Sure Shot Transmissions, a mobile satellite uplink service based in New Middletown, Ohio, has selected the COMPASS 9061 and 9062 up/down/cross-converter cards from Cobalt Digital for use in its new 40-foot straight, eight camera HD production truck.

The cards are being used for split feed frame sync needs, and all other HD-SD-SDI conversion requirements within the truck, according to Tim Dailey, chief engineer of the truck, dubbed the “Natalie Michelle.” The new truck will feature up to eight Grass Valley LDK8000 HD cameras and an expando production area.

“The Cobalt 9061/9062 were selected for their quality and flexibility, offering first class up-, down- and cross-conversion as well as frame sync with audio tracking delay capabilities,” Dailey said. “The added ability of audio and video proc controls, audio embed/de-embed, audio channel mapping, aspect ratio conversion, all combined with the intuitive Dashboard remote control and monitoring made these cards ideal for the mobile truck environment. The 9061/9062 enable incorporation of analog and SD digital signal into the Grass Valley Kalypso switcher and graphics into the SD platform.”

The truck will be used for Major League Baseball, PGA in Augusta, college basketball, professional ice hockey, and NFL events. Clients will include U.S. and international broadcasters, including NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corp.) and ESPN.

Cobalt Digital is an Urbana, Ill.-based provider of conversion products for the broadcast industry.