Review: Riedel StageLink
Six new Riedel NSA edge devices foreshadow interesting things to come.
17 October 2025
Review:/ Christopher Holder
Anyone working with Riedel’s Artist or Bolero solutions would be familiar with its NSA edge devices. NSA stands for Network Stream Adapter and provides an on-ramp for analogue and digital audio devices to get onto an Artist or Bolero comms network. So a new range of NSA edge devices shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. But this is Riedel, and there are some surprises.
These new devices are more than a complement to an Artist or Bolero setup, they’re the first members of a what Riedel envisages will be an ecosystem designed to simplify and modernise audio and intercom workflows via IP networks — whether that be for broadcast, live events, studios, and corporate AV environments. That sounds grandiose, and it is. But in the meantime, Riedel has tantalised us with, as of right now, six NSA boxes that demonstrate the essence of StageLink – namely, get your microphones, intercom sets, GPIO devices, and other audio-enabled equipment onto the network as close to those devices as possible. From there, being on the network, you have the freedom and flexibility to wrangle those sources (and destinations) in whatever way works best with whatever intercom system, or indeed, digital audio platforms, you happen to have.
SWIMMING IN SMPTE
If you swim in the waters of SMTPE2110 then these NSA devices are fully-compatible drop boxes that can go anywhere you need an in or an out, with full NMOS control when talking to third-party devices.
Again, for those working in 2110 environments, StageLink offers proper 2022-7 redundant networking with redundant POE power, or if PoE isn’t you’re thing, there’s a USB-C option.
If you run Artist or Bolero, then StageLink, as you’d expect, will seamlessly fit in. But StageLink is also a nod to the future, a future where Riedel increasingly sees personal smart devices being used to mediate comms, with its recently announced Virtual SmartPanel directing traffic.
NSA‑003A (Dual Partyline)
Legacy 2‑wire intercom adaptor
Bridges third‑party 2‑wire systems into Riedel Artist/Bolero systems
NSA‑006A (Workplace)
All‑in‑one media interface
Provides mic preamps, headphone output, stereo speaker connectivity — ideal for production workstations
NSA‑004A (Quad In)
Universal audio inputs
Accepts 4 analogue or digital inputs; format-agnostic universal I/O ports with DSP
NSA‑007A (Dual In/Out)
Broadcast‑grade intercom box
2‑in/2‑out interface functioning as analogue/digital 4‑wire; integrates with Artist/Bolero
NSA‑005A (Quad Out)
Universal audio outputs
Outputs 4 outputs analogue/digital via universal ports with DSP support
NSA‑010C (GPIO)
Network GPIO interface
GPIO via NMOS IS‑07; operates standalone or within Artist/Bolero ecosystem to control third‑party devices
SIX LINED UP
Each of the six NSA boxes offer different I/O combinations. The performance of the audio NSAs is outstanding and are backed by three DSP channels per input port. The Universal IO XLR sockets can be Mic, Line or AES3 with auto-detection and auto phantom power detection. Smart.
All six are robust, PoE powered, feature LED port ID, and offer a round peg solution for round holes.
FORETASTE
These devices are clearly a taste of things to come. And in saying that, I don’t in any way mean to dismiss the inaugural StageLink class of 2025 as a precursor or a test drive – each NSA box is ready to roll and fully capable of fulfilling a role. But there’s little doubt that Riedel will expand StageLink beyond audio/intercom transport to support other signal types over IP as needed, and will capably complement future Riedel tools, like its Smart Audio Mix Engine and the Virtual SmartPanel.
Possibly most intriguing is how StageLink will help Riedel to build out an IP network-based platform with its next-gen configuration and operations platform, called ‘Stage’. Riedel has designs on managing the backend of your entire AV and broadcast ecosystems, with Stage pulling the strings. But this isn’t an overview of Stage and Stage is still in its infancy. Right now, StageLink is the present, but a present that foreshadows a bright future.
Riedel: riedel.net
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