Serial Digital Interface (SDI) By - TechTarget

• Home
• Network infrastructure

• Share this item with your network:

By

• Andrew Froehlich, West Gate Networks

Published: Sep 07, 2021

What is serial digital interface (SDI) and what is it used for?

Serial digital interface (SDI) is a standard for digital video and audio transmission over coaxial or fiber optic cabling. Speeds currently range from 270 megabits per second (Mbps) up to 12 gigabits per second (Gbps) for the latest standard released in 2015.

The SDI standard uses data words that are 8 or 10 bits in length. SDI signals are uncompressed and are self-synchronizing between the source (transmitter) and the destination (receiver). Most errors caused by noise or interference can be detected, and the lost data is recovered using a specialized code called the Hamming code. A signal in SDI can contain up to four independent digital audio signals along with the video signal.

History of SDI

The SDI professional video standard was first developed in 1989 by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). Since then, six updated SDI standards have been released with one currently in development. These are the SDI standards in the order they were introduced:

• Standard Definition SDI. Published in 1989, SD-SDI is an SMPTE 259M standard that transmits and receives video and embedded audio at bit rates between 177 Mbps and 270 Mbps; it is primarily used for 480i and 576i video formats.
• High Definition SDI. Introduced in 1998, HD-SDI is an SMPTE 292M standard that transmits and receives video and embedded audio at a rate of 1.5 Gbps; it is primarily used for 720p and 1080i video formats.
• Enhanced Definition SDI. Introduced in 2000, ED-SDI is an SMPTE 344M standard that transmits and receives video and embedded audio at a bit rate of 540 Mbps; it is primarily used for 480p and 576p video formats.
• Dual Link HD-SDI. Released in 2002, Dual Link HD-SDI is an SMPTE 372M standard that transmits and receives video and embedded audio at a bit rate of dual 1.5 Gbps links, making a combined 3 Gbps; it is primarily used for the 1080p video format.
• 3 Gbps SDI. Introduced in 2006, 3G-SDI is an SMPTE 424M standard that transmits and receives video and embedded audio at a bit rate of 3 Gbps; it is primarily used for 1080p video format.
• 6 Gbps SDI. Published in 2015, 6G-SDI is an SMPTE ST 2081 standard that transmits and receives video and embedded audio at a bit rate of 6 Gbps; it is primarily used for 1080p at 60 frames per second and 2160p video formats at 30 FPS.
• 12 Gbps SDI. Also introduced in 2015, 12G-SDI is an SMPTE ST 2082 standard that transmits and receives video and embedded audio at a bit rate of 12 Gbps; it is primarily used for 2160p video formats at 60 FPS.

What is the difference between HDMI and SDI?

Although both high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) and SDI support the transmission of uncompressed video and compressed or uncompressed digital audio, there are distinct differences between the two video output connections and the cost to implement them. HDMI is popular in consumer-grade equipment for connecting Blu-ray players, streaming devices and video game consoles to television sets. HDMI resolutions can reach up to 10K at 120 hertz.

In most cases, an HDMI cable cannot extend beyond approximately 50 feet without needing an intermediary device to amplify the signal. However, it is a much cheaper technology to use compared to SDI. While there are several different HDMI connector types, the most common is the standard 19-pin connector.

SDI is more often found in professional environments used by broadcast picture and sound engineers. SDI equipment is far more expensive to purchase and use compared to HDMI, but it does enable far greater transmission that can reach up to 100 feet for coax cabling and 1,000 feet over optical fiber. Although HDMI can technically transmit higher-fidelity video signals, SDI is still used by professionals because the corresponding video equipment interfaces natively use the SDI standards. SDI over coax uses BNC (Bayonet Neill-Concelman)-style connectors.

Continue Reading About serial digital interface (SDI)

• What is the difference between audio and video conferencing?

• Live enterprise video streaming driving market disruption

• Branded, custom video conferencing enhances meetings

• 12 advantages and disadvantages of video conferencing

• On the Calculation and Usage of HDR Static Content Metadata

Related Terms

What is 5G? Fifth-generation wireless or 5G is a global standard and technology for wireless and telecommunications networks. See complete definition What is a small cell in wireless networks? A small cell is a type of low-power cellular radio access point or base station that provides wireless service within a limited ... See complete definition What is millimeter wave (mmWave)? Millimeter wave (mmWave) is a range of electromagnetic frequencies that exist between microwaves and infrared light. See complete definition

Dig Deeper on Network infrastructure

• What is HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)?

  By: Pat Brans

• OWC USB-C quad HDMI 4K adapter 

  By: Adrian Bridgwater

• Chromecast

  By: Robert Sheldon

• DisplayPort

  By: Andrew Zola

Sponsored News

• Harness AI at the Edge to Enhance Business Success –HPE & Intel
• Improving Operational Efficiencies: 4 Success Stories in Digital Transformation –Dell Technologies
• See More

Vendor Resources

• Developing the Intelligent Core with Windows Server 2019 –Dell Technologies and Windows
• Choose High Data-Efficiency Technology for Lower Storage TCO –Dell Technologies and Microsoft

Latest TechTarget resources

• Unified Communications
• Mobile Computing
• Data Center
• IT Channel

Search Unified Communications

• From packet loss to productivity: The new era of video KPIs

  AI has reshaped video meetings, and success can no longer be judged by jitter or latency. Explore why IT leaders must adopt new ...

• Understanding the origins of complexity in enterprise software

  Enterprise software portfolio complexity grows quietly as ERP, HR, CX and UC platforms integrate with AI and legacy systems, ...

• Enterprise Connect 2026 brings AI from hype to reality

  Enterprise Connect 2026 addresses AI adoption practicalities for UC and CX, including governance policies, AI silos, deepfake ...

Search Mobile Computing

• Apple just went down-market with MacBook Neo

  The $599 MacBook Neo marks Apple's push into budget laptops, offering basic specs but a strong ecosystem pitch to first‑time Mac ...

• How to create an enterprise mobile device management policy

  An MDM policy helps organizations secure corporate, BYOD and hybrid workforce devices by defining acceptable use, data protection...

• How to use Intune app protection without MDM enrollment

  Intune mobile application management without enrollment lets IT protect corporate data on BYOD devices using app protection and ...

Search Data Center

• 5 tips for building a resilient data center supply chain

  As digital reliance grows, CIOs must build resilient data center supply chain strategies into IT planning by evaluating vendor ...

• Guide to understanding the various types of data centers

  IT leaders must assess the types of data centers and align infrastructure with their business priorities, factoring in ...

• Does your data center need a smart PDU?

  A smart PDU can help you monitor and manage power flow more efficiently than a traditional PDU. Here's what you should consider ...

Search ITChannel

• Geography, skills drive IT Services M&A for Presidio, Accenture

  Presidio has acquired transACT Technology Solutions, a digital transformation specialist based in the United Kingdom, while ...

• Consultants, SIs back AWS agentic AI marketplace launch

  Accenture, Cognizant and Deloitte are among the partners with offerings on AWS' AI Agents and Tools marketplace, which is ...

• Partners begin to target agentic AI marketplace platforms

  Cloud marketplaces are emerging as key venues for adoption of AI agents. Consultants and integrators aim to offer the technology ...

Close