Riedel SimplyLive 2.1 adds tactile Skaarhoj hardware support via API

The move to support physical tactile interfaces within a software-defined production suite reflects a growing market demand for hybrid ergonomic models. While cloud and touchscreen-based workflows offer scalability, professional operators often require the latency-free physical feedback of hardware switchers for high-stakes live sports and events. By integrating Skaarhoj’s vendor-agnostic hardware, Riedel is positioning SimplyLive as a more versatile alternative to traditional monolithic hardware switchers, particularly in fragmented remote production setups. This strategy broadens Riedel's reach into the mid-market tier where cost-efficiency must meet professional-grade reliability. Watch for further gRPC-based integrations with third-party camera and audio controllers to unify the software-defined production stack.

The integration of Skaarhoj hardware into Riedel’s SimplyLive ecosystem follows Riedel’s 2022 acquisition of Simplylive, which signaled a strategic pivot toward software-based, COTS-centric production. Per SVG Europe (September 2022), the acquisition allowed Riedel to expand beyond its core intercom and signal transport business into the heart of live production switching and replay. This transition has been bolstered by further M&A activity, including the acquisition of hi human interface in late 2023 to provide a vendor-agnostic control layer across the entire production chain.

Riedel’s expansion into the broader imaging and live event market reached a milestone in April 2026 when founder Thomas Riedel acquired ARRI, the preeminent manufacturer of cinema camera and lighting systems. According to Riedel.net filings from April 2026, this deal was intended to merge cinematic imaging quality with live broadcast expertise, targeting growth in high-end sports and live entertainment. The support for Skaarhoj panels in SimplyLive aligns with this 'ecosystem' philosophy, moving Riedel closer to offering a complete end-to-end production solution that spans acquisition, processing, and distribution.

Simultaneously, the SimplyLive platform has moved toward more flexible financial models. In late 2025, Riedel introduced the Production Suite Flex licensing program, which shifted users toward pay-per-use and hybrid deployment models suitable for on-premise, remote, or cloud environments. Per Digital Media World (September 2025), this licensing shift, combined with new REST and gRPC API capabilities, is designed to lower the barrier to entry for distributed workflows that require the interoperability of multiple hardware and software vendors inside a single production environment.