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InfoComm 2026 is about more than product launches — it’s about the people, strategies and ideas driving the next phase of the AV industry. In this Q&A series, exhibitors share what they’re showcasing at the show, the trends influencing their roadmap and the conversations they’re hoping to have with integrators, consultants and end users in Las Vegas. In this edition, we spoke with Suzana Brady from Cobalt Digital.

Q: What trends or challenges in the AV industry most influenced what you’re bringing to InfoComm 2026 this year?

A: The boundaries between broadcast and Pro AV continue to blur, and that convergence has triggered integrators and end users to demand the advanced technology and reliability that broadcast is known for, along with the ease and adaptability of AV systems. Expectations are the same – high-quality video, low latency, and real-time control – whether in corporate communications, live events, education, or sports production. Additionally, the desire for open standards, vendor interoperability, and simplified deployment is fueling the migration toward IP, which makes IP Media eXperience (IPMX) highly attractive to both AV and broadcast markets.

IPMX bridges broadcast and Pro AV, delivering broadcast-grade, operator-friendly solutions that provide flexibility and reliability in a mixed-vendor environment. Cobalt’s products already include support for ST 2110, so it was an easy transition for us to support IPMX as well, essentially making ST 2110 easily accessible with true ‘plug and-play’ simplicity.

We are bringing our end-to-end IPMX certified ecosystem to InfoComm, which includes our openGear® cards, SAPPHIRE mini converters, UltraBlue MV-SW multiviewer family, ARIA audio monitors, PACIFIC 9992-ENC INDIGO encoders, and our INDIGO ST 2110 product line.

Q: What specific solution, product or capability should attendees make a point to see at your booth — and what real-world problem does it solve?

A: It’s difficult to choose a specific solution because Cobalt has hundreds of multi-function products that serve a vast range of applications. One that stands out, however, is our most recent launch, COBALT® blueCORE standalone processors, a series of genuine real-world problem-solvers that deliver all the audio and video processing functions required for live production in one single 1RU device. blueCORE’s self-contained form factor makes deployment fast and simple; power it up, connect the signals, and the device is ready to operate – with or without a computer. Support for both SDI inputs and outputs (copper and fiber), four channels of 3G processing – or one channel up to 12G, along with access to ST 2110/IPMX inputs and outputs make blueCORE a ‘must have’ for infrastructures transitioning to IP.

Capabilities include 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, delivering extensive functionality in a single, compact unit and bringing unmatched flexibility and efficiency to workflows in transition.

Q: Where are you seeing the most momentum right now in the AV market — and how is your company positioning itself to meet that demand?

A: As AV installations become more sophisticated, there is momentum to implement ST 2110 and that requires interoperability; creating an open playing field to replace previously closed proprietary solutions. IPMX makes it easier to adapt ST 2110 broadcast technology into the Pro AV market by simplifying the technology and making it more accessible.

Cobalt has always designed our product portfolio to answer the current needs of our customers while anticipating the direction the market is headed next. Time will tell, but we expect to see a fair amount of cross-over between these two markets (in both directions) in the coming years and we are committed to a platform that thrives in today’s converged environments, emphasizing performance, interoperability and ease of integration.

These following product families exemplify our platform’s ability to remove proprietary barriers and promote true interoperability, reflecting our commitment to the Pro AV market and an open, plug-and-play environment.

• COBALT® blueCORE family offers fully featured standalone signal processors designed to bridge SDI and ST 2110/IPMX environments with exceptional versatility. blueCORE combines the audio and video processing functions required for live production and AV signal management into a single 1RU device.
• Cobalt’s ARIA Audio series includes the industry’s only fully IPMX-compliant audio monitor, giving AV facilities an easy way to incorporate professional audio confidence monitoring into IP-based workflows.
• COBALT® SAPPHIRE family of IPMX-capable standalone mini converters is available in single, dual, and quad-channel configurations. Select models can simultaneously transmit and receive signals while converting between IPMX/ ST 2110 signals and SDI/HDMI. Supporting both baseband video and ST 2110/IPMX, SAPPHIRE converters provide space-saving, low-latency tools for introducing IPMX into virtually any workflow.

Looking ahead, we’ll continue to prioritize support for ST 2110 and in turn, IPMX across all new product development.

Q: For integrators, consultants and end users trying to navigate the show floor efficiently, what makes your booth worth adding to their must-visit list?

A: We’re showing a one-stop-shop that makes ST 2110 and IPMX approachable via our expanding IPMX ecosystem that combines broadcast-grade reliability with the ease of deployment and operation the Pro AV market demands. Integrators and end users alike will find practical ways to transition to IP without over complicating their workflows while they protect their legacy investments.

Cobalt Digital is also incredibly proud to be among the first companies to achieve IPMX product certification and to help lead this important initiative. Highlights at our booth will include multiple products across our portfolio that have successfully completed the inaugural IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event. This achievement further positions Cobalt Digital as a pioneer in open standards and underscores our commitment to interoperability as broadcast and Pro AV technologies continue to converge.

Cobalt Digital products that have achieved IPMX certification include multiple members of our TOPAZ family of processors, PACIFIC encoders/decoders, INDIGO ST 2110 gateways, SAPPHIRE mini convertors, UltraBlue MV-SW multiviewers, and the ARIA AUD-MON – the industry’s only IPMX-compliant audio

Q: Without giving everything away, is there anything new or unexpected attendees should keep an eye out for at your booth?

A: Cobalt is leveraging our PACIFIC line of encoders and decoders to deliver a complete solution for interconnecting IPMX sites over the Internet. The PACIFIC 9992-ENC “IPMX-to-Internet” gateway appears as a destination within the NMOS controller at the sending site, enabling any patched content to be transmitted instantly to the corresponding PACIFIC ULL-DEC “Internet to IPMX” gateway at the receiving site. There the signal is visible in the NMOS controller as a sender and can be routed anywhere within the facility.

When using RIST, the PACIFIC 9992-ENC supports one-to-many distribution, allowing the same live content to be transported simultaneously to multiple destinations. This gateway acts as a bridge between IPMX on one end, and RIST/SRT on the Internet end, while also encoding or decoding audio/video at a reasonable bitrate.