Serial digital interface 

 
The digital serial interface or Serial digital interface ( SDI ), is a transport or broadcasting
protocol for different digital video formats . It was introduced in 1989 by the SMPTE ST
259 standard for the transmission of SD video between audiovisual studio
equipment. Subsequently, several standards succeeded one another - HD-SDI (1.485 Gbit /
s), 3G-SDI (2.970 Gbit / s), UHD-SDI - to define protocols adapted to higher bit
rates for high video transmissions definition (HDTV), ultra high definition(UHDTV1 and
UHDTV2) or for digital cinema ( 2K , 4K , 8K ). The video signal data is
not compressed . The quantization is performed on 8, 10 or 12 bits , and the
structure subsampling used is often type 4: 2: 2 , although the latest standards allow a structure 4:
4: 4 or 4: 4: 4: 4. The signal can be transmitted in electrical form , via one or more coaxial
cables with characteristic impedance 75  Ω fitted with BNC connectors., or by optical fiber .

standards
Successive technical progress has given birth to a multitude of video formats in both digital
television and digital cinema (2K, 4K, 8K). The definition of the image (SD, HD, UHD, 2K, 4K,
8K) or the image frequency (25, 50, 100, etc. images per second in Europe) are increasing which
imposes images occupying a volume of higher storage and transmission rates. Image ratios may
also differ depending on the application (formerly 4/3 and currently 16/9 in television, 1.89 ≈
17/9 in digital cinema). This is why the Society of Motion Picture and Television
Engineers ( SMPTE ), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU orEBU in English),
the International Telecommunication Union (UTI or ITU in English) and the Digital Cinema
Initiatives ( DCI ) have published several documents allowing standardization of video formats
and / or transport protocols in order to facilitate exchanges.
Some SDI interface standards accompanied by optimal qualities that can be transmitted
Single bonds ( Single-link )
Structure /
Last Standard Definition / Frame rate (Maximum
Date  [ 1 ] , [ 2 ]
Quantification
name SDI (maximum) flow)
(maximum)
SMTPE ST 244 ( 480i 29.97; 768 NTSC composite, 143 Mb / s
× 485; 4/3) 4f 
sc (obsolete   )
[ 4 ]

EBU Tech 3246 ( 576i / 25; 948 PAL composite, 177 Mb / s

SMPTE ST × 576; 4/3) 4f 
sc (obsolete   )
[ 4 ]

259
SD-SDI  EBU[ 3 ]
1989 SMTPE ST125 and ITU-R BT
Tech. 3267 601 (480i / 29.97; 720 × 480; 4/3 270 Mb / s
ITU BT 656 or 576i / 25; 720 × 576; 4/3)
4: 2: 2/10 b
SMTPE ST 267 (480i / 29.97;
360 Mb / s
960 × 480; 16/9 or 576i / 25; 960
(obsolete   )
[ 4 ]

× 576; 16/9)
HD-SDI  SMPTE ST 1998
[ 5 
HDTV 720p / 60 *, 50, 30 *, 25, 4: 2: 2/10 b 1.485 Gb / s,
 24 *
HDTV 1080i or 1080p / 30 *, 25, 1.485 / 1.001
]
292
24 * Gb / s
Cinema 2K / 30 *, 25, 24 *
2.970 Gb / s,
SMPTE ST
3G-SDI  [ 1 ]
2006 HDTV 1080p; 60 *, 50 4: 2: 2/10 b 2.970 / 1.001
424
Gb / s
6G UHD- SMPTE ST UHDTV1 and Cinema 4K / 30 *,
2014 4: 2: 2/10 b 6 Gb / s
SDI 2081-10 25, 24 *
UHDTV1 and Cinema 4K / 60 *,
4: 2: 2/10 b
12G SMPTE ST 50
2014 12 Gb / s
UHD-SDI 2082-10 UHDTV1 and Cinema 4K / 30 *, 4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4:
25, 24 * 4: 4/10 b
UHDTV1 / 120 *, 100 4: 2: 2/10 b
24G SMPTE ST 4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4:
2015 UHDTV1 / 60 *, 50 24 Gb / s
UHD-SDI 2083-10 4: 4/10 b
UHDTV2 / 30 *, 25, 24 * 4: 2: 2/10 b
10G
Optical SMPTE ST
UHDTV1 / 30 *, 25, 24 * 4: 4: 4/12 b 10,692 Gb / s
SDI 435-1
Interface
10 Gb / s
Optical SMPTE ST
UHDTV1 / 30 *, 25, 24 * 4: 4: 4/12 b 10,692 Gb / s
SDI 2036-3
Interface
(*) Frequency division by 1,001 is also specified to ensure compatibility   with NTSC systems.
[ 6 ]

The 4: 4: 4 structure can be adapted to Y'C   C   components as well as R'G'B 'components. The 4: 2: 2
b r

structure only fits the Y'C   C 

b  .
r components

The UHDTV1 and UHDTV2 image formats are defined by the SMTPE ST 2036-1 and ITU-R BT 2020
standards.
Multiple links ( Multi-link )
Structure /
Last Standard Definition / Frame rate Debit
Date  [ 1 ] , [ 2 ]
Quantification
name SDI (maximum) (maximum)
(maximum)
2.970 Gb / s,
Dual-link SMPTE ST HDTV
2002 4: 4: 4: 4 10 b 2.970 / 1.001
HD-SDI 372 SMTPE ST 274 (1080p; 60 *, 50)
Gb / s
Dual-link SMPTE ST
2012 UHDTV1 / 30 *, 25, 24 * 4: 2: 2/10 b 6 Gb / s
3G-SDI 425-3
Quad-link SMPTE ST 4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4:
UHDTV1 / 30 *, 25, 24 *
3G-SDI 425-5 2012 4: 4/10 b
12 Gb / s
Dual-link SMPTE ST 2014
6G-SDI 2081-11 UHDTV1 / 60 *, 50 4: 2: 2/10 b
Dual-link SMPTE ST UHDTV1 / 60 *, 50 4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4: 21 Gb / s
10G
optical 2036-3 4: 4/10 b
SDI
Quad-link SMPTE ST UHDTV1 / 120 *, 100 4: 2: 2/10 b
6G-SDI 2081-12 4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4:
2014 UHDTV1 / 60 *, 50 24 Gb / s
Dual-link SMPTE ST 4: 4/10 b
12G-SDI 2082-11 UHDTV2 / 30 *, 25, 24 * 4: 2: 2/10 b
Quad-link
10G SMPTE ST 4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4:
UHDTV2 / 30 *, 25, 24 * 43 Gbps
optical 2036-3 4: 4/10 b
SDI
4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4:
Quad-link SMPTE ST UHDTV1 / 120 *, 100
4: 4/10 b
12G-SDI 2082-12
2015 4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4: 48 Gb / s
Dual-link SMPTE ST UHDTV2 / 30 *, 25, 24 *
4: 4/10 b
24G-SDI 2083-11
UHDTV2 / 60 *, 50 4: 2: 2/10 b
Octa-link
10G SMPTE ST 4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4:
UHDTV2 / 60 *, 50 85.5 Gb / s
optical 2036-3 4: 4/10 b
SDI
4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4:
Quad-link SMPTE ST UHDTV2 / 60 *, 50
2015 4: 4/10 b 96 Gbps
24G-SDI 2083-12
UHDTV2 / 120 *, 100 4: 2: 2/10 b
Octa-link SMPTE ST 4: 4: 4/12 b or 4: 4:
2015 UHDTV2 / 120 *, 100 192 Gbps
24G-SDI 2083-13 4: 4/10 b
 
Some standards governing the definitions of TV image and digital cinema

Various image definitions.

Image Active Total Gross debit  [ note

Standard (s) System
report frame frame 1 ]

SDTV 480i29,97 525 / 49.94 / 2: 4/3 ≈ 1.33 720 × 480 858 × 525 270 Mb / s
SMTPE ST125 1
ITU-R BT 601 576i25 625/50/2: 1 720 × 576 864 × 625
720p24 * 750/24/1: 1 4125 × 750
720p25 750/25/1: 1 3960 × 750
HDTV
720p30 * 750/30/1: 1 16/9 ≈ 1.78 1280 × 720 3300 × 750 1.485 Gb / s
SMPTE ST 296
720p50 750/50/1: 1 1980 × 750
720p60 * 750/60/1: 1 1650 × 750
1080p24 * 1125/24/1: 1 2750 × 1125
1080i25 1125/50/2: 1 2640 × 1125
HDTV 1080p25 1125/25/1: 1 2640 × 1125 1.485 Gb / s
SMPTE ST 274 * 1080i30 1125/60/2: 1 16/9 ≈ 1.78 1920 × 1080 2200 × 1125
ITU-R BT 709 1080p30 * 1125/30/1: 1 2200 × 1125
1080p50 1125/50/1: 1 2640 × 1125
2.970 Gb / s
1080p60 * 1125/60/1: 1 2200 × 1125
2K digital cinema 1080p24 * 1125/24/1: 1 2750 × 1125
SMTPE ST 1080p25 1125/25/1: 1 256/135 ≈
2048 × 1080 2640 × 1125 1.485 Gb / s
2048-1 1.90
DCI DCSS 1080p30 * 1125/30/1: 1 2200 × 1125
2160p24 * 2250/24/1: 1 5500 × 2250
2160p25 2250/25/1: 1 5280 × 2250 5.940 Gb / s
2160p30 * 2250/30/1: 1 4400 × 2250
UHDTV1
2160p50 2250/50/1: 1 5280 × 2250
SMTPE ST 16/9 ≈ 1.78 3840 × 2160 11,880 Gb / s
2036-1 2160p60 * 2250/60/1: 1 4400 × 2250
2160p100 2250/100/1: 1 5280 × 2250
2160p120 23,760 Gb / s
2250/120/1: 1 4400 × 2250
*
4K digital cinema 2160p24 5.940 Gb / s
SMTPE ST 256/135 ≈
4096 × 2160 5500 × 2250
2048-1 2160p48 1.90 11,880 Gb / s
DCI DCSS  [ note 2 ]

11000 ×
4320p24 * 4500/24/1: 1
4500
10560 × 23,760 Gb / s
4320p25 4500/25/1: 1
4500
4320p30 * 4500/30/1: 1 8800 × 4500
UHDTV2
10560 ×
SMTPE ST 4320p50 4500/50/1: 1 16/9 ≈ 1.78 7680 × 4320
4500 47,520 Gb / s
2036-1
4320p60 * 4500/60/1: 1 8800 × 4500
10560 ×
4320p100 4500/100/1: 1
4500
95,060 Gb / s
4320p120
4500/120/1: 1 8800 × 4500
*
(*) These systems have an associated system presenting frame rates divided by 1.001 (23.98  Hz , 29.97  Hz ,
59.94  Hz , 119.88  Hz ) to ensure compatibility   with NTSC systems . The flow is also divided by 1,001.
[ 5 ]

Signal generation

Image frame for 1080p25 HD-SDI signal

Several steps are necessary   to generate the signal from a source providing the 3 components Y ',
[ 7 ]

Cb and Cr (after matrixing of the components R', G 'and B'). A 4: 2: 2 chrominance

subsampling is frequently done, which means that there are twice as many luminance information
points as there are chrominance information points . Each sample is defined by a binary word
made up of 8, 10 or 12 bits according to the standard: this word is often presented in hexadecimal
form in publications.
First, the part of the component signals Y ', Cb and Cr reserved for frame suppression
( vertical blanking ) and line suppression ( horizontal blanking ) is partially or totally replaced.

 First of all, you must enter the information allowing synchronization (TRS: timing
reference signal ): start of active line (SAV: start of active video ) and end of active line
(EAV: end of active video ). Four binary words, some of which are reserved for this use: the
first being the maximum value (FF for 255 on 8 bits, 3FF for 1023 on 10 bits, FFF for 4095 on
12 bits), the two following the minimum value (00 or 000 ). The last word XY or XYZ
indicates whether it is a field blanking line, an even or odd field line depending on the type of
scanning ( interlaced , progressive or progressive segmented frame ), etc.
 It is also necessary to indicate the line number occupying 2 words noted LN0 and LN1.
 These elements are accompanied by a CRC error correction code ( Cyclic Redundancy
Code ) constituting a packet of four words.
 The rest of the part reserved for frame and line deletions can be occupied by auxiliary data
(HANC & VANC: horizontal & vertical ancillary data ) such
as timecode   (ATC: Ancillary TimeCode ), several channels of digital audio   according to
[ 8 ] , [ 9 ] [ 10 ]

the AES3 standard (AES / EBU), computer data, etc.

Then, the three components are put in series: in the case of the 4: 2: 2 structure, the most frequent,
a word for Cb, then Y ', then Cr, then Y', etc. For each word, the least significant bit (LSB: low
significant bit ) is transmitted first.
Illustration for HD-SDI 1080p25 signal
 
Finally, data is scrambled ( scrambling ) and encoding NRZI is ultimately used to avoid
maximum DC component and easily allow recovery the clock frequency.
The signal can be transmitted at a distance which depends on the coaxial cable used, typically less
than 300  m . For longer distances, it is necessary to use an optical fiber and possibly repeaters.

Newer standards allow the transfer of less defined videos and sometimes allow multiple video
streams to be transmitted simultaneously.

 HDTV Native formats, settings, standards conversion  ," Engineering techniques , n    TE

o

5680,2010 ( read online )
 Jean-Noël Gouyet and Francis Mahieu, “  HDTV Compression formats. Formats
container  , " Engineering techniques , n    TE 5681,2010 ( read online )
o

Sampling frequencies and bit rates

SD-SDI
The only interface still used is the one that corresponds to the ITU-R BT 601 . The first PAL and
NTSC 4 f  sc interfaces are now obsolete.
The image is sampled at 13.5  MHz for luminance and 6.75  MHz for each of the chrominance
signals which corresponds to a 4: 2: 2 structure which means that there is half the chrominance
information . The scanning is of the interlaced type. Regarding the standards used in Europe, the
frame consists of 864 × 625 pixels for a useful part of 720 × 576 pixels: for a quantization on 10
bits, the bit rate is 270 Mb / s.
Calculation of gross and net bit rates: SDTV 576i25:
The gross flow can be calculated as follows:
864 × 625 × 25 × 10 × 2 = 13.5.10   × 10 × 2 = 270 Mb / s.
6

The net debit corresponding to the part devoted solely to the image is worth:
576 × 720 × 25 × 10 × 2 = 207 Mb / s.

HD-SDI
The HD-SDI signal is generated in compliance with SMPTE ST 292 standards .
The sampling frequency is that recommended by the ITU-R BT 709 recommendation . The
luminance signal sampled at 74.25  MHz , while the chrominance signals, after having undergone
a sub-sampling of the chrominance according to a 4: 2: 2 structure, are sampled at
37.125  MHz . The bitrate is 1.485  Gb / s , identical for several formats: HDTV 1920 × 1080 at
24, 25 or 30 frames per second and 1280 × 720 at 60 frames per second or 2K cinema 2048 ×
1080 at 24, 25 or 30 frames per second.
Example of calculation of gross and net bit rates: HDTV 1080/25:
In the case of a 1080/25 video, the frame is formed of 1125 × 2640 pixels while the active image
is made up of 1920 × 1080 pixels.
The gross flow can thus be calculated:
1125 × 2640 × 25 × 10 × 2 = 74.25.10   × 10 × 2 = 1.485 Gb / s.
6

The net debit corresponding to the part devoted solely to the image is worth:
1080 × 1920 × 25 × 10 × 2 = 1.037 Gb / s.

Related articles
 Video signal
 Digital camera
 camcorder
 Luminance | chroma
 Chroma subsampling
external links
 SMPTE standards: http://standards.smpte.org/
Notes
1. ↑ Example given for a 4: 2: 2 structure and a quantization on 10 bits, without compression.
2. ↑ Digital Cinema Initiatives - Digital Cinema System Specification
References
1. ↑   [PDF] John Hudson, 3Gb / s SDI for Transport of 1080p50 / 60, 3D, UHDTV1 / 4k
a b and c

and Beyond , 2013

2. ↑   [PDF] John Hudson, UHD-SDI Standards Overview - Towards a Hierarchy of SDI
a and b

data Rates , 2013

3. ↑ [PDF] Bruce Carriker, SDI SMPTE Primer , 2013
4. ↑   Charles Poynton 2012 , p.  432
a b and c

5. ↑   Jacques Gaudin, Jean-Noël Gouyet and Francis Mahieu 2010 , p.  26

a and b

6. ↑ Jacques Gaudin, Jean-Noël Gouyet and Francis Mahieu 2010 , p.  21-28

7. ↑ Jean-Noël Gouyet and Francis Mahieu 2010 , p.  11-14
8. ↑ SMPTE ST 12-2 "Transmission of Time Code in the Ancillary Data Space" .
9. ↑ Charles Poynton 2012 , p.  404
10. ↑ In SD: SMPTE ST 272: "  Television - Formatting AES / EBU Audio and Auxiliary Data
into Digital Video Ancillary Data Space". In HD: SMPTE ST 299-1: "  24-Bit Digital
Audio Format for SMPTE 292 Bit-Serial Interface". Digital cinema: SMPTE 428-2: "  D-
Cinema Distribution Master - Audio Characteristics".