Last updated: 2026-01-14

For most US-based event planners, StreamYard’s browser studio is the most practical way to record events with high-quality audio/video, custom branding, and easy guest access. If you run complex in-venue, multi-camera rigs and want deep encoder control, a desktop app like OBS can complement that workflow.

Summary

• StreamYard gives you high-quality 4K local recordings, clean separate files per participant, and 48kHz WAV audio for post-production on paid plans. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Event planners can run everything in the browser, invite speakers with a link, and keep overlays, logos, and layouts consistent across sessions. (StreamYard Pricing)
• OBS is a useful free desktop option when you need advanced scene routing and fully local file output, but it requires more setup and hardware knowledge. (OBS Download)
• For typical conferences, webinars, and hybrid events, combining StreamYard’s recording tools with a dedicated editor for deep cuts creates a fast, reliable workflow.

What should event planners look for in video recording software?

When you’re planning an event, you’re not just “capturing video.” You’re protecting the value of keynotes, panels, sponsor moments, and attendee engagement.

Most planners in the US care about three things:

• High-quality audio and video. If the recording looks or sounds bad, it’s hard to resell, repurpose, or justify sponsor dollars.
• Ease of use for hosts and speakers. You can’t afford tech rehearsals that feel like software training.
• Custom branding. Logos, colors, lower-thirds, and layouts must match the event’s look and feel.

That’s the lens this article uses: not “which tool has the most knobs,” but “which setup lets you run events without drama while still hitting quality expectations.”

How does StreamYard fit real-world event workflows?

StreamYard is a browser-based studio designed for live streaming and recording, which means planners can run entire sessions without installing desktop apps on every machine. (StreamYard Pricing)

For recording-heavy events, a few capabilities stand out:

• Local recording per participant. Each speaker’s audio and video are recorded on their own device, then uploaded as separate files, so network hiccups don’t ruin the master. You can download individual audio and video files for every participant. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Clean feeds for post-production. Local recordings capture a clean feed of each person—without overlays—so editors can redesign layouts, add graphics, or change branding later. (StreamYard Help Center)
• 4K and high-fidelity audio. On paid plans, local recordings go up to 4K (2160p) and use uncompressed 48kHz WAV per participant, which is more than enough for professional repurposing, podcasts, and on-demand libraries. (StreamYard Pricing)
• Recording-only sessions. You can run non-live “studio days” for speakers, capturing talks ahead of time with the same tools you’d use during the event. (StreamYard Pricing)

Imagine a virtual summit with a keynote, three breakouts, and a sponsor panel. With StreamYard, you send each presenter a link, bring them into a consistent branded layout, and record locally and to the cloud at the same time. Afterward, your editor gets per-speaker WAV files and clean video tracks, plus a finished “show” version if you recorded the composite.

For most planners, that’s a simple path to both immediate replay and long-term content.

Can StreamYard record separate files for each guest?

Yes. That’s exactly what local recording is designed to do.

When local recording is enabled:

• Each host and guest gets their own audio file and their own video file (with audio).
• Those files are recorded locally on each device and then uploaded, so you’re less exposed to internet glitches.
• Overlays, lower-thirds, and branding do not appear on the individual local files, giving editors a clean canvas. (StreamYard Help Center)

On paid plans, local recording hours are effectively unlimited, which means you can capture longer conferences and multi-day events without hitting a strict hour cap—as long as you manage your storage and archive strategy. (StreamYard Help Center)

This matters when you sell higher-end packages that include edited highlight reels, podcast cuts, or on-demand course-style versions of your sessions.

How do StreamYard’s AI and editing features help planners?

At StreamYard, we treat editing as a partnership with your existing tools, not a replacement.

• AI Clips lets you quickly surface highlight moments by prompt—think “best quote from the keynote” or “funniest audience question”—and turn them into short clips for social or sponsor follow-up.
• We intentionally focus on speed and leverage, not frame-by-frame editing. For deep editorial work like complex timelines, audio mastering, or heavy graphics, we assume you’ll hand files to a dedicated editor or pro tools.

For an event planner, that division of labor is powerful: StreamYard helps you leave event day with organized, multi-track masters and fast promo clips, while your editor stays in their preferred NLE for the serious polishing.

OBS or StreamYard for hybrid, multi-camera event recording?

Hybrid events—where you have in-person production plus remote speakers—are where many planners wonder if OBS is a better fit.

OBS Studio is a free, open-source desktop application for video recording and live streaming. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can mix multiple sources into scenes (cameras, screen shares, graphics) with real-time transitions. (OBS on Steam)

When you might lean toward OBS in your stack:

• You have a dedicated production machine on-site with capture cards and multiple cameras.
• A technical operator is comfortable configuring encoders, bitrates, and scene routing.
• You want everything recorded straight to local drives, with no browser involvement. (OBS Download)

Where StreamYard tends to be the default for planners:

• Remote presenters and panels are a core part of the event, and you want link-based onboarding rather than local software installs.
• You value browser simplicity and a consistent, branded layout across sessions more than low-level encoder tweaks.
• You want both cloud recording for safety and local per-participant files for editing.

Many hybrid teams actually combine them: OBS handles the in-room multi-camera mix and sends one program feed into StreamYard, which manages remote speakers, recording, and streaming out to attendees.

How to ensure 1080p recordings for large virtual events

Quality expectations for on-demand replays are rising; 1080p is a safe target for most conferences and webinars.

On paid plans, StreamYard supports pre-recorded broadcasts up to 1080p and provides long-form HD recording, capturing streams in HD for up to 10 hours per session. (StreamYard Help Center) (StreamYard Paid Features)

To keep quality high across a big virtual event:

• Encourage presenters to use wired connections when possible.
• Ask speakers to test cameras and mics inside the StreamYard studio ahead of time.
• Use StreamYard’s color presets and grading controls to match looks across different lighting setups, so your final replay library feels cohesive.
• Lean on local recordings for the final masters, since they’re captured on each device rather than over the network. (StreamYard Pricing)

For particularly high-stakes keynotes, many planners also schedule a separate, dedicated recording session to capture a “safety take.”

Cloud/browser recording (StreamYard) vs local desktop recording (OBS)

A simple way to decide is to ask: Where do you want to spend complexity—on software and hardware, or on content and logistics?

Cloud/browser (StreamYard) strengths

• Accessible to speakers via a link; no installs.
• Built-in cloud storage and recording-only mode, with plan-based storage caps you can manage over time. (StreamYard Pricing)
• Local per-participant recording plus cloud HD backup for up to 10 hours per stream on paid plans.
• Branding tools (overlays, logos, layouts) tuned to event workflows.

Local desktop (OBS) strengths

• Fine-grained control over encoders, formats, and routing, based on your hardware and needs.
• Strong for gaming, screen capture, and complex multi-scene productions when you have a technical operator. (OBS Recording Guide)

For most event planners, the balance tilts toward a browser-based approach because it lowers friction for speakers and reduces the number of moving parts you need to manage on show day. Local desktop tools become valuable complements when you have specific in-venue or technical requirements.

What we recommend

• Default choice: Use StreamYard as your primary recording studio for virtual and hybrid events—local multi-track files, 4K local recording, and 48kHz WAV audio give you professional masters without complex setup. (StreamYard Pricing)
• Hybrid and technical shows: Add OBS when you need advanced multi-camera routing on a production machine, feeding its output into StreamYard for remote guests and distribution.
• Post-production workflow: Rely on StreamYard for capture, AI-powered highlight discovery, and branded layouts, then hand files to your editor for deep cuts.
• Scaling over time: Start simple in the browser; only add local desktop tools and extra hardware when a specific event requirement makes that complexity worthwhile.