Tool profile
Rivendell: cost, fit and limits
Rivendell is a free broadcast automation system for GNU/Linux, published under the GNU General Public License version 2, that acquires, manages, schedules and plays audio for radio stations that runs in broadcast rooms and community studios.
What to know first
Rivendell costs nothing and the vendor page promises no dongles or software license keys. It targets stations with Linux knowledge and professional audio hardware, naming AudioScience ASI adapters, JACK and analog or AES3 interfaces. Copyright is credited to Paravel Systems. No AI feature is named, no privacy page was reachable at the paths tried, and Ubuntu 22.04 is listed as the recommended minimum. Rivendell is a fit for engineers, not for casual starters.
Rivendell at a glance
| Maker | Paravel Systems, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Radio Automation Software in 2026, rank 9 of 12 |
| Website | rivendellaudio.org |
Who Rivendell is best for
Engineers who prefer Linux
The page names Ubuntu 22.04 as the recommended minimum, so an admin comfortable with that platform can run it without license fees.
Rooms with professional sound cards
AudioScience 5000 and 6000 series adapters, JACK and AES3 interfaces are named, which suits studios built around that hardware. and keeps those cards in service for years.
Stations that use outside schedulers
RDLogManager integrates with third-party traffic and music scheduling systems, so existing log tools can keep feeding the playout. in a format a scheduler already produces.
Rivendell plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Open source download | Free | GNU GPL version 2 software with no dongles or software license keys. The only cost is the hardware, the time and the effort to maintain it. |
Checked November 2026.
What Rivendell does
- Full automation
- The system acquires, manages, schedules and plays out audio, which makes it a complete broadcast automation system rather than a streaming add-on. Every step from ingest to the on-air log is covered by one program on one machine, so a small room needs fewer add-ons.
- Audio hardware
- AudioScience 5000 and 6000 series ASI adapters are supported, as are analog and AES3 digital interfaces. Professional sound cards give clean analog and digital outputs for a transmitter chain.
- JACK support
- The JACK Audio Connection Kit lets Linux audio routing connect Rivendell to other tools in the same machine. Routing in JACK lets an engineer pipe audio between Rivendell and other Linux programs, such as processors.
- RDLogManager
- This component links to third-party traffic and music scheduling systems, which keeps a commercial scheduler usable. Existing scheduling investments carry over, since third-party log files can feed the playout system.
How Rivendell handles your data
The Rivendell site does not state any data handling terms, and no privacy page was reachable at the paths tried. The software is self-hosted, so audio, logs and databases stay on the machines you operate. The page does not say anything about model training, certifications, retention or support obligations. A station should treat data protection as its own responsibility, including backups, access control and the location of the server.
Where Rivendell falls short in practice
- Linux only. Rivendell runs on GNU/Linux, so a Windows-centered studio must plan a different machine and skills. A Windows-centered studio must plan separate machines, training and a migration path before choosing Rivendell.
- Hardware shortlist. The pages name AudioScience adapters and analog or AES3 interfaces, which narrows card choices. A card outside the named list needs testing, and that shortlist can complicate buying decisions.
- No vendor support named. No support plan, hosted option or company address was shown, so help comes from the project community. Without a named company, contracts and service levels are not on offer, only community help.
Works with
Alternatives to Rivendell
Rivendell: common questions
Is Rivendell free?
Yes. The vendor page says it is completely free under the GNU General Public License version 2, with no dongles or software license keys. You still pay for the computer, the sound hardware and the time of whoever installs and maintains the system.
Which operating system does Rivendell need?
It runs on GNU/Linux. The page lists Ubuntu 22.04 as the recommended minimum. No other operating system is named, so a Windows or Mac studio should not plan around Rivendell without asking the community how it works there. Plan a Linux install before you evaluate the audio side.
Which sound cards work with Rivendell?
The page names AudioScience 5000 and 6000 series ASI adapters, plus analog and AES3 digital interfaces and the JACK Audio Connection Kit. Other cards may work through JACK, but the pages do not promise that, so test your hardware first.
Does Rivendell have AI features?
No AI function is named on the vendor page. It is a conventional automation system that schedules and plays audio. A station that wants synthetic voice tracks or AI news must add outside services, which the pages read do not describe.
Can Rivendell take a log from another scheduler?
The page says RDLogManager integrates with third-party traffic and music scheduling systems. It does not name specific products or formats, so ask the community which schedulers station engineers have connected before relying on your current one. Ask in the project's community channels before building a daily workflow.