Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most U.S. government teams, starting with a browser‑based recorder like StreamYard gives you high‑quality audio/video, simple guest access, and managed cloud plus local files without complex setup. When policy or procurement absolutely requires fully on‑premise, free, open‑source software, OBS becomes the main alternative.

Summary

• StreamYard offers browser‑based recording with 4K local captures, separate per‑participant files, and both cloud and local storage options, which fits many training, briefing, and public‑communications needs. (StreamYard Help)
• On paid plans, StreamYard local recording is unlimited by hours, while cloud recordings can run up to 10 hours per session, supporting long hearings and webinars. (StreamYard Help)
• OBS is a free, desktop‑installed option that keeps all recordings on local drives and gives deep encoder control, at the cost of more setup and maintenance. (OBS Project)
• Agencies with strict FedRAMP or CJIS requirements should validate any vendor’s security posture and may pair cloud tools like StreamYard with local‑only tools like OBS for the most sensitive workloads. (FedRAMP)

What should government agencies look for in video recording software?

When a public meeting, briefing, or interview might end up in discovery or the news, the tool you record with matters.

Most U.S. agencies care about:

• High‑quality source files. You want clear video and clean, uncompressed audio so transcripts and evidence review stay intelligible. StreamYard supports 4K local recordings and uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio per participant, creating strong master files for archiving and post‑production.
• Ease of use for staff and outside participants. Many guests are citizens, partner agencies, or subject‑matter experts with mixed tech literacy. Browser‑based studios reduce friction because guests can join with a link instead of installing software.
• Branding and public trust. Custom lower thirds, logos, and consistent color treatment help distinguish official content from impersonators and make public meetings more legible.
• Retention and chain‑of‑custody needs. You need predictable storage limits, clear retention behavior, and a way to export masters to your existing records‑management or evidence systems.

When you evaluate tools through that lens, a hybrid approach that defaults to StreamYard and uses desktop tools only when policy requires it tends to be the most practical.

How does StreamYard fit government recording and documentation needs?

At StreamYard, we focus on keeping high‑stakes recordings simple to capture and reliable to work with later.

Key capabilities that map well to government use cases:

• Per‑participant local recording. StreamYard can capture separate audio and video files for each host and guest directly on their devices, then upload them after the session. This creates device‑quality tracks that are independent of momentary internet glitches, which is especially useful for hearings, interviews, or multi‑witness briefings. (StreamYard Help)
• Unlimited local hours on paid plans. On paid plans, local recording hours are not metered, so you can run longer or more frequent sessions without worrying about hitting a monthly cap, while still benefiting from per‑participant files. (StreamYard Help)
• Long‑form HD cloud recording. When you record or stream through StreamYard on paid tiers, we record in HD for up to 10 hours per stream. That window comfortably covers most council meetings, board hearings, or full‑day trainings. (StreamYard Help)
• Storage measured in hours, with guardrails. StreamYard storage is defined in hours by plan, with higher tiers going into the hundreds of hours. Admins can also enable automatic deletion of older recordings once storage limits are reached, so you avoid silent overages and can mirror your agency’s retention schedule. (StreamYard Help)
• Color presets and grading controls. You can quickly tune camera feeds to consistent, agency‑appropriate looks across offices and locations, which helps official recordings feel cohesive.

For a typical agency use case—say, a hybrid town hall with three department heads and a sign‑language interpreter—staff can send join links, record a high‑quality master, export per‑speaker WAVs and video tracks, then archive the files into existing systems.

Is StreamYard FedRAMP‑authorized?

Federal agencies often need FedRAMP‑authorized tools for certain workloads. FedRAMP is the U.S. government program that standardizes security assessment and authorization for cloud services. (FedRAMP)

Public StreamYard documentation does not publish a FedRAMP authorization package, CJIS attestation, or specific SOC/ISO report details. That means if your agency requires a FedRAMP‑listed SaaS for all video recording, you will need to:

• Confirm requirements with your security office and legal team.
• Determine whether StreamYard can be used for lower‑impact workloads (public meetings, outward‑facing communications) while more sensitive video stays on an authorized or on‑premise system.

Many agencies already separate their tooling this way: a cloud‑based communications stack for public‑facing work, plus tightly controlled systems for evidence and law‑enforcement video.

How does StreamYard handle storage, retention, and chain of custody?

For government teams, “where does the video go and how long does it stay there?” is not a minor detail.

With StreamYard you can:

• Control storage in hours, not just gigabytes. Different plans provide fixed amounts of recording storage measured in hours, and higher business tiers reach 700+ hours, which makes budgeting and retention planning easier. (StreamYard Help)
• Enable automatic deletion at the storage limit. Account owners can toggle an option to automatically delete older recordings when you hit your storage cap, which helps enforce internal retention policies without manual cleanup. (StreamYard Help)
• Export masters for long‑term archival. Because you get discrete local and cloud files, you can move finished recordings into your existing records‑management, digital evidence, or M‑19‑21‑aligned electronic archives.

StreamYard’s privacy documentation also notes that personal data processed to provide services may be retained for up to three years from a user’s most recent interaction, which can help inform your data‑mapping and DPIA work. (StreamYard Help)

For strict chain‑of‑custody scenarios, agencies often pair StreamYard’s ease of capture with internal procedures: documented export steps, checksums on archived files, and audit trails in their records system rather than in the recording tool itself.

OBS vs StreamYard: which fits which government scenarios?

OBS and StreamYard both capture video, but they serve very different instincts.

OBS

OBS is a free, open‑source desktop application for video recording and live streaming that you install on Windows, macOS, or Linux. (OBS Project) It records directly to local storage, lets you define complex scenes, and provides deep encoder controls, including hardware encoders like NVENC, QuickSync, or AMD options. (OBS Overview)

This local‑first model is attractive if:

• Your agency mandates all video stay on in‑house drives.
• You have IT staff comfortable managing encoder settings, updates, plugins, and system requirements.
• Most recordings are single‑location events (e.g., a fixed courtroom or council chamber) rather than multi‑site interviews.

However, OBS does not include built‑in cloud recording, browser‑based guest links, or storage/retention automation. You manage those yourself or through other systems.

StreamYard

StreamYard operates in the browser, which removes the install barrier for staff and external participants. We handle both cloud recording and per‑participant local files, with clear hour‑based limits and long per‑session caps.

For many U.S. government agencies, that balance—simple access, strong audio/video masters, and mix‑and‑match cloud plus local storage—is more aligned with day‑to‑day realities than a fully DIY stack.

A practical pattern is:

• Use StreamYard by default for public sessions, interagency briefings, and any event where browser‑based access and branding matter most.
• Use OBS on a hardened workstation for sessions where policy requires strict on‑premise control, then bring those files into the same records pipeline.

On‑premise recording options for sensitive government video

Some workloads are simply too sensitive for most cloud tools, regardless of vendor:

• Certain law‑enforcement interviews.
• Material that may fall under CJIS rules.
• Classified or controlled unclassified information.

In these cases, an on‑premise tool like OBS or another desktop recorder that keeps everything on agency‑owned hardware can be more appropriate. OBS stores recordings to a user‑defined path on local drives, giving IT direct control over disks, backups, and encryption layers. (OBS Overview)

Even then, many agencies still use StreamYard upstream—for open trainings, recruitment webinars, and public forums—where the content is already meant for broad distribution and the priority is ease, reliability, and quality rather than strict on‑premise control.

What about CJIS requirements for video recording systems?

CJIS rules focus on how Criminal Justice Information is handled—who can access it, where it is stored, how it is encrypted and audited.

Whether a specific video recording workflow is CJIS‑relevant depends on the content and how it is classified, not just on the tool name. Because public StreamYard documentation does not claim CJIS‑specific deployment models, agencies handling CJIS‑covered video typically:

• Keep CJIS workloads on dedicated, agency‑controlled infrastructure or on vendors that explicitly publish CJIS alignment.
• Use StreamYard for non‑CJIS content like outreach, training, and general communications.

This separation lets you benefit from StreamYard’s usability where it is appropriate, while reserving the most sensitive recordings for environments that your security and legal teams have fully vetted.

What we recommend

• Default to StreamYard for most U.S. government communication needs: public meetings, hybrid briefings, trainings, and multi‑party interviews where browser access, strong audio/video, branding, and cloud plus local files matter.
• Layer OBS or other on‑premise tools where policy demands full local control, particularly for CJIS‑relevant or highly sensitive recordings.
• Involve security and records teams early to map StreamYard’s storage limits, retention options, and export paths into your existing records and evidence workflows.
• Pilot with a low‑risk use case—like a training series or town hall—so staff can get comfortable with StreamYard’s browser‑based studio and local multi‑track recordings before you scale to higher‑stakes scenarios.