How to Encode an HDMI Source to Dante with the BG-STREAM-DE

Got a great HDMI camera you'd love to bring into your Dante ecosystem? You don't have to replace it. This guide walks you through using the BG-STREAM-DE to take a straight HDMI source — like a 4K camera — and encode it into a Dante stream you can route anywhere on your network.

The BG-STREAM-DE is a true encoder and decoder. As an encoder, it takes an HDMI (or SDI) input and converts it into a network streaming protocol like Dante, NDI, or RTSP. That means a standard HDMI camera can join your Dante world without swapping hardware. It also supports audio embedding and extraction, but all the magic happens inside its web interface. For this walkthrough, we're focusing on encoding an HDMI camera to Dante and bringing it into Dante Studio. (We assume you're already familiar with Dante if you're reading this.)

Let's break it down.

What You'll Need

Before you start, make sure you have the following ready:

• A BG-STREAM-DE encoder/decoder
• An HDMI camera or source (for this demo, we're using a BG-ADAMO 4K HDMI camera)
• A network switch and your local network (the BG-STREAM-DE is DHCP-enabled out of the box, so it grabs a local IP automatically)
• A computer connected to the same local network, with Dante Controller and Dante Studio installed
• An HDMI cable to connect your camera to the unit (a monitor on the HDMI output is optional, for loop-out monitoring)

The key thing to remember: every device — the camera, the unit, and your computer — needs to be on the same local network so they can talk to each other.

Part 1: Connect Everything to the Network

Step 1: Connect your HDMI source

Run an HDMI cable from your camera's HDMI output into the HDMI IN on the BG-STREAM-DE. This is the signal the unit will encode into Dante.

Step 2: Connect the BG-STREAM-DE to the network

Plug the BG-STREAM-DE into your local switch. It's DHCP-enabled out of the box, so it automatically pulls a local IP address.

Step 3: Put your computer on the same network

Connect your computer (wired or through the same switch) to the local network. You'll use it to log into the web interface and to bring the feed into Dante Controller and Dante Studio.

Part 2: Log In to the BG-STREAM-DE Web GUI

Step 1: Find the unit's IP address

Since the BG-STREAM-DE is DHCP-enabled, it pulls a local IP as soon as it's on your network. There are two easy ways to find it: run a network scan, or simply reset the unit with a monitor connected — the new IP address will display right on the screen. In our demo, the unit came up at 192.168.30.139 (yours will likely be different on your network).

Step 2: Open the web interface

Type the unit's IP address into your web browser's address bar and hit Enter.

Step 3: Log in

Enter the default credentials:

• Username: admin
• Password: 0000

Hit login, and you're in.

Part 3: Set Your Input to HDMI

On the Source page, select HDMI as your input and hit Apply. The unit may ask you to restart and log back in (admin / 0000) — that's normal. 

Once you're back in, check the status page to confirm the unit is reading the HDMI input; in our demo it shows 1080p at 60fps, so we know the source is good.

Note that with encoding active, the HDMI output essentially acts as a loop-out for monitoring your feed — but the real destination is the Dante network.

Part 4: Select Dante as Your Stream Type

Head to the Streaming tab. This is where you choose which protocol to encode your source into. You'll see multiple options — for this guide, select Dante.

Hit Apply.

Next, to activate the stream, select the toggle to on. It will gray out when active:

Part 5: Bring the Feed into Dante Controller and Studio

Step 1: Open Dante Controller

With the stream rolling, open Dante Controller on your computer. You'll see the BG-STREAM-DE appear as a Dante TX source carrying your camera's video feed.

Step 2: Make the subscription

Subscribe the BG-STREAM-DE (now a Dante transmitter) to your desired Dante Receiver like Dante Studio monitor in the routing grid. When the connection takes, you'll see green check marks confirming it's active.

Step 3: Confirm your feed

Your HDMI camera now shows up as a Dante video source. You can toggle it on and off and route it like any other Dante source. That's how easy it is to encode an HDMI camera into Dante.