Riedel integrates SKAARHOJ hardware panels via gRPC to SimplyLive 2.1

This integration bridges the gap between software-defined production and traditional hardware ergonomics. By implementing a gRPC API, Riedel provides the low-latency tactile feedback that professional operators demand in mission-critical live sports and event environments. This move signifies a broader industry shift toward hybrid production interfaces where the flexibility of software-based backend architectures, like ViBox, no longer mandates a touchscreen-only user experience. For the ecosystem, it reinforces the trend of interoperable hardware-agnostic control layers. Watch for whether Riedel expands this gRPC-based peripheral support to other third-party control surfaces beyond the SKAARHOJ ecosystem.

The SimplyLive 2.1 update follows a series of strategic expansion efforts for Riedel’s software-defined production portfolio. At NAB 2026, per TV Technology in March 2026, Riedel debuted the 'Flex' licensing model alongside the Venue Gateway 1612 Advanced and next-generation RiMotion replay bundles. These releases aimed to decentralize production by allowing users to shift between on-premises, remote, and cloud deployment models based on operational needs. The introduction of the Venue Gateway license within the 2.1 release specifically streamlines this by allowing the same server hardware to handle multi-channel signal contribution, audio aggregation, and tally transport alongside core production tasks.

Further broadening its control layer, Riedel introduced the 'hi human interface' to the U.S. market in early 2026, according to reporting from TKT1957 in April 2026. This browser-based, vendor-agnostic tool is designed to manage multiviewers and SDN controllers through a unified workflow, matching the philosophy seen in the SKAARHOJ collaboration. Meanwhile, SKAARHOJ’s Master Key 48 has solidified its position as a universal control surface for software-heavy production stacks. According to manufacturer specifications from July 2026, the panel features 48 programmable NKK keys with individual OLED displays and now supports a range of vision mixers including Grass Valley AMPP, Panasonic Kairos, and Vizrt TriCaster.