New Cobalt Digital Image Processor Offers Simultaneous HDR/SDR Production

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Cobalt Digital today
announced its new 9904-UDX-4K up/down/cross converter and image processor for
openGear® frames is now shipping. Already installed in a select group of trucks
and studio facilities, the dual-slot card provides an ideal hardware platform
for Technicolor High Dynamic Range Intelligent Tone Management (ITM) software.
This enables the use of current SDR infrastructure, reducing the need for new
camera purchases and other capital expenditures to produce HDR footage.

The 9904-UDX-4K
provides clean and accurate SDR-to-HDR and HDR-to-SDR conversion. Using the
Technicolor conversion process (SL-HDR technology) generates a single layer
video stream to distribute SDR with dynamic metadata, allowing for inverse
conversion back to the original HDR. When a network service provider transmits
the SDR feed, it will automatically deliver a full HDR experience to compatible
TVs and set-top boxes.

For HD and 4K
live sports, the 9904-UDX-4K allows production truck operators to seamlessly
create SDR signals from HDR sources. Plus, legacy SDR sources such as cameras,
servers, and graphics systems can be converted for HDR productions. As a
result, the 9904-UDX-4K eliminates the need for sports productions to use
separate SDR and HDR cameras and processing paths.

“Using existing
HD and 4K equipment to deliver HDR content – instead of separate truck and
camera crews – is a much more affordable way to produce live sports for
multiple delivery platforms,” said Chris Shaw, Cobalt executive vice president
of sales and marketing. “Cobalt’s 9904-UDX-4K, coupled with Technicolor’s
technology, helps broadcasters keep operating expenses low and future-proof
their equipment investment.”

Cobalt Digital 9904-UDX-4K

Technicolor HDR
ITM technology manages brighter lights and darker shadows to deliver sharper,
more realistic images in real time. While it allows manual adjustments on the
fly and the use of preset profiles, its dynamic adjustment capability enables
an operator who may not be an HDR specialist to achieve outstanding results.

The 9904-UDX-4K
offers diverse input choices, including 12G-SDI on every I/O and quad-link 4K,
and includes frame synchronizer and scaling as standard features to allow for a
wide range of output formats. It also converts a variety of signals for use in
live production. Other features include audio embedding/de-embedding, options
for full RGB color correction, and 3D-LUT that provide a 33 cube LUT for color
mapping and grading.

About Cobalt
Digital
Cobalt Digital Inc. designs and manufactures award-winning edge devices
that help live video production and master control clients transition to IP,
4K, HDR, the cloud, and beyond. As a founding partner in the openGear® initiative
and proud member of SMPTE, Cobalt also offers a best-of-breed interoperability
platform that simplifies technological adoption. Distributed through a
worldwide network of dealers, system integrators, and other partners, Cobalt
Digital products are backed with a five-year warranty. Learn more at www.cobaltdigital.com.