Cobalt Digital adds direct fiber I/O to Dante openGear cards
Cobalt Digital announced a suite of product updates to be showcased at IBC2026, including new fiber I/O connectivity for its Dante openGear cards and expanded support for IPMX and JPEG XS media streams. The updates are designed to simplify signal processing and integration for broadcasters transitioning to IP-based and software-defined production workflows.
Key Takeaways
- New 9935-AUD4-DANTE openGear cards feature optional fiber I/O to support direct Dante connectivity without external conversion.
- Integrated support for JPEG XS Temporal Differential Coding (JXS TDC) enables visually lossless, low-latency media streams across the SAPPHIRE and INDIGO lines.
- The blueCORE processing platform provides ST 2110 and IPMX capabilities with power consumption under 80W in a 1RU form factor.
- PACIFIC compression products now include an ST 2110/IPMX output option to decode content simultaneously over SDI and IP networks.
Why It Matters
The addition of direct fiber I/O to Dante openGear cards marks a critical simplification of the hardware stack for live production. By removing the need for standalone media converters, Cobalt Digital reduces failure points and lowers the total cost of ownership for broadcasters scaling their audio-over-IP footprints. This move aligns with the broader industry shift toward the IPMX standard, which aims to bridge the gap between pro AV and deterministic broadcast timing. Strategically, the integration of JPEG XS TDC ensures that facilities can maintain visual quality while reducing bandwidth requirements. Watch for adoption rates of the PACIFIC compression line as satellite-to-IP hybrid workflows become the standard for handling rain fade during live events.
Additional Context
The transition toward open standards like IPMX is gaining significant momentum as the broadcast and pro AV industries converge. Per TV Technology in January 2026, the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) officially launched IPMX as a fully certifiable and deployable standard at ISE 2026. This milestone followed years of collaborative testing and validation by the Video Services Forum (VSF), shifting the market from proprietary implementations to a truly open ecosystem capable of 4K60 transmission over standard gigabit networks. Industry adoption of these IP-native solutions is reflected in recent market data. According to Grand View Research in June 2026, the demand for software-defined networking and interoperable hardware is driving a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.8% through 2033 for open radio and infrastructure management solutions. This growth is increasingly fueled by the need for low-power, high-density processing units that can operate in space-constrained environments like OB vans and mobile production trucks. Furthermore, the focus on JPEG XS for ultra-low latency workflows has become a primary competitive differentiator. Per PacketStorm in early 2026, vendors such as Matrox and AJA have similarly expanded their IPMX product lines, with industry-wide adoption projected to grow 50% by the end of the year. Cobalt Digital’s inclusion of Temporal Differential Coding (TDC) within its IPMX-certified portfolio addresses the specific timing and synchronization requirements necessary for broadcasters to successfully manage complex, high-resolution media streams across mixed-vendor environments.
Read full article at globalbroadcastindustry.news
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