Last updated: 2026-01-08

For most artists and musicians in the US, StreamYard is the easiest place to start: you get browser-based screen recording, local multi-track audio, and clear presenter-led layouts without complex setup. If you need deep routing inside a DAW or highly customized scenes, OBS or a paid Loom desktop plan can complement that setup.

Summary

• StreamYard is the most straightforward choice for recording your DAW, camera, and collaborators in one browser-based studio.
• OBS is useful when you need intricate audio routing and scene control, and you are comfortable managing local files.
• Loom (on paid desktop tiers) helps with quick, shareable HD/4K clips, but it is less focused on multi-guest music sessions.
• For most day-to-day artist workflows, StreamYard’s local 1080p recordings and per-participant WAV files give you a strong balance of quality and simplicity. (StreamYard)

What should artists and musicians look for in screen recording software?

Before picking a tool, it helps to define the actual job your software needs to do for you.

For most artists and musicians, the key requirements look like this:

• Fast setup, low friction. You should be able to hit record quickly, without wrestling with drivers or routing.
• Presenter-led layouts. The audience should clearly see who is talking and what is on screen—your DAW, notation software, tabs, or slide deck.
• Strong audio options. You need independent control of mic and system audio so instruments, vocals, and backing tracks stay balanced.
• Local, reusable files. You want recordings that drop cleanly into your editor: per-participant tracks, stable formats, and predictable quality.
• Runs on typical laptops. No need for a high-end gaming rig just to record a lesson or breakdown.

StreamYard was built around this kind of presenter-first workflow, with a browser studio that captures screen, camera, and guests, and supports local multi-track recordings that you can reuse in post-production. (StreamYard)

Why is StreamYard a strong default for artists and musicians?

If you teach, collaborate, or release content regularly, you likely care more about workflow than knobs and dials.

At StreamYard, we focus on that workflow:

• Presenter-visible screen sharing. You see your DAW or sheet music exactly as the audience will, with flexible on-screen layouts (full screen DAW, side-by-side with your camera, picture-in-picture, etc.).
• Independent audio control. Screen audio (your DAW or backing track) and microphone audio are controlled separately, so you can set comfortable speaking levels without crushing your mix.
• Local multi-track recording. On all plans, local recording can capture individual participants with separate audio/video files, which is ideal if you want to fix timing, EQ, or compression later. (StreamYard)
• 1080p HD local capture. StreamYard records local 1080p with separate audio and video files on each participant’s device, keeping quality high even if the internet hiccups. (StreamYard)
• Landscape and portrait from the same session. You can design layouts that work for YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels without re-recording the same performance.
• Live branding as you record. Overlays, logos, lower thirds, and backgrounds go on in real time, reducing your edit list later.
• Multi-participant sessions. You can record with up to 9 other guests on paid plans, and up to 5 other guests on the free plan, which is ideal for band rehearsals, listening sessions, or roundtable breakdowns. (StreamYard)

For many musicians, that combination—browser access, clear layouts, multi-track audio, and easy exports—covers 90% of everyday needs without demanding a studio engineer’s mindset.

How does StreamYard compare to OBS for multi-track music recording?

OBS is popular among power users for a reason: it is a desktop app with deep control over sources, scenes, and encoding. If you are comfortable managing your own hardware and files, it can be a helpful companion.

Where OBS is strong for music work:

• You can assemble complex scenes that mix window captures, full-display capture, cameras, and more. (OBS)
• You can route different inputs to separate audio tracks—many OBS guides show setups where one track is your mic and tracks 2–6 isolate instruments or apps. (OBS)
• You choose containers like MKV to reduce risk of losing a recording if the app or system crashes. (OBS)

Trade-offs compared to StreamYard:

• OBS must be installed and tuned on each machine; performance and reliability depend entirely on your CPU, GPU, and disk.
• You manage your own storage, naming, and backup; there is no built-in cloud archive or easy sharing links.
• Multi-guest sessions require stitching together third-party call tools, virtual audio devices, or NDI—something many artists would rather avoid.

A practical pattern many creators use:

• Use StreamYard as the main studio for recording sessions, lessons, and collaborations, taking advantage of local 1080p per-participant files and simple layouts.
• Bring OBS into the picture only when you truly need per-source routing at the DAW level or unusual scene compositions.

When does Loom make sense for artists and musicians?

Loom is designed around quick screen + camera recordings with instant links, especially for teams.

On the free Starter plan, you get 5‑minute screen recordings and a 25‑video limit, which is tight for full-length lessons, deep breakdowns, or live performances. (Loom)

On paid desktop tiers:

• Loom’s desktop app can record in Full HD and up to 4K on Business, Business + AI, and Enterprise plans, which is helpful if you want high-resolution desktop footage. (Loom)
• HD and 4K are only available from the desktop app—not the Chrome extension—so you need the right install and plan to unlock that quality. (Loom)

For many musicians, Loom works best as a side tool for quick async feedback—like commenting on a mix or sharing a rough idea—while StreamYard handles fully branded, multi-participant sessions that you want to repurpose across platforms.

A key cost difference for teams: Loom’s paid plans charge per user, while StreamYard pricing is per workspace, which can make StreamYard significantly more affordable for bands, studios, and schools that share one account. (Loom, StreamYard)

How do I record separate instrument and vocal tracks during a screen capture?

If you are teaching production or walking through a session, clean separation between elements is gold in post.

Here is a simple, tool-agnostic playbook:

1. Decide what should be isolated. Typically: your voice, your DAW output, and sometimes a live instrument mic.
2. Route your DAW to a dedicated output. Use an internal audio device or virtual bus so your DAW stereo mix appears as one source.
3. Keep your mic as a separate input. Whether you use StreamYard or OBS, set your speaking mic as its own track or input.
4. Use multi-track or per-participant recording.
   • In StreamYard, local recordings capture each participant separately, and you can download individual audio tracks (WAV) per participant for detailed mixing. (StreamYard)
   • In OBS, you can assign your mic and DAW output to different audio tracks, then export and mix them in your DAW later. (OBS)

If you mainly need your mic separated from the rest, StreamYard’s per-participant WAV files are usually enough—and far faster to set up—than building a full multi-bus routing diagram.

What settings give the best audio quality when recording a DAW?

You do not need an ultra-technical setup to get clean sound. Focus on a few fundamentals:

• Sample rate: Match your DAW and interface (often 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz) and keep them consistent across apps.
• Bitrate: For screen-recorded content, audio around 128 kbps or higher is a solid baseline; StreamYard’s local recording guidance includes 1080p at 4500 kbps video with standard-quality audio that works well for music walkthroughs. (StreamYard)
• Headroom: Leave a few dB of space—avoid peaking above ‑6 dB on your master bus while you record.
• Monitoring: Use closed-back headphones so your mic does not pick up your speakers.

From there, your biggest gains come from room treatment and mic placement rather than exotic software settings.

MKV vs MP4: which container should you use for multi-track recordings?

If you are using OBS alongside StreamYard or on its own, the container you pick matters.

• MKV is more resilient: if OBS or your system crashes, MKV is less likely to corrupt the entire file, which is why OBS documentation recommends recording to MKV first. (OBS)
• MP4 is widely compatible with editors and platforms but more vulnerable to corruption if something goes wrong mid-record.

A practical hybrid:

• Record in MKV inside OBS.
• Remux (convert) to MP4 after the recording is safely completed.

If you are using StreamYard’s local recordings, you can simply download your separate audio and video files and import them directly into your editor, skipping container decisions altogether.

How does pricing shake out for bands, studios, and schools?

Cost is part of “best,” especially when you work with collaborators.

• StreamYard uses per-workspace pricing. The free plan is $0; paid plans start at $20/month (billed annually) for the first year for new users, with a 7‑day free trial and frequent special offers. Multiple people can share one workspace without per-seat add-ons.
• Loom uses per-user pricing: Starter is free, while Business and Business + AI are billed per user/month in USD. (Loom)

For a band, school program, or small studio where several people share one production account, that per-workspace approach often leads to lower total cost than stacking per-user Loom seats—while still giving everyone access to the same shared StreamYard studio and archive. (StreamYard)

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard if you want fast, reliable screen recording of your DAW, camera, and collaborators, with local 1080p and per-participant WAV files for editing.
• Add OBS only if you are comfortable with more complex setups and truly need granular audio routing or specialty scenes.
• Use Loom as an optional side tool for quick async HD or 4K feedback videos, especially if your team already lives in Atlassian or similar tools.
• Focus on workflow first: choose the tool that gets you recording more music and more lessons with less friction—then layer in advanced routing later if your workflow truly demands it.