NAB 2023: Cobalt Digital to showcase new Sapphire BIDI-2H2S converter
Cobalt Digital will be bringing its new Sapphire BIDI-2H2S openGear card to NAB 2023. The company will also be previewing additional members of its Sapphire converter series including the Sapphire 8JXS-8S, a ST2110 JPEG XS to SDI bulk gateway in openGear form factor, and the Sapphire BBG-2110-H/S and Sapphire BBG-2110-2H mini converters.
The Sapphire BIDI-2H2S is a dual-channel bidirectional HDMI-to-SDI/SDI-to-HDMI converter. Each channel can be independently configured to have either SDI or HDMI inputs and each has simultaneous SDI and HDMI outputs. This provides input and output options with independent paths of true 3G and HD conversions to and from all the SD-SDI, HD-SDI and 3G-SDI formats and HDMI. With both SDI and HDMI inputs and outputs (two each), each path is equipped with frame sync as well as full input and output audio cross-points and optional per-path colour correction. Input and output SDI and HDMI cross-points allow bidirectional program sourcing and distribution across both sets of inputs and outputs.
In existing openGear installations, the bidirectional capacity is a space-saver that offers an alternative to using throwdown devices, providing an additional measure of installation integrity. Preset save/load allows custom card settings to be saved with instant revert to factory settings. Layered presets allow changes to be invoked that are only related to a specific area of concern (audio routing, for example) while not changing any other processing settings or aspects. Full user DashBoard or Remote Control Panel remote control allows status and control access locally or across a standard Ethernet network.
Cobalt is giving visitors a preview of its Sapphire 8JXS-8S, an ST2110 JPEG XS to SDI bulk gateway in openGear form factor. Sapphire 8JXS-8S includes dual 25Gb/s Ethernet ports for SMPTE ST2022-7 seamless switching and supports up to eight SDI signals, up to 1920x1080p60. The card occupies four slots, allowing for up to five cards and 40 signal conversions in a standard openGear chassis. Like all Sapphire converters, the card includes full NMOS support for ease of configuration in addition to the standard openGear DashBoard.
The company is also previewing an appliance in the Sapphire line for JPEG XS to HDMI conversion. The Sapphire BBG-2110-H/S and Sapphire BBG-2110-2H mini converters are part of Cobalt’s Blue Box Group (BBG) series developed to offer high-quality design, function and reliability in a small package. The units are intended to be mounted behind the monitor and include single or dual 25Gb/s ports (for ST2022-7 redundancy). Two models will be available: the Sapphire BBG-2110-H/S, a single channel (one HDMI port), and Sapphire BBG-2110-2H, a dual-channel (two HDMI ports). The mini converters also include full NMOS support for ease of configuration.