SK Gaming is a hallmark of the esports world, originating in 1997 when a group of friends united to play the Quake game competitively.
Since then, it has grown into one of the trailblazers of global esports, managing professional teams and hosting major competitions for games such as League of Legends, Valorant, Brawl Stars, and Clash Royale. Their growing reputation has positioned them not only as key contributors to gaming excellence but also as pioneers of high-quality production for in-person and online audiences.
With operations running out of two key facilities—its headquarters in Cologne and bespoke gaming spaces at the nhow Hotel in Berlin—SK Gaming produces globally acclaimed game tournaments, streamed to audiences worldwide. From securing sponsorships with Deutsche Telekom and Mercedes-Benz to developing state-of-the-art technical setups, SK Gaming has cemented its position at the heart of esports innovation.
Esports production operates much like traditional broadcasting—but typically with tighter budgets. For SK Gaming, the rising complexity of managing multiple audio streams became a pressing technical challenge.
With a setup largely built around advanced tools like the Waves eMotion LV1 mixing console, Dante AoIP, and NDI (Network Device Interface) protocol for streaming, the team was ready to deliver broadcast-quality coverage. But routing and processing audio via the vMix video system proved inefficient, adding unnecessary steps to the process, increasing equipment demands, and complicating workflows.
Additionally, esports audio comes with its own set of complexities. These include managing gameplay audio, remote contributor feeds, operator-specific mix-minus feeds, and multiple communication lines—all while maintaining impeccable flexibility and quality.
The team at SK Gaming had one clear objective in mind: simplify their audio management while enhancing flexibility and staying within realistic budget constraints.
After evaluating several technologies to tackle their broadcasting hurdles, SK Gaming selected Lama Connect—a software-based audio patchbay and protocol converter. From the outset, Lama Connect offered SK Gaming exactly what it needed:
“We chose LAMA Connect because nothing else offers the same functionality at this price point,” says Brands. “The installation was straightforward, and the smooth connectivity we experienced exceeded our expectations.”
Designed specifically to address modern audio production issues, LAMA Connect bridges the gap between traditional audio hardware and IP-driven formats like NDI and AoIP. Its features—such as virtual routing, clean feed outputs, and format conversion capabilities—are ideally suited to dynamic, multi-channel setups required in esports broadcasting.
SK Gaming’s audio systems, which already leveraged powerful gear like the Waves LV1 console and Dante AoIP infrastructure, were enhanced by the integration of LAMA Connect.
Key components of the setup include:
Implementing LAMA Connect proved to be a turning point.
Almost immediately, the team was able to consolidate multiple audio workflows into a single, cohesive system. Tasks that once required several steps—or additional tools—were streamlined, allowing engineers to focus on the production itself rather than managing connectivity issues behind the scenes. Routing return feeds and de-embedding sources became straightforward, giving the team far greater control over their production environment and the confidence to adapt quickly to changing requirements.
Just as importantly, LAMA Connect fit comfortably within the financial realities of esports production. As a software-based solution, it removed the need for costly additional hardware, delivering professional-grade capabilities without stretching SK Gaming’s budget. Despite these constraints, the team was still able to maintain the broadcast-quality output expected by their global audience.
Today, SK Gaming operates a modern, resilient broadcasting pipeline that supports both in-arena experiences and worldwide streams. With LAMA Connect at the core of their workflow, the organization has strengthened its reputation as an innovator in esports production—delivering reliable, high-quality broadcasts at scale.
The ultimate audio patch bay and transport protocol converter. Lama Connect modernizes audio production workflows with smarter routing, conversion, and control.
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