Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most creators in the U.S., the simplest way to record separate audio tracks is to use StreamYard’s cloud and local recording tools, which capture per-participant tracks automatically in the browser. When you need deep desktop control and are comfortable managing sources and system audio manually, OBS is a strong local-only alternative.

Summary

• Separate audio tracks give you per-guest control for editing, mixing, and repair.
• StreamYard records individual participant tracks in the cloud and locally on each device, with uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio for precise post-production.
• Advanced users can add OBS for complex local-only routing, but it requires more setup and technical comfort. (OBS Studio)
• Most interview, webinar, and podcast workflows are faster and easier in a browser studio with built-in multi-track recording.

What is a separate audio track recording tool—and why does it matter?

A separate audio track recording tool captures more than one audio stream at the same time and saves each as its own track. Instead of one mixed stereo file, you get individual tracks: Host, Guest 1, Guest 2, screen share, and so on.

Why this is a big deal for creators:

• You can remove a dog bark behind just one guest without touching anyone else.
• You can level a quiet co-host or tame a loud panelist independently.
• You can cut crosstalk and interruptions, making conversations feel tighter and more professional.

In practical terms, if you care about podcasts, repurposed clips, or polished replays, separate tracks are one of the highest‑leverage upgrades you can make.

How does StreamYard handle separate audio tracks?

At StreamYard, we approach multi-track audio from two angles: cloud recordings and local recordings.

Cloud individual audio tracks
On paid plans, you can turn on a setting that tells StreamYard to save a separate audio file for each participant and media source in your broadcast.[^1] Each participant’s audio downloads as a WAV file, while video assets (like intro reels) export as MP3, so you can drop everything straight into your editor. (StreamYard Help Center)

Once enabled in your studio settings, this works whether you go live or record-only; you don’t have to think about routing or track mapping during the show—you just get the files afterward.

Local per‑participant recording
We also capture each person locally on their own device. Local recordings are individual audio and video files for each host and guest, recorded directly in their browser, then uploaded after the session.[^2] That means you get higher-fidelity masters that aren’t limited by someone’s shaky Wi‑Fi or a brief network hiccup. (StreamYard Help Center)

For audio, those local files are uncompressed 48 kHz WAV per participant, giving you clean material for EQ, noise reduction, and mastering.

Combined with 4K local video recording on higher tiers, you effectively leave each session with a multi-track, high‑resolution master, ready for serious post‑production. (StreamYard Pricing)

How do you record separate audio tracks in StreamYard?

Here’s a straightforward workflow you can adopt today:

1. Create a new studio
   Open StreamYard in your browser and create a broadcast or recording session.

2. Enable individual cloud audio tracks (once)
   In your studio settings, turn on the option for separate cloud audio tracks. You must do this before you go live or hit record for those tracks to be created. (StreamYard Help Center)

3. Enable local recordings
   Make sure local recording is active so each participant’s device captures their own high‑quality track. This applies across your plans, with hour limits defined by free vs. paid tiers. (StreamYard Help Center)

4. Invite your guests with a link
   Guests join in their browser—no installs, no account creation—using the invite link. They don’t need to configure tracks or audio routing; the studio handles it.

5. Run your show as normal
   You can go live, stay off-air and record-only, or do a mix over time. Layout changes, overlays, and screen shares won’t break your audio tracks.

6. Download your separate files
   After the session, head to your recordings. You’ll see:

   • Local per‑participant audio and video files
   • Cloud individual audio tracks in WAV (per guest) and MP3 (for video assets)[^3]

From there, you drop the tracks into your DAW or editor of choice and mix to taste.

How does OBS record multiple audio tracks—and when is it useful?

OBS is a desktop app that can record several audio tracks inside one video container. To do it, you:

• Go to Settings → Output and enable multiple recording tracks.
• Use Advanced Audio Properties to assign each audio source (mic, system audio, Discord, etc.) to specific tracks. (OBS Knowledge Base)

The result is a single file (often MKV or MP4) with multiple embedded audio tracks. Standard players typically play just one track at a time, but your editor can see all of them.

This is very flexible for:

• Desktop gamers who want game audio, mic, and music on separate tracks.
• Technical users who like granular control over encoders and bitrates.

But there are trade-offs vs. a browser studio:

• You’re responsible for all routing and track mapping.
• There’s no built‑in cloud backup; everything depends on your machine and local storage. (OBS)
• There’s no native guest onboarding—you need separate tools (Zoom, Discord, etc.) and virtual audio routing to get remote voices into OBS.

Many creators pair OBS with StreamYard when they specifically need complex visuals or advanced encoding but still want StreamYard’s guest experience and track management for interviews.

What about Bandicam and other screen recorders?

Bandicam focuses on local screen and gameplay recording on licensed Windows PCs, with a workflow centered on “record with Bandicam, then cut in Bandicut” at discounted bundle pricing. (Bandicam)

For separate audio tracks, though, most of what matters to podcasters and live hosts—guest links, cloud recording, per-participant audio, backup copies—is not described in Bandicam’s licensing and package pages. The emphasis is on local capture and later trimming, rather than remote guests or browser-based studios.

That can be useful for solo tutorials or gameplay recordings, but it leaves a lot of manual setup if your main goal is clean, editable multi-guest audio.

What is the workflow for podcasting with per‑participant audio tracks?

Let’s walk through a realistic scenario for a remote podcast interview with StreamYard as your hub:

1. Prep the studio
   You create a recording-only session, enable local recording and cloud individual audio tracks, and set your branding (logo, colors, overlays).

2. Send simple guest links
   Your guests join from Chrome or another modern browser. They don’t install drivers, virtual devices, or desktop apps.

3. Focus on conversation, not routing
   You hit record. Under the hood, we’re capturing each guest locally at 4K video and 48 kHz WAV audio (where their hardware allows), then also generating cloud backup tracks.[^4]

4. Pull everything into your editor
   Afterward, you download:

   • One track per guest (cloud)
   • Local per‑participant WAVs where available

   You use your favorite editor for noise reduction, EQ, and structural edits. For quick social repurposing, you can also use our AI Clips feature to identify strong moments based on prompts, then refine them further in your editing tool.

5. Publish everywhere
   You export the mixed master to your podcast host, YouTube, social clips, and your email list.

The key benefit: separate tracks, both in the cloud and locally, without adding technical friction for guests.

When should you choose StreamYard, OBS, or other tools?

Here’s a simple way to decide:

• Choose StreamYard as your default if you:

  • Record conversations, interviews, panels, or webinars with guests.
  • Want automatic per‑participant tracks and local backups.
  • Prefer a browser workflow with minimal setup and strong branding controls.

• Layer in OBS if you:

  • Need complex desktop scenes (multiple monitors, window captures, overlays) with fine‑grained encoder settings.
  • Are comfortable configuring multiple audio devices and routing.

• Use screen recorders like Bandicam mainly if you:

  • Record solo tutorials or gameplay locally on one PC.
  • Don’t need remote guest onboarding or cloud multi-track support. (Bandicam)

For most creators asking about “separate audio track recording tools,” the real goal isn’t mastering audio routing—it’s getting clean files that are easy to edit. A browser studio that gives you per‑guest tracks by default is usually the shortest path there.

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard for any multi-person show, podcast, or webinar where separate audio tracks matter.
• Turn on both cloud individual audio tracks and local recordings so you leave every session with redundant, editable masters.
• If you later need advanced desktop scenes or intricate routing, add OBS as a specialized capture layer while keeping StreamYard as your guest and recording hub.
• Use dedicated audio and video editors for deep post-production, treating StreamYard as the reliable capture engine that feeds them.