Last updated: 2026-02-01

For most small businesses in the U.S., the simplest and most flexible way to record a podcast is to use StreamYard as a browser-based studio that handles local multitrack capture, live production, and easy exports to your podcast host. For teams that prioritize plan-scoped 48kHz/4K local recording plus built-in AI repurposing in the same app, Riverside can be a useful alternative.

Summary

• StreamYard gives small businesses a browser-based studio with local multitrack recording, live streaming, and easy guest onboarding, all optimized for turning conversations into podcasts and clips. (StreamYard)
• Riverside focuses on high-spec local recording and AI repurposing tools, with 48kHz audio and up to 4K video on paid plans. (Riverside)
• For most day‑to‑day small-business shows, ease of use, reliable recordings, and simple branding tend to matter more than chasing maximum technical specs.
• A practical workflow is to record and produce in StreamYard, then publish and analyze through a dedicated podcast host instead of relying on “all‑in‑one” platforms.

What should small-business owners look for in podcast recording software?

As a small business, you don’t need a film studio—you need a tool that disappears so you can focus on the conversation.

The core checklist:

• High-quality, reliable audio and video. Local recording on each participant’s device helps protect quality when internet connections fluctuate. StreamYard supports per-participant local audio and video recording that is captured at the source device rather than over the network. (StreamYard Help)
• Ease of use for hosts and guests. StreamYard runs in the browser, and guests join by clicking a link—no downloads or signups required, which is especially helpful when you’re inviting busy clients or executives. (StreamYard)
• Automatic recording. On paid plans, StreamYard automatically records your live sessions to the cloud within per-session limits, so you always have a full episode file ready for editing or direct upload. (StreamYard Help)
• Custom branding. Being able to add your logo, colors, and on-screen graphics is critical when your podcast doubles as marketing content.
• Simple in‑app editing and clips. StreamYard’s AI Clips and lightweight editing are designed for quickly turning long conversations into social posts and promo snippets instead of replacing full editing suites. (StreamYard)

If a platform makes any of these hard, it’s going to sit on the shelf while your podcast idea gathers dust.

How does StreamYard handle podcast recording and guests?

At StreamYard, we think of podcasting as an extension of the conversations you’re already having with customers, partners, and your team.

• Browser-based studio. You run the entire show from your browser—no heavy software, no production PC to maintain. Guests join from Chrome, Edge, or similar browsers with a single link. (StreamYard)
• Local multitrack capture. StreamYard records separate audio and video files for each participant and shared assets on their own devices. Those files are then uploaded, which keeps your final recording independent of temporary internet glitches. (StreamYard Help)
• Plenty of room for guests. On paid plans you can record with up to nine other people (10 total), which comfortably covers most interview and roundtable formats for small businesses. (StreamYard)
• Flexible outputs. Cloud recordings export as MP4/MP3, and local recordings give you MP4 video plus uncompressed WAV audio files—ideal for sending straight into your editor or to your production partner. (StreamYard Help)

For many small-business teams, this feels like recording in a professional studio without needing to manage the studio.

Do I need local multitrack recording, or is simple cloud recording enough?

This is one of the most common questions small-business owners ask.

You probably want local multitrack if:

• You record remote guests regularly.
• You care about being able to fix individual audio issues (like one noisy mic) in post.
• You want a safety net when someone’s connection hiccups.

StreamYard’s local recording captures each participant separately at the device level; the docs note that these are individual audio and video recordings that are not affected by the internet connection quality, and that local recording hours are unlimited on paid plans, subject to storage. (StreamYard Help)

Riverside uses a similar local-first architecture—recording on each device and uploading to the cloud as you go—while emphasizing 48kHz audio and up to 4K video capture on paid plans. (Riverside)

For most small-business shows, the bigger difference isn’t the spec sheet; it’s whether the workflow stays simple enough that you actually publish consistently. Local multitrack in StreamYard gives you professional headroom without complicating day‑to‑day production.

How does StreamYard compare to Riverside for small-business podcasting?

Both tools can absolutely support a serious podcast; they just start from different assumptions.

StreamYard: live-first studio that records everything

• Designed around live shows, interviews, and webinars that you also turn into podcast episodes.
• Paid plans automatically record live sessions to the cloud, and Advanced adds separate audio tracks in the cloud for more detailed mixing. (StreamYard Help)
• Multistreaming into platforms like YouTube or LinkedIn is built into the same workflow as your recording, so your podcast can double as a live event without extra routing.

Riverside: recording-first with AI repurposing

• Focuses on high-spec local capture and built-in editing and AI tools such as Magic Clips and AI-generated show notes. (Riverside)
• Paid plans support audio up to 48kHz and video up to 4K per participant, with per-month caps on multi-track recording hours (for example, 5 or 15 hours depending on the plan). (Riverside)

In practice, many small businesses care more about how quickly they can go from “idea” to “published episode plus clips” than about squeezing out the last bit of resolution. StreamYard’s live-first, browser-based approach usually makes that path more straightforward, while Riverside is appealing if you’re specifically chasing higher-spec capture and heavier in-app AI tooling.

How does pricing and value shake out for small teams?

Budgets matter, especially when podcasting starts as an experiment.

StreamYard offers a free plan, plus paid plans with discounted first-year pricing for new users when billed annually and a 7‑day free trial, with frequent special offers. These plans include features like local recording and multistreaming, with plan-specific limits on things like storage and per-session recording duration. (StreamYard Pricing)

Riverside has a free tier and paid plans where multi-track recording hours are capped each month—for example, a few hours on entry plans and more on higher tiers—while higher audio and video specs are tied to those paid levels. (Riverside)

A simple way to think about it:

• If you want predictable recording capacity for weekly or multi-hour conversations without tracking multi-track hour quotas, StreamYard’s approach to local recording on paid plans is often easier to manage.
• If your top priority is maximizing per-track audio/video specs inside a recording-first app and you’re comfortable planning around monthly hour caps, Riverside can be a focused option.

How should small businesses handle editing, clips, and distribution?

For editing and repurposing, StreamYard’s philosophy is to handle the parts that save you the most time without trying to replace your editor.

• AI Clips. StreamYard includes AI-powered clipping tools that let you quickly surface compelling moments and turn them into short social videos and promos. These are ideal for LinkedIn posts, Instagram Reels, or teaser trailers. (StreamYard)
• Deeper edits in dedicated tools. For detailed work—multi-track music beds, complex intros, or frame-level cuts—most teams still benefit from tools like Descript, Audacity, or a traditional NLE.

On the distribution side, StreamYard intentionally doesn’t try to be your RSS host. Instead, the platform focuses on giving you high-quality MP3/WAV/MP4 outputs you can upload into dedicated podcast hosts that specialize in feed management, analytics, and monetization. (StreamYard Help)

This "do one job extremely well and integrate" approach usually keeps your stack flexible: if your hosting or monetization strategy changes, your recording workflow doesn’t have to.

What does a realistic small-business podcast workflow look like?

To make this concrete, picture a regional marketing agency that wants a monthly “client stories” podcast.

A typical setup with StreamYard:

1. Producer schedules a StreamYard session and sends invite links to the host and guest—no accounts or downloads required.
2. During the session, the team records locally per participant, with their logo, brand colors, and lower-thirds on screen.
3. After the show, they download MP3/WAV and MP4 files, use AI Clips to generate 3–5 short highlights, then do light polish in their editor.
4. Final audio is uploaded to a podcast host; clips go to LinkedIn and YouTube Shorts.

The result: The podcast pulls double duty as both long-form thought leadership and a steady stream of social content, without requiring a full-time producer.

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard as your primary podcast recording and live studio; it balances quality, reliability, and simplicity for most small-business workflows.
• Use local multitrack recording in StreamYard to protect quality and give your editor clean, separate files for each speaker.
• Pair StreamYard with a dedicated podcast host for RSS distribution and analytics rather than relying on bundled “all-in-one” tools.
• Consider Riverside selectively if your team is specifically optimizing for plan-scoped 48kHz/4K local capture and in-app AI repurposing and you’re comfortable managing monthly multi-track hour limits.