

In 2026, NDI remains popular not because it is perfect, but because it is fast to adopt. Software-first workflows, automatic discovery, and tolerance for standard Ethernet make it attractive to teams that value speed over rigor.

Why do vendors still build products around NDI?
Because it reduces friction. Prototyping is faster. Integration is easier. End users can set up systems without reading networking manuals.

The downside is structural. Compression introduces latency and quality loss. Synchronization is approximate. And the ecosystem is controlled by a single vendor. For high-end or long-lifecycle products, those constraints eventually surface.

NDI works best when expectations are aligned with its philosophy: convenience over determinism.

Latency is the quiet differentiator

By 2026, most ProAV vendors stopped arguing about “low latency” in abstract terms. They now define acceptable latency per workflow.

ST 2110 assumes latency must be as close to zero as possible.
IPMX allows low latency, but accepts trade-offs to survive real networks.
NDI assumes that a few frames of delay are acceptable if the system stays usable.

Which standard delivers true real-time behavior?
Only ST 2110, and only if the infrastructure is built for it. The others optimize for different constraints.

Understanding this early prevents expensive redesigns later.

For teams that need to translate architectural intent into concrete product decisions, a more implementation-focused comparison of ST 2110 vs IPMX vs NDI helps clarify how these standards behave in real deployments. Looking at compression modes, synchronization models, infrastructure demands, and typical customer environments makes it easier to align protocol choice with cost structure and go-to-market strategy. This practical lens reinforces why vendors increasingly map each standard to a specific role, rather than expecting a single AV-over-IP stack to cover every scenario.

The ecosystem question vendors underestimate

Standards do not live alone. They live in toolchains, SDKs, test equipment, and integrator habits.

ST 2110 lives comfortably in broadcast engineering culture.
IPMX is aligning itself with ProAV integrators who want openness.
NDI thrives in software-centric environments and content creation workflows.

By 2026, vendors increasingly choose a standard based on who they want as customers, not just what the technology allows.

The emerging pattern: not either-or

One of the most visible trends is that single-standard products are becoming rare.

Many devices now support multiple protocols, or different protocols on different interfaces. ST 2110 internally, IPMX at the edge. IPMX for infrastructure, NDI for preview and monitoring.

This adds complexity, but it also reflects reality: ProAV systems are hybrid by nature.

Conclusion

In 2026, ST 2110, IPMX, and NDI are no longer competing for the same space. Each occupies a distinct role shaped by latency tolerance, infrastructure control, and operational culture.

ST 2110 remains the benchmark for deterministic, broadcast-grade systems.
IPMX is emerging as the pragmatic choice for open, interoperable ProAV.
NDI continues to dominate where speed and accessibility matter most.

The vendors who succeed are not the ones who pick the “best” standard, but the ones who understand where each standard stops making sense — and design around that boundary.

AI Overview

ST 2110, IPMX, and NDI address different needs in modern ProAV and broadcast systems rather than competing directly.

Key Applications: ST 2110 for broadcast-grade, deterministic production; IPMX for interoperable ProAV infrastructure; NDI for software-driven and fast-deployment workflows.
Benefits: clearer alignment between system requirements and protocol behavior.
Challenges: infrastructure complexity with ST 2110, ecosystem maturity for IPMX, and proprietary limitations with NDI.