Last updated: 2026-01-14

For most people searching for “screen recording software with multi‑track audio,” starting with StreamYard’s local and cloud multi‑track recordings is the fastest path to clear, editable screen recordings. If you need deep per‑source routing on a single machine, OBS is the advanced alternative, while Loom is better kept for quick async clips rather than full multi‑track sessions.

Summary

• StreamYard gives you per‑participant multi‑track audio and video, plus full screen recording, right in the browser.
• OBS offers powerful per‑source multi‑track on one computer, but needs careful setup and capable hardware.
• Loom captures system and mic audio for quick shares, but does not advertise per‑participant multi‑track exports.
• For most US creators and teams, StreamYard balances quality, multi‑track flexibility, and ease of use better than other options.

What does “screen recording with multi‑track audio” actually mean?

Multi‑track audio simply means your recording ends up with more than one separate audio track instead of a single mixed file. In practice, that usually looks like one of two things:

• Per‑participant tracks – each person in your session gets their own audio file.
• Per‑source tracks – each input (mic, system audio, music, chat app, etc.) is on its own track.

If you’re creating software walkthroughs, podcasts with screen share, or product demos, multi‑track audio makes editing far easier: you can mute background noise from one guest, clean up coughs, or rebalance levels without affecting everyone else.

That’s exactly where StreamYard’s recording model fits. StreamYard offers local recordings that capture separate audio and video files for each host and guest on their own devices, which are then uploaded after the session for studio‑quality multi‑track editing. (StreamYard Help Center)

How does StreamYard handle screen recording and multi‑track audio?

When you open a StreamYard studio, you can record without going live, share your screen, and bring in multiple guests in a browser-based environment. From there, you get several capabilities that map directly to “screen recording + multi‑track”:

• Presenter‑visible screen sharing and layouts – You can choose layouts that highlight your screen, keep your camera small, or flip between them mid‑recording, all while seeing what your audience will see.
• Independent control of mic vs system audio – You can decide whether to feed system audio into the recording or stick to your microphone only, giving you more control over what ends up on each track.
• Local multi‑track recordings – Each host and guest can be recorded locally, creating separate audio and video files per participant that upload to StreamYard after the session. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Cloud individual audio tracks – On eligible paid plans, you can also download individual audio tracks per participant from the cloud recording for more flexibility in post‑production. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Live branding as you record – Overlays, logos, lower thirds, and background graphics can be applied while you record, reducing how much polishing you need later.
• Landscape and portrait from the same session – You can design scenes that work for both horizontal and vertical outputs, so your one recording session feeds YouTube, TikTok, and Reels.

Because everything runs in the browser, you avoid installing heavy desktop software. For many US users on typical laptops, that trade‑off of “powerful enough, but simple and stable” is a big deal.

When is StreamYard a better choice than OBS for multi‑track recording?

OBS is a strong option if you want a local desktop app that can route multiple audio sources into separate tracks on a single machine. Its official guide walks through assigning each audio source to its own recording track using Advanced Output and containers that support multiple tracks. (OBS Knowledge Base)

That’s powerful—but it comes with overhead:

• You need to install OBS, learn scenes, sources, and encoder settings.
• You’re responsible for CPU, GPU, disk speed, and keeping your machine stable during long recordings. (OBS System Requirements)
• Remote guests usually require additional tools (Zoom, Discord, virtual audio cables) to bring them into OBS as inputs.

For most people whose real goal is “record my screen and multiple remote guests with clean, separate audio”, StreamYard often works better because:

• Remote guests join directly in the browser; there’s no extra routing.
• Local per‑participant recordings give you separate files without complex audio wiring.
• Cloud backups (including individual audio tracks on paid plans) give you insurance if someone’s connection wobbles. (StreamYard Help Center)

A simple way to think about it:

• Use StreamYard when you care most about multi‑participant sessions, easy layouts, and reliable multi‑track editing later.
• Use OBS when you’re on a powerful machine, want max control over encoding and file formats, and are comfortable wiring each source into its own track.

How does StreamYard compare to Loom for screen recording?

Loom is oriented around quick async communication: hit record, capture your screen and camera bubble, and share a link. Its docs explain how to capture internal system audio using the desktop app or Chrome extension, noting that the extension can only record internal audio from a single browser tab. (Loom Help Center)

That’s handy for short walkthroughs and feedback videos, but there are important differences if multi‑track audio is your priority:

• Loom focuses on one primary recorder, not a full multi‑guest studio with layouts.
• Documentation talks about system audio vs mic, not exporting discrete per‑participant multi‑track files.
• Free workspaces are limited to short, capped recordings and a small number of videos before you upgrade. (Loom Help Center)

By contrast, when you record in StreamYard you get:

• A full live‑style studio for multi‑participant sessions.
• Local per‑participant audio and video files suitable for editing in any NLE.
• The ability to design branded, presenter‑led demos and reuse them widely.

On pricing, Loom uses per‑user billing for its paid plans, while StreamYard pricing is per workspace, which tends to be more cost‑effective for teams that record and stream together. (Loom Pricing)

How do StreamYard’s costs stack up for teams that need multi‑track?

For US readers comparing budgets, a few patterns are worth noting:

• StreamYard has a free plan to get you started, plus paid plans that add higher‑end recording, more storage, and advanced features.
• For new users, typical pricing runs around $20/month for a mid‑tier plan and $39/month for a higher‑feature plan when billed annually in the first year, and there is a 7‑day free trial.
• Unlike per‑seat tools like Loom, StreamYard charges per workspace rather than per user, so one subscription can cover an entire show or team instead of every individual needing their own license.

OBS is free to download and use, which is appealing if you have the time and hardware to manage it. But many creators and teams decide that browser‑based tools—which reduce setup and configuration—save more time than they cost, especially once you value everyone’s hourly rate.

What about reliability and real‑world workflows?

If you’re recording important content—customer webinars, launch demos, or multi‑guest podcast episodes—reliability matters as much as raw specs.

Here’s how these tools usually feel in practice:

• StreamYard: You send a link, everyone joins in the browser, you share your screen, and you’re recording in minutes. Local multi‑track recordings protect quality even if someone’s internet hiccups, and cloud recordings give you a safety net if a laptop fails. (StreamYard Help Center)
• OBS: You can create very sophisticated scenes and routing, but small misconfigurations (wrong input on a track, too‑high bitrate, disk bottlenecks) can quietly ruin a recording. Troubleshooting that is part of the deal.
• Loom: Fantastic for “quick note to the team” videos, less suited to long, multi‑participant sessions where you’ll be doing detailed audio post‑production.

A simple scenario helps: imagine recording a 45‑minute product demo with two teammates and a customer advocate. You want screen share, branded overlays, and the ability to cut out side chatter later. In StreamYard, you:

1. Open a recording‑only studio.
2. Invite guests via link.
3. Turn on local recordings.
4. Record once, then download separate audio/video files per person for clean editing.

That hits the intent behind “screen recording software with multi‑track audio” with minimal fuss.

What we recommend

• Default choice: Use StreamYard for screen recording with multi‑track audio if you want fast setup, browser‑based studios, and per‑participant files for editing.
• Advanced desktop workflows: Choose OBS when you specifically need complex per‑source routing on a single machine and you’re comfortable managing hardware, encoders, and scenes.
• Quick async notes: Keep Loom for lightweight one‑off explanations and feedback, not as your primary multi‑track recording environment.
• Team budgets: If several people will record together, StreamYard’s per‑workspace pricing usually scales more smoothly than per‑user subscriptions.