Last updated: 2026-01-12

For most podcasters in the United States, start with StreamYard as your browser-based recording studio—it balances high-quality local tracks, live streaming, and simple guest links in a single workflow. If your priority is deep, built-in editing tooling over live-first production, a recording-focused alternative like Riverside can be a useful complement.

Summary

• StreamYard is a browser-based studio with local and cloud recording, live streaming, and easy guest links, built around talk shows and podcasts.
• All StreamYard plans, including the free option, support local recordings; paid tiers lift local-hour caps and add advanced track options for editing. (StreamYard)
• Riverside offers high-spec local recording and more in-browser editing tools, but its multi-track hours are capped each month by plan. (Riverside)
• For most US creators, pairing StreamYard with a dedicated editor and podcast host creates a flexible, future-proof podcast stack.

What is browser-based podcast recording, really?

Browser-based podcast recording lets you capture conversations in a web studio instead of a heavyweight desktop app. You send a link, guests join from Chrome or Edge, and the platform handles recording and, if you want, live streaming.

Under the hood, modern tools do two kinds of capture:

• Cloud recording: The mixed show is recorded on the platform’s servers.
• Local recording: Each person is recorded directly on their own device, then uploaded, so glitches from the internet don’t ruin the master files. StreamYard supports per-participant local audio and video, including on its free plan, with a monthly cap there and unlimited hours on paid tiers. (StreamYard)

The result: you get the convenience of a web link with files you can confidently edit later.

Do browser-based recorders save local tracks or only cloud recordings?

Most modern browser tools now do both, but the details matter.

On StreamYard, there are three layers to think about:

1. Cloud recording of the full show – On paid plans, any live stream you run is automatically recorded, up to documented per-session limits, so you always have a backup of the entire conversation. (StreamYard)
2. Local per-participant tracks – Each speaker (and even shared assets) is recorded directly on their device as separate files; free users get 2 hours of local recording per month, while paid users have no monthly local-hour cap beyond storage. (StreamYard)
3. Separate cloud audio tracks – On higher tiers, you can also get individual cloud audio files (WAV) per participant to streamline post-production. (StreamYard)

Riverside follows a local-first model as well, recording each participant on their own device before uploading. But its multi-track hours are explicitly capped per month (2/5/15 hours depending on plan), which heavy, multi-episode productions have to track closely. (Riverside)

For many weekly or multi-weekly shows, the combination of unlimited local hours on paid StreamYard plans plus auto cloud recording reduces the mental load of watching meters and quotas.

How do StreamYard and Riverside differ for browser-based podcast recording?

StreamYard and Riverside sit in the same general category, but they emphasize different workflows.

StreamYard: live-first studio that also does podcasts

• Designed around live talk shows, interviews, and podcasts with multistreaming baked in.
• Paid plans have no monthly cap on total streaming/recording hours, only per-session limits and storage caps. (StreamYard)
• All plans support local multi-track recording, with free users limited to 2 hours per month and paid users effectively unlimited hours, subject to storage. (StreamYard)
• Advanced options add separate cloud audio tracks plus up to 10 on-screen guests and additional backstage participants—helpful for larger roundtables. (StreamYard)

Riverside: recording-first with built-in editing

• Focuses on remote podcast and video recording, then editing in-browser.
• Offers local multi-track recording with monthly multi-track caps (2 hours on free, 5 on Standard, 15 on Pro). (Riverside)
• Advertises recording up to 4K video and 48 kHz audio per participant on supported plans. (Riverside)
• Includes more AI editing and text-based trimming tools directly in the web app. (Riverside)

If you care most about stable live streaming + podcast capture in one browser studio, StreamYard tends to be the more straightforward starting point. If you want heavier in-browser editing and don’t mind watching hour quotas, Riverside can complement a more post-production-centric workflow.

Recommended browser/device settings for high-quality recording

Regardless of platform, a few choices matter more than any spec sheet.

On StreamYard, the podcasting page highlights support for echo cancellation, background noise removal, and up to 256 kbps audio bitrate, which is very comfortable for spoken-word shows. (StreamYard)

Practical setup tips:

• Use a dedicated mic: even a basic USB mic is a big step up from laptop audio.
• Wear headphones: reduces echo and makes echo cancellation work less aggressively.
• Lock in a stable browser: Chrome or Edge on desktop with hardware acceleration enabled.
• Wire in when you can: Ethernet over Wi‑Fi, especially if you’re also streaming live.

If you truly need 48 kHz WAV masters for advanced audio workflows, StreamYard supports uncompressed 48 kHz audio per participant via local recording, giving you clean source tracks for DAW-based editing and mastering.

In practice, the difference between 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz is subtle for typical listeners compared to mic choice and room treatment; most creators see bigger gains from nailing the basics above.

Free plan limits: local recording time and guest caps

Free plans are great for testing, but it’s important to know where the edges are.

On StreamYard:

• You can record with up to 5 guests (6 people total) on the free plan, and up to 9 guests (10 total) on paid plans. (StreamYard)
• All plans include local recording, but the free plan is limited to 2 hours of local recording per month and those locals can only be used with the recording feature, not during live streams. (StreamYard)
• Free live streams are not automatically recorded into your library; auto recording comes in on paid tiers. (StreamYard)

Riverside’s free tier also includes 2 hours of multi-track recording, after which you move to more limited single-track or upgrade to increase your multi-track pool. (Riverside)

If you’re experimenting with formats, StreamYard’s mix of free local hours plus the ability to scale into unlimited paid local recording tends to create a smoother path as your episode count grows.

Inviting remote guests: no-download browser workflows

For podcast guests, the experience should feel like clicking a link to join a video call—not configuring software.

At StreamYard, the core workflow is:

1. You create a studio and copy your invite link.
2. Guests click the link in their browser—no software download required—and choose their mic and camera. (StreamYard)
3. Once they’re in the studio, you control when they appear on screen and when recording or streaming starts.

Riverside similarly lets guests join with just a link in the browser, also without downloads, which keeps onboarding light. (Riverside)

Where StreamYard stands out for many hosts is how this same flow works whether you’re:

• Recording an audio-only podcast
• Producing a video podcast with overlays and branded layouts
• Going live to multiple platforms and later exporting the audio

You don’t have to think about separate “recording” vs “live” studios; you treat it as one consistent environment and choose how you want to publish afterward.

How does recording software fit into your wider podcast stack?

No modern podcast survives on recording alone. You also need editing, hosting, distribution, and promotion.

At StreamYard, we deliberately avoid being an all-in-one RSS host or distribution tool. We focus on being your system of record for recording, live production, and repurposing, and then you connect those files to best-in-class hosting platforms that specialize in RSS feeds, analytics, and syndication.

That focus influences how we design features:

• 4K local recordings and 48 kHz WAV audio per participant give you high-fidelity masters for any pro editor you want to use later.
• AI Clips is tuned for quickly finding and exporting highlights for social media and promo, not for replacing full DAWs or NLEs.
• Color presets and grading controls help you dial in a consistent visual brand inside the browser, so your exports are closer to “ready to publish” before they ever hit an editor.

If your workflow is:

…then StreamYard as the capture and live studio, plus a dedicated host and editor, keeps each tool doing what it’s best at without locking you into a monolithic platform.

What we recommend

• Default path: Use StreamYard as your browser-based studio for recording and streaming podcasts, leaning on local multi-track files and auto cloud recording on paid plans.
• When to add another tool: If you want heavier, text-based editing in the browser and can manage multi-track hour caps, layer in a recording-focused alternative like Riverside alongside StreamYard.
• Stack design: Pair StreamYard with a dedicated editing app and podcast host for RSS distribution instead of chasing an all-in-one.
• Next step: Spin up a test session in StreamYard’s free plan, invite a friend, and record 10–15 minutes; if the workflow feels natural, you’ll have a clear baseline before exploring anything more complex.