ST 2110 vs IPMX vs NDI: Which Standard to Choose for ProAV in 2025?

The transition from traditional SDI setups to AV-over-IP continues to accelerate across the ProAV and broadcast industries. But the moment you step into this territory, you're greeted with three familiar acronyms: ST 2110, IPMX, and NDI.

Each of these standards promises flexibility, scalability, and interoperability—but not without trade-offs. So which one should you build your next product around? Let’s unpack the technical details, real-world use cases, and the implications for vendors building ProAV systems in 2025.

Why the AV-over-IP debate matters today

The migration from SDI to IP is not a passing trend. Vendors and system integrators are actively looking for ways to cut cable clutter, streamline device interoperability, and enable remote workflows. Whether you're developing cameras, switchers, encoders, or vision-based AI systems, choosing the right protocol stack isn’t just a technical decision—it affects your product cost, performance, and adoption rate.

So how do ST 2110, IPMX, and NDI compare in terms of design philosophy and practical deployment?

ST 2110: The broadcast-grade heavyweight

Who it’s for: Tier-1 broadcasters, OB van manufacturers, live production setups, and high-end ProAV.

Key benefits:

• Fully uncompressed video and audio over IP (up to 4K/60 or 8K)
• Precision time protocol (PTP) for frame-accurate sync
• Separation of video, audio, and metadata streams
• Ideal for high-end editing and switching with zero latency

What to consider:

ST 2110 is demanding. It requires tight infrastructure control, proper multicast management, and PTP synchronization across all endpoints. That means high costs, dedicated network hardware, and intensive configuration. In return, you get pixel-perfect quality, deterministic timing, and seamless integration with other SMPTE-compliant systems.

Typical deployment environments:

• Multi-camera live broadcast studios
• Remote production trucks
• National TV and media centers

IPMX: The middle ground for ProAV

Who it’s for: ProAV device manufacturers, conference tech, corporate AV, digital signage, and education.

IPMX (Internet Protocol Media Experience) is an emerging standard developed by the AIMS Alliance. It builds on ST 2110 but trims the complexity, offering a more AV-friendly experience without giving up too much on quality or interoperability.

Key advantages:

• Based on ST 2110, but with optional compression
• Supports HDMI/DisplayPort-style workflows
• Plug-and-play discovery (thanks to NMOS protocols)
• Lower cost and complexity compared to pure ST 2110
• Open, royalty-free standard

What to consider:

IPMX is still evolving, and full certification and product support are rolling out gradually. However, for vendors looking to balance interoperability and cost, it offers a compelling direction—especially as ecosystem adoption increases.

Ideal for:

• Meeting rooms and corporate spaces
• Education AV systems
• Retail displays and signage
• ProAV vendors migrating from proprietary AV over IP stacks

NDI: Fast, flexible, and proprietary

Who it’s for: Streamers, small studios, churches, online content creators, and DIY AV solutions.

Developed by NewTek, NDI (Network Device Interface) prioritizes usability and low-cost integration. It uses standard Gigabit Ethernet, requires minimal setup, and works on general-purpose CPUs.

Why it's popular:

• Easy to deploy with software-based workflows
• Wide adoption in video conferencing and streaming
• Supports compressed and high-efficiency video formats
• Zero configuration needed to discover other devices

Drawbacks:

NDI is not open. While there's a free SDK, its closed nature can be limiting for deep customization. Also, compression introduces latency and quality degradation—so it’s not suitable for high-end production environments.

Common use cases:

• Hybrid live + online event setups
• Church streaming systems
• In-house content production
• Fast prototyping of AV devices

Comparative table: ST 2110 vs IPMX vs NDI

Choosing the right standard: vendor considerations

When deciding which standard to adopt for your next ProAV product, ask:

• What quality level do your customers expect?
  Uncompressed 4K? ST 2110.
  Balanced HD? IPMX.
  Quick deployment with lower resolution? NDI.
• What are the infrastructure constraints?
  Dedicated networks and switches favor ST 2110.
  Mixed-use networks are more suitable for IPMX or NDI.
• What’s your go-to-market strategy?
  Integration with broadcast clients → ST 2110.
  SaaS + hardware bundle for education or signage → IPMX.
  Rapid adoption in consumer-facing apps → NDI.

How Promwad supports AV-over-IP vendors

Whether you’re migrating to ST 2110, building a new IPMX-based AV switch, or prototyping NDI-compatible devices, you need more than protocol support—you need architecture-level decisions, hardware optimization, and test automation.

Promwad provides:

• Embedded software and firmware for AV equipment
• FPGA development (incl. audio/video routing & timing)
• Integration of NMOS and PTP for IPMX & ST 2110 stacks
• Custom AV-over-IP devices with Linux or RTOS
• Signal integrity and high-speed interface design
• Support for video codecs, AI vision modules, and latency tuning

We help ProAV vendors go beyond standards and build reliable, market-ready systems—from PCB and SoC to full-stack firmware.

Looking ahead: trends for 2025

• Hybrid architecture is becoming the norm: Many manufacturers blend x86 + ARM + FPGA in their devices to offload video processing and reduce latency.
• Software-defined AV: Modular firmware stacks and flexible routing layers are replacing traditional matrix switchers.
• AI-based video processing: On-device analytics (e.g., crowd detection, live captioning) are being embedded into AV pipelines.
• CRA and cybersecurity requirements: AV devices are now part of corporate networks, making compliance with cybersecurity regulations (e.g., IEC 62443) a must.

Final thoughts

No single AV-over-IP standard wins across all domains. Instead, each has carved out a clear segment:

• ST 2110 dominates high-end broadcast.
• IPMX is the rising star in ProAV.
• NDI remains the favorite for nimble, software-defined workflows.

The right choice depends on your audience, your product’s complexity, and how much control you need over the AV stack. But no matter your path, one thing is clear: IP-based video is the future—and that future is already here.

Need help navigating this complexity or integrating these protocols into your system? Promwad can support your journey at every stage.