"Where Does Riedel SimplyLive Sit in the Broadcast Food Chain?"

Let me put it this way — I don’t really see vMix, DreamCatcher (Evertz), Grass Valley LiveTouch or K2 Dyno S, Vizrt 3Play, Ross Mira, SloMoTV, or Hawk-Eye as direct competition to Riedel SimplyLive.

These are all excellent systems in their own fields, but they are primarily replay boxes.

Riedel SimplyLive is something different — a flexible, modular, and scalable ecosystem that can start as a replay unit and grow into a full live-production environment.

Replay-wise, SimplyLive sits in its own category.

You can’t really compare it to vMix, because vMix was originally created for streaming and switching, not professional replay. It now includes some replay features, but it’s not a true replay system. That doesn’t make vMix bad — it’s a great platform for what it does — but it’s simply lower in the professional food chain when we talk about broadcast-grade replay operations.

Then there’s Vizrt 3Play, which I’ve used many times. Personally, I never felt fully comfortable with its workflow — the user interface feels unintuitive, and if you don’t operate it regularly, you tend to forget the shortcuts and structure. The same applies to SloMoTV. It’s functional and solid, but the design choices — for example, placing the T-bar in a completely different position than EVS, Grass Valley, DreamCatcher, or Riedel — make it less operator-friendly. After a few days away, many users find themselves reopening the manual just to refresh.

As for Ross Mira, opinions are divided. Some operators like it, others don’t — and that’s perfectly fine. Like with everything in this industry, some people prefer brunettes, others blondes — it’s about what fits your style.

Regarding Hawk-Eye, I have mixed feelings. When I requested detailed information — several pages of technical and operational questions — the only answer I received was “It works. You have to believe us.” I’m sorry, but I don’t make professional or journalistic judgments based on belief. I respect confidentiality, but I trust companies that provide clarity, transparency, and real data. So I’ll reserve my judgment until I see more openness from them.

Now, Riedel SimplyLive (particularly the Flex Suite) feels like a different league. You can start small — with a single operator handling replay — and then scale up by adding licenses or operators for:

🎥 Vision switching

🎧 Audio mixing

🖥️ Graphics and overlays

⚽ Replays and playlists

🎬 Even VAR operations

The same server can support one, two, or even three operators — all connected, all working within a unified system. You can also connect multiple SimplyLive servers in a network, creating a scalable and collaborative production environment where operators share inputs, clips, and resources across the same infrastructure — a truly powerful concept for multi-camera or remote workflows.

And the expansion model is brilliant: you can buy one-year or lifetime licenses, growing your capabilities step by step.

That’s why I say Riedel SimplyLive is something else. You can start with a replay configuration and end up with a complete, multi-camera studio built entirely on Riedel hardware and software. You can even integrate Bolero communications and trigger intercom functions directly from the SimplyLive interface — and that’s genuinely impressive.

If I had to place it on the chart:

• vMix sits at the entry level.

• Then come SloMoTV, Vizrt 3Play, and Mira.

• Higher up are Grass Valley Dyno S and DreamCatcher (Evertz).

• But in between the EVS XTGO and XT-VIA, you find Riedel SimplyLive — a system that bridges the gap between replay boxes and complete production environments.

Don’t get me wrong — I love all these systems. I’ve used most of them, I respect the engineers behind them, and every one of them serves its purpose. But this is my honest, personal opinion after years of hands-on work across multiple platforms:

Riedel SimplyLive isn’t just another replay system — it’s a full-scale live production solution in a single, modular box.

And don’t forget to check our Broadcast Academy for EVS, Riedel, and Grass Valley VODs and manuals:

👉 https://www.universityoftelevision.com/broadcast-academy

Piotr Szymborski

Founder – University of Television

Watch. Learn. Broadcast.