NDI and Spout outputs let a TouchDesigner rig feed any downstream software without a physical video signal

NDI (Network Device Interface) and Spout are software protocols for streaming video frames between applications on a local network (NDI) or between applications on the same machine (Spout). A TD rig can output multiple streams simultaneously — pre-blend, post-composite, individual layers — each visible to Resolume, OBS, Notch, or any NDI/Spout receiver. This enables a modular system where TD handles generation and a separate application handles output formatting, recording, or streaming. Dynamic NDI output panels inside a mixer interface let the operator create or remove output streams at runtime.

Examples

TD outputs layer 1 via Spout to Resolume for video playback blending, the master composite via NDI to OBS for streaming, and an isolated camera feed via NDI to a confidence monitor — all simultaneously.

Assessment

Explain the difference between Spout and NDI in terms of network topology and latency. In what scenario would you use NDI for intra-machine communication?