# Studio Monitor

**NDI Studio Monitor** is a tool that allows you to effortlessly view video and audio signals transmitted over your network through an NDI stream. 

Studio Monitor is a valuable tool for anyone involved in video monitoring, digital signage, KVM control, recording, PTZ operation, or more.

{% hint style="info" %}
Download NDI Tools [here](https://ndi.video/tools/download/).
{% endhint %}

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## **Accessing NDI Studio Monitor**

[Install NDI Tools](https://docs.ndi.video/all/using-ndi/ndi-tools/installing-ndi-tools) and run NDI Studio Monitor from the [NDI launcher](https://docs.ndi.video/all/using-ndi/ndi-tools/ndi-tools-launcher) or your applications list.

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## **Remote Control and Navigation**

The application launches as a pop-up window, providing an IP address or QR code for remote control from another device on the same network.

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## **Viewing NDI Sources**

Click on the menu in the top left or right-click anywhere on the Studio Monitor window.

A list of devices broadcasting over NDI will appear, and you can select any channel to view the video and audio in real-time.

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## **Settings and Customization**

By clicking on the top menu or right-clicking anywhere on the Studio Monitor window, you'll be able to access the `settings` that you can customize to your needs. You can find a list of all available settings below.

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/DO9LSaUxLOBIgPjyrjR1/blobs/XNo1XqB8Agk34uP0f4SO/Video%20Monitor%20options.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Click on the menu in the top left or right-click anywhere on the Studio Monitor screen to access settings.</p></figcaption></figure>

> If you experience dropped frames (indicated by the red bar) you can check in [NDI Analysis](https://docs.ndi.video/all/using-ndi/utilities/analysis)

### **Application**

* **Run a new NDI Studio Monitor** to open a second instance of Studio Monitor.
* **Run at Windows Start** is helpful for setting up a digital signage system.
* Allow Web Control
* Show Web Control URL
* Set **Controls Always Visible**
* Set **Record Path** to specify the location where recorded files will be saved.
* Select **Allow Receiver Advertising** to make it available for monitoring when using Discovery Server.
* Select **Allow Receiver Control** to manage which sources  Studio Monitor can connect to.

### **Audio**

* **Define the soundcard** for audio output.
* **Silent, mute, or unmute** audio output.
* **Adjust the output** audio level.

### **Video**

* Show the **NDI source's Alpha Channel**
* Show a **background checkerboard**
* Enable a **center cross overlay**
* Enable a **safe area overlay**
* Enable a **4:3 Aspect Ratio overlay**
* Enable a **Square Aspect Ratio overlay**
* **Flip horizontally** or **vertically** the displayed source
* Overlays the Tally indicators
* VU Meter overlay: Visualizes the source's audio level, with or without a reference scale.
* **Lowest Latency**: Reduces the time the system takes to display a source. When this option is activated, NDI Studio Monitor ceases to use frame-sync. Instead, it plays videos with less smoothness but offers the advantage of lower latency.
* **Low Bandwidth**: Decoding the NDI Proxy stream, rather than the full bandwidth, is highly effective for reducing bandwidth usage. This approach is particularly beneficial when displaying a source solely for monitoring purposes.
* **Overlay:** Select an NDI Source to overlay over the primary source.\
  Picture In Picture: With this option, the secondary source is overlayed as picture-in-picture.\
  Overlay using Alpha: This option overlaps the secondary source using his transparency.
* **Output:** Floating Window: With these options is possible to define if the NDI Studio Monitor will be visible: 1) In a floating Windows 2) Full Screen in one of the available monitor 3) Full Screen in all available monitor.&#x20;
* **NDI Video Output**: an extremely beneficial feature for effortlessly sharing a single source with multiple destinations. This functionality effectively transforms NDI Studio Monitor into an NDI Router. When a new source is chosen in Studio Monitor, it is directly routed to various receivers, originating straight from the sender.
* **Scale Video** to Window.
* **Always on Top**
* **Hide Window Border**
* **Move to Quadrant**: helps you to move, resize and fit multiple monitors in a single screen.
* **PTZ Settings:** enables the PTZ Control in the NDI Studio Monitor.
* Enable **USB Joystick as a PTZ Controller.**
* **Help:** Access the Studio Monitor Help Assistant and a quick web link to [ndi.video](https://ndi.video/) for more information about NDI and NDI Tools.