FFmpeg for DekTec Devices

FFmpeg Integration for DekTec Devices

Use FFmpeg for real-time SDI and SMPTE ST 2110 input and output via DekTec devices. DekTec support is available in the ffmpeg and ffplay command-line utilities and in the FFmpeg libraries for custom application development.

The integration uses CDTAPI, DekTec's open-source C API for its devices. Ready-built binaries of ffmpeg, ffprobe and ffplay are available for Linux x64 and Windows x64.

Key Additions to FFmpeg

ffmpeg	Added `-f dektec` for real-time SDI/2110 input/output via DekTec devices.
ffplay	Added `-f dektec` to show an SDI/2110 stream from a DekTec device in a window.
.sdi file format	New format for SDI storage. Supported by ffmpeg, ffplay and FFmpeg libraries.
FFmpeg libraries	Added real-time DekTec support and .sdi file format, for custom apps.

Get Started

Install the DekTec driver for your card: Downloads → SDK.
Download ffmpeg, ffprobe and ffplay for Linux or Windows x64 from the latest release.
List your cards' ports:
```
ffmpeg -sources dektec
```

Further resources:

DekTec-specific command-line options
Sources and build instructions for Linux
Sources and build instructions for Windows
Use it from vcpkg: the ffmpeg-dektec port in DekTec's vcpkg registry
Source code on GitHub

Supported DekTec Adapters

DTA-2110	1x 10G SFP+ for ST 2110
DTA-2125	1x 25G SFP28 for ST 2110
DTA-2172	2x SDI in or out
DTA-2174B	4x SDI in or out
DTA-2178	8x SDI in or out

Video - Supported Formats

4K	2160p, over a single 12G-SDI link
HD/3G	720p, 1080i, 1080p, 1080psf
SD	480i, 576i
Frame rate	23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30 Hz 50, 59.94, 60 Hz

Audio - Supported Formats

Format	PCM
Sample rate	48 kHz
Sample size	20-, 24-bit

PC Support

Linux	≥4.x, 5.x
Windows	10, 11; Server 19, 22, 25
Processor	Core i7 Or equivalent AMD CPU

Features

SDI and SMPTE 2110 I/O: Receive and transmit live video and audio through supported DekTec devices.
Windows and Linux: Use the command-line tools or integrate FFmpeg libraries into your own application on either platform.
Open Source: Built on CDTAPI, DekTec's open-source C API. Source code and ready-built binaries are available.
SDI File Support: Read and write raw SDI streams in DekTec's .sdi file format.

Applications

Live Encoding and Decoding: Encode incoming streams or decode media for output through DekTec devices.
Video and Audio Monitoring: Use ffplay to view live video and listen to audio from SDI or SMPTE ST 2110 inputs.
SDI-to-IP Gateways: Route video and audio between SDI and SMPTE ST 2110 interfaces.
Custom Applications: Combine FFmpeg's media processing with DekTec I/O in your own software.

FFmpeg Command-Line Examples

Explore these representative ffmpeg command-line examples to get a feel for the extensive functionality of our FFmpeg integration.

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg - the ffmpeg tool provides countless command-line options. Furthermore, combining FFmpeg libraries with DekTec I/O opens up a world of possibilities for crafting your own bespoke applications.

The picture below shows a configuration where the ffmpeg tool is used to stream a service, from a transport-stream file, as SMPTE-2110 video and audio streams via a DTA-2110 card.

Command-line:

ffmpeg -i input.ts -url:v 239.0.0.5:5678 -url:a 239.0.0.6:5680 -f dektec 2110000054

Alternatively, stream SDI via DTA-2178 port 4:

ffmpeg -i input.ts -f dektec 2178000132:4

To view and listen to video and audio received with a DekTec card, use ffplay. This is illustrated in the picture below, where ffplay is used to view the contents of an SDI signal received with a DTA-2172 card.

Command-line:

ffplay -f dektec -i 2172000209

Alternatively, receive SMPTE-2110 streams with a DTA-2110:

ffplay -url:v 239.0.0.5:5678 -url:a 239.0.0.5:5680 -f dektec -i 2110000054

The example below combines the previous two examples into an SDI-to-SMPTE-2110 gateway. This time the ffmpeg tool is used to route the video and audio extracted from the SDI signal received with a DTA-2172 to a DTA-2110, which transmits them as ST 2110-20 and ST 2110-30 video and audio IP streams.

FFmpeg SDI to SMPTE 2110 gateway example

Command-line:

ffmpeg -f dektec -i 2172000209 -url:v 239.0.0.5:5678 -url:a 239.0.0.6:5680 -f dektec 2110000054

A 4K example: play a 2160p50 file out through a DTA-2178 port as 12G-SDI:

ffmpeg -i input_2160p50.mp4 -f dektec 2178000132:1

Supported DekTec Adapters

Below is a list of DekTec products that work well with our FFmpeg integration. Please note that while these have been checked for compatibility, results may vary based on your specific usage and configuration.

	DTA-2110 – 10G SmartNIC Optimized for SMPTE 2110 The DTA-2110 is a high-performance PCIe card that enables receiving or transmitting of SMPTE ST 2110 audio and video streams into or out of FFmpeg. `ffplay` allows you to view these streams directly in a window.
	DTA-2125 – 25G SmartNIC Optimized for SMPTE 2110 The DTA-2125 offers the same functionality as the DTA-2110, but for 25G Ethernet environments.
	DTA-2172 – Dual 3G-SDI/ASI Ports for PCIe Each of the two ports enables receiving or transmitting an SDI stream (SD, HD, or 3G) into or out of FFmpeg. With `ffplay`, you can view the SDI stream directly in a window.
	DTA-2174B – Quad 3G-SDI/ASI Ports (1x12G) for PCIe Each of the four ports enables receiving or transmitting an SDI stream (SD, HD or 3G) into or out of FFmpeg, and the 12G port carries 4K (2160p) over a single link. For viewing purposes, `ffplay` allows you to display the SDI stream directly in a window.
	DTA-2178 – Octal 12G-SDI/ASI Ports for PCIe Each of the eight ports enables receiving or transmitting an SDI stream (SD, HD, 3G or 12G) into or out of FFmpeg, including 4K (2160p) over a single 12G link. For viewing purposes, `ffplay` allows you to display the SDI stream directly in a window.