Düsseldorf-based production company Bildquadrat is using Riedel’s Virtual SmartPanel (VSP) to expand its intercom infrastructure for mobile and geographically dispersed teams. VSP lets production personnel join production communications from smartphones, tablets and supported web browsers, and complements Bildquadrat’s existing Artist intercom ecosystem.
Bildquadrat offers creative media production, live and broadcast production, and technology development. As part of its intercom upgrade, it replaced Artist G2 frames with IP-based Artist-1024 systems, which gives it more flexibility in interfaces and port licenses. VSP adds a software-based option for users who don’t need a dedicated hardware panel.
Bildquadrat runs the Riedel STAGE infrastructure used by VSP in its server environment in Düsseldorf. Through its connection to Artist-1024, VSP users can be added to a production’s intercom, including reporters and mobile camera crews. Bildquadrat has also built its own dashboard to remotely monitor and manage status information and user data for its VSP environment.
One example is ColognePride, where Bildquadrat has supported live production for several years. In addition to camera production, LED screen playout and livestreaming, it managed mobile reporter and camera teams moving through the city center. VSP kept those teams connected to production communications outside the coverage area of the local radio system.
“The biggest advantages of the VSP for us are its flexibility and scalability,” says Niklas Windeck, Managing Director, Bildquadrat. “When teams grow on short notice or additional team members at other locations need to be brought in, we can easily integrate them into our production communications using their smartphones. That makes a real difference for us, especially during dynamic live productions.”
“Bildquadrat is a valuable partner for us because the team consistently translates new technologies into real-world production workflows while also providing us with direct feedback from the field,” says Benedikt Krönung, Sales Manager Broadcast West, Riedel Communications. “Our collaboration goes back many years and spans various areas of our portfolio — from MediorNet through Bolero and Artist to VSP.”
“We enjoy trying out new technologies and identifying early on where they can add real value to our productions,” says Dominic Zürn, Head of Broadcast Production, Bildquadrat. “For products like VSP, direct dialogue with Riedel is especially important to us. Together, we can discuss relevant use cases, share practical experiences, and explore how the technology can be integrated into other types of productions. That exchange helps us turn new possibilities into concrete workflows.”
