Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most people in the U.S. starting or improving a podcast, the simplest path is to record in a browser-based studio like StreamYard, capture local high-quality tracks, and then edit in your favorite tool. If you already have a heavy post-production workflow and want very granular per-track exports from other platforms, you can pair those recordings with the same distribution and editing process.

Summary

• Use a browser-based studio to record reliable, high-quality conversations without complex setup.
• Prioritize local recordings, good microphones, and quiet rooms over chasing specs you won’t use.
• Let AI clipping handle fast highlight creation, then do deeper edits in a dedicated editor if needed.
• Treat StreamYard as your main recording and live production hub, and connect it with a separate hosting/distribution service for publishing.

What do you actually need before you record a podcast?

Before you worry about software, lock in the basics that actually move the needle on quality and consistency.

1. A clear show format
Decide on:

• Solo, interview, or co-hosted?
• Average episode length (e.g., 20, 40, 60 minutes).
• Release cadence (weekly, biweekly, seasonal).

This determines how often you’ll record and how many people need to be on mic, which directly affects the kind of recording studio that will feel comfortable long-term.

2. At least one decent microphone per speaker
You don’t need a broadcast radio rig. A simple USB dynamic mic close to the mouth will outperform built-in laptop mics every time. Well-known guides from podcast educators emphasize that mic choice and mic technique are the top drivers of perceived quality, not just software choice. (Captivate)

3. Quiet rooms and basic acoustics
Soft surfaces, carpets, and curtains help. Record away from loud HVAC, traffic, or echoey kitchens. Even the best recording studio can only capture what the room gives you.

4. A recording studio that won’t get in your way
This is where many new podcasters overcomplicate things. You can:

• Install complex desktop software and manage drivers and routing, or
• Use a browser-based studio like StreamYard where you and your guests click a link, join from Chrome, and start recording.

At StreamYard, the focus is on making that second option feel effortless, especially if you plan to go live now or later repurpose your video to social.

How do you set up your recording studio in StreamYard?

Think of StreamYard as your online control room: everything happens in the browser, but you still get high-fidelity source files for later editing.

1. Create your account and test the studio
You can start on a free account and move to a paid plan when you’re ready for heavier recording. StreamYard also offers a 7‑day free trial and often has special offers for new users. (StreamYard pricing)

Once you’re in, create a new "record only" session. This opens the studio without going live anywhere, which is ideal for your podcast.

2. Invite guests the easy way
Share the guest link directly from the studio. Guests join from a supported browser; there’s no software to install or complex routing to explain. On paid plans, you can bring up to 10 people total into a recording, while the free plan supports 6 total participants. (StreamYard podcasting)

This low-friction guest experience is a big reason many interview shows lean toward a browser-based studio instead of asking guests to configure local apps.

3. Turn on local recordings for quality and safety
StreamYard supports local recordings on all plans, capturing separate audio and video files on each participant’s device so final quality isn’t limited by internet hiccups. The free plan includes 2 hours of local recording per month; on paid plans, local recording hours are unlimited, subject to storage. (StreamYard podcasting)

Local recordings are what make your podcast sound clean even if someone’s Wi‑Fi glitches for a second during the conversation.

4. Dial in your visual look (even for an audio-first show)
Even if you only publish audio, recording video gives you repurposable clips.

With StreamYard you can:

• Use color presets and grading controls to get a consistent, on-brand look that fits your lighting and logo.
• Add overlays and simple scenes so your show looks intentional if you ever go live or publish to YouTube later.

For most podcasters, these built-in visuals mean you don’t need a complicated mixing app just to make things look presentable.

5. Configure audio for clarity
In the audio settings, turn on echo cancellation for guests on built-in mics and make sure everyone is using the right input device. StreamYard supports uncompressed 48 kHz WAV audio per participant via local recording, giving you high-fidelity masters for post-production. (StreamYard podcasting)

What’s the step‑by‑step process to record your first episode?

Once your studio is ready, the actual recording flow can be very straightforward.

Step 1: Prep a simple rundown
Create a one-page outline:

• Hook or opening question
• 3–5 key talking points
• Call‑to‑action (subscribe, lead magnet, or next episode teaser)

Keep it visible in another browser tab or printed beside you.

Step 2: Run a 5‑minute tech check
Schedule your guests to arrive 10–15 minutes early. In that window:

• Confirm their mic and camera sources in the StreamYard settings.
• Have them move closer to the mic and away from noise.
• Check that local recording is enabled and everyone’s status looks good.

A quick test question—“Where are you calling from?”—lets you hear any echo or clipping before the real show starts.

Step 3: Record a clean intro and outro first
Hit record and capture:

• A polished intro (who you are, what the episode is about).
• A simple outro (where to subscribe, what’s next).

Recording these while everyone’s fresh reduces the temptation to “fix it in post” later.

Step 4: Have the conversation and ignore the glitches
During the main content:

• Focus on the guest, not on tiny connection stutters.
• Use brief pauses between questions to make later editing easier.
• Mark big moments verbally ("That’s a great clip" or "We’ll pull that quote") so you can spot them later.

Because StreamYard is capturing local files on each participant’s machine, minor internet issues won’t ruin your master recordings.

Step 5: Stop the recording and stay in the studio
When you’re done, press stop—but keep the studio open so local files can finish uploading. In StreamYard, cloud recordings of sessions on paid plans are stored in your account, and local recordings are available for download once uploads complete. (StreamYard recording limits)

This is your safety net: even if someone’s local upload is slow, you still have a full cloud recording to fall back on.

How do you capture separate audio tracks for each podcast participant?

Separate tracks make editing easier—you can remove a dog bark on one person’s audio without affecting the rest.

You have two main ways to do this:

1. Use StreamYard’s local multi-track recordings
For most podcasters, local recordings in StreamYard are the most straightforward way to get per‑participant files:

• Each participant’s audio and video are recorded on their own device.
• Local recordings export as .mp4 video and .wav audio files, giving you high‑quality, uncompressed audio per speaker. (StreamYard podcast FAQ)

On advanced paid plans, you can also enable separate cloud audio tracks, which provide individual WAV files per participant stored in the cloud for easy download. (StreamYard individual tracks)

2. Consider other tools for very specific track policies
Some alternative platforms like Riverside also record locally on each participant’s device and then upload high-quality tracks (up to 4K video and uncompressed WAV audio with 44.1 or 48 kHz sample rates, depending on plan and settings). (Riverside help center)

However, multi-track recording hours on those platforms are often capped per month—common tiers include 2, 5, or 15 hours—which means you have to watch your usage if you record a lot of long episodes. (Riverside pricing)

By contrast, once you’re on a paid StreamYard plan, local recording hours are effectively unlimited aside from storage, so you usually don’t need to track quotas or worry about running out of multi-track minutes. (StreamYard local recording)

How does StreamYard compare to Riverside for podcast recording workflows?

Both StreamYard and Riverside can record high-quality remote conversations. The more helpful question is: what kind of workflow do you want?

StreamYard: live‑first, ecosystem‑friendly studio
At StreamYard, the focus is on being your hub for recording, live production, and repurposing—not on replacing your editor or podcast host.

Key points for podcasters:

• Browser-based studio with simple guest links; no installs needed.
• Local recordings on all plans, with separate per‑participant files and uncompressed 48 kHz WAV audio via local capture. (StreamYard podcast FAQ)
• On paid plans, no monthly cap on total local recording hours, aside from storage limits. (StreamYard local recording)
• Advanced plan support for 4K local recordings so your masters are future‑proof for video.
• Multistreaming capabilities if you ever want to go live to platforms while still capturing files for your podcast feed. (StreamYard pricing)

StreamYard intentionally leaves RSS hosting, distribution to Apple Podcasts/Spotify, and deep editing to specialized tools. This approach keeps your recording workflow focused while still integrating into the broader podcast ecosystem.

Riverside: recording‑first with built‑in editing tools
Riverside offers a different emphasis:

• Local recording per participant with cloud upload, similar in architecture. (Riverside help center)
• Up to 4K video and up to 48 kHz audio on paid plans.
• Multi-track hours explicitly capped per month (e.g., 2/5/15 hours for some tiers). (Riverside pricing)

It also bundles editing features like Magic Clips and AI-generated show notes, which can be handy if you want more done in one place. For many teams, however, pairing StreamYard with a dedicated audio editor (like Descript, Audition, or Reaper) and a separate host provides more flexibility without locking crucial steps inside any single app.

Which should you default to?
If your priority is:

• Simple guest onboarding,
• Reliable high-quality recordings with local files, and
• A studio that can grow from "record‑only" to polished live shows and repurposed clips,

then using StreamYard as your primary recording studio is a very practical default.

If you already live inside a particular editing-first platform and are comfortable managing monthly multi-track quotas, you can absolutely keep using that for capture while still following the rest of this guide for planning, mic technique, and publishing.

How should you edit, clip, and publish your podcast?

Recording is only half the job; the other half is turning that raw conversation into something people want to subscribe to.

1. Pull your master files from StreamYard
After each session, download:

• The main cloud recording as .mp4 and/or .mp3, and
• The per-participant .wav audio files from local recordings when you want maximum control. (StreamYard podcast FAQ)

Use the .wav files as your audio masters in your editor.

2. Use AI Clips for fast highlight generation
StreamYard’s AI Clips focuses on speed and leverage, not full-blown editing. You can:

• Prompt it to find key moments from your recording.
• Quickly generate short vertical clips for social media and promotion.
• Test hooks and angles without a manual scrub through the full timeline.

This is ideal when you want multiple TikTok, Reels, or Shorts from each episode without having to become a full-time video editor.

3. Do deeper edits in a dedicated editor
For structural changes—moving segments, aggressive noise reduction, heavy music beds, or frame-level video edits—use your favorite editing tool. StreamYard is designed to complement, not compete with, professional editors.

A simple editing workflow might look like:

• Import each participant’s .wav into your editor.
• Cut mistakes, tangents, and long pauses.
• Balance levels, add light EQ/compression, and top-and-tail with intro/outro music.
• Export a final .wav or high-bitrate .mp3 for your podcast host.

4. Publish with a dedicated hosting platform
Rather than trying to manage RSS feeds inside your recording studio, use a specialized podcast host. Well-known resources emphasize that hosts are built for distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other directories, plus analytics and monetization. (Squarespace)

At StreamYard, we see this separation as a feature, not a bug: you get a focused recording and live-production hub that plugs cleanly into whichever hosting, analytics, and monetization stack you prefer.

How do you keep your podcast workflow sustainable long-term?

Great podcasts rarely fail on sound quality—they fail on consistency and burnout. A sustainable process matters more than a perfect one.

1. Lock in a repeatable recording routine
Block the same time each week for recording, and keep your studio settings stable. Avoid constant gear changes; upgrade incrementally.

2. Use templates in your recording studio
In StreamYard, build one or two reusable layouts with your logo, color presets, and any recurring overlays. This way every recording feels turnkey, whether it’s solo or with guests.

3. Batch record when you can
Record two or three episodes in one session when schedules align. StreamYard’s per-session limits on paid plans (up to many hours at a time) comfortably support long block sessions for talkshows and interviews. (StreamYard recording limits)

4. Build a simple post-production checklist
For each episode:

• Download masters from your recording studio.
• Run AI Clips for 2–5 social snippets.
• Edit and export the full episode in your audio editor.
• Upload to your host and schedule social posts.

The tighter and clearer this checklist is, the easier it is to delegate later to an assistant or producer.

What we recommend

• Record your podcast in StreamYard using local recordings for each participant so you get reliable, high-quality masters without complex setup.
• Use AI Clips inside StreamYard to quickly create social and promo assets from every episode.
• Do deeper edits in a dedicated audio or video editor so you retain full creative control without forcing a single tool to do everything.
• Publish through a specialized podcast host, letting StreamYard remain your focused system of record for recording, live production, and repurposing.