As broadcasters continue to balance traditional SDI operations while transitioning to IP, flexibility and efficiency have become more important than ever. Cobalt Digital addresses both challenges with its new COBALT blueCORE family of standalone signal processors. These compact, high-performance multi-function units are designed to bridge the gap between SDI and ST 2110/IPMX, addressing the growing need for agile, future-ready infrastructures.
Introduced at the 2026 NAB Show, the COBALT blueCORE family combines all the audio and video processing functions required for live production in a single 1RU device. Support for both SDI and ST 2110/IPMX inputs and outputs with copper and fiber connectivity, the system accommodates four channels of 3G processing or a single channel up to 12G. This flexibility offers broadcasters the essential functionality they need from one space-saving device while navigating the transition from SDI to IP.
“We were delighted to introduce blueCORE at the 2026 NAB Show, where it received an incredible reception and was honored with a Best of Show award,” said Suzana Brady, SVP of Worldwide Sales and Marketing at Cobalt Digital. “We’re now excited to bring these compact yet powerful processors to the key Latin American market.”
Its compact form factor, ease of operation and low power requirements – less than 80W for the ST 2110 version – make blueCORE perfectly suited for live production environments, including trucks, OB vans, fly packs, REMI productions, and space constrained control rooms. For facilities navigating cost-efficient infrastructure upgrades, blueCORE offers a practical path toward IP adoption without requiring a complete overhaul of existing SDI equipment.
Deployment is quick and simple; power it up, connect the signals, and the device is ready to operate – with or without a computer. A large touchscreen front panel makes local configuration of all processing functions effortless – on-site adjustments are fast and intuitive during live productions where setups vary from event to event. blueCORE also includes four illuminated knobs for straightforward operation of vital functions directly at the unit without needing an external control panel. The unit is equally at home in traditional fixed environments with remote control accessed through a Web GUI, adding to its flexibility.
blueCORE delivers a broad set of integrated processing capabilities, including up/down/cross conversion, color correction, several flavors of HDR processing, audio routing and mixing, per-channel frame sync, frame rate conversion, audio embedding and de-embedding, SCTE-104 insertion as well as logo insertion – and many more base features. By consolidating these functions into a single compact unit, blueCORE reduces rack space requirements, power consumption and complexity while streamlining overall operations, delivering extensive functionality from one slim unit.
With its hybrid SDI/IP support, operational simplicity, and extensive feature set, the COBALT® blueCORE family provides broadcasters with a future-focused solution, designed to support today’s production demands while preparing for the next generation of IP infrastructure.
