ZEN are based in
MANCHESTER, UK

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+44 (0)161 736 5300

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PRODUCTS

By Manufacturer

BirdDog NDI
Blackmagic
Magewell
NewTek NDI apps
VidBlaster
vMix

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BirdDog Studio/Mini NDI interface boxes

.BirdDog is an Australian company based out of Melbourne, with what they describe as "a team of innovative and slightly quirky engineers". Their first project was a major challenge - to create an NDI codec in hardware.

BirdDog News from NAB 2018 - introducing the new BirdDog Mini and the Audio Comms app.

BirdDog Studio & BirdDog Mini enable your existing cameras to be included into a new IP workflow for your live productions. Once you convert your HDMI or SDI signal to IP (HDMI-only on the Mini), the possibilities of live productions are magnified. Any network connection can become a live video input into an NDI-enabled switcher.

NDI made simple

Convert your baseband digital video (SDI/HDMI) to full-quality NDI and take full advantage of flexible IP networks. No need to run long SDI cables or purchase expensive video routers, simply access your live video in real time anywhere on your network.

Dual Color Tally

BirdDog does Tally the "right way". BirdDog Studio can display Tally onboard and externally via Tally out. Due to our superior NDI integration both Program and Preview tally indicators are provided.

Simply set the display to be full screen Tally or split screen to show both program and preview.

Power from anywhere

All bases are covered when it comes to power. BirdDog Studio can accept power input from the Ethernet cable via PoE technology. Don’t have a PoE network infrastructure? No problem, simply power via DC or V/Gold-mount battery plate optional accessories with power pass-through (coming soon).

Central fleet control

Control and configure multiple BirdDog Studio devices through the admin panel which is accessible via a web browser on both mobile devices and desktop.

Monitor loop-out/format converter

SDI and HDMI outputs are always live allowing you to convert from SDI to HDMI and vice versa. Connect a monitor to BirdDog Studio's outputs or simply use them to loop out to other gear.

Software upgradeable

As additional features are developed they will be released at no cost. To make updates easy a simple site deployment wizard will ensure all BirdDog Studios in your facility are updated, and are all running the same software version.

BirdDog Studio specs:	Note - BirdDog Mini is HDMI-only in a smaller case size
Video Inputs	HDMI & HD-SDI
Video Outputs	HDMI & HD-SDI (with cross conversion from either input)
Supported Resolutions	1080p 29.97/25/59.94/50, 1080i 59.94/50, 720p 59.94/50, SD PAL/NTSC
Video Protocol Support	NDI Realtime Encoding (full quality, not NDI-HX)
Audio	Embedded via SDI/HDMI plus Headset connector
Network	1000baseT (gigabit)
Power	802.3 PoE Compliant, 2-pin 8-24v DC with D-Tap adapter
External Tally	3.5mm GPIO 2 position (Program/Preview)
Display	5x35 LED Display, Selectable modes (Info, Tally, Multi-Tally)
Configuration	Web Based (Mobile and Desktop compatible)
Physical Dimensions	105mm (W) x 150mm (H) x 19.5mm (D)
Weight	340g

Note - all prices quoted on this site are UK pounds - ex VAT & delivery 2.5% surcharge on Credit & Debit Card payments

BirdDog hardware	Price
BDSTUM01 - BirdDog Studio - NDI converter with Tally, PoE & SDI/HDMI inputs, includes universal AC adapter, D-Tap to 6mm DC cable and quickstart guide.	735.00
BDMINIHDMI - BirdDog Mini - smaller, HDMI-only version of the BirdDog Studio, inc PSU	N/A (489.00)
BDSTUM01-EDU - BirdDog Studio Education - NDI converter with Tally, PoE & SDI/HDMI inputs, includes universal AC adapter, D-Tap to 6mm DC cable and quickstart guide.	enquire
BDCOMMS - BirdDog Comms - NDI software for controlling comms/talkback between BirdDog devices	N/A (395.00)
Info on other capture devices and accessories for vMix here

What we're about . . . ZEN is not a traditional Audio-Visual dealer who started selling computers, nor is it a computer shop that also sells video products. You won't get any salesmen giving you the "hard-sell" when you call, just straightforward advice and information - which for some callers is the knowledge that they don't need to buy whatever it is they thought they needed! Above all you'll be dealing with someone with a wide range of experience and knowledge of both PCs and video production. We're not the biggest, nor necessarily the cheapest, but we are one of the longest established computer/video specialists in the UK.

Company history . . . ZEN was started in the 1980s by Martin Kay, then working for ITV at Granada's Manchester studios, who built his first 6502-based computer in 1979 from an Ohio Scientific kit, bought in the USA whilst working as a Sound Recordist on a film shoot for World In Action. With the advent of the Amiga, which could be gen-locked to a video source, Martin started writing a variety of video-related software. This included subtitling & tele-prompting, ident clocks, scoring software for sports & gameshows, and specialist software to mimic other computer displays for use in TV film dramas like Cracker, Prime Suspect and A Touch of Frost. Martin left Granada in 1993 to concentrate on his computer-video activities with ZEN, following a natural path into non-linear editing systems, for many years the main business activity, although he still maintains an active interest in video production.

Martin will be on the vMix booth at IBC this year - number C13 in Hall 6.

As a result, the ZEN office in Salford will be closed from Thursday 13th
and open again on Wednesday 19th September. During this period, email response may be slower than normal, but small orders for Magewell USB Capture devices will be processed as normal if placed via Amazon.co.uk