Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most podcasters, the easiest workflow is to record in StreamYard, grab the separate participant audio files, and finish the mix in your editor. If you need deep control over encoding or niche routing, desktop tools like OBS or lightweight options like Loom can support specific steps in your process.

Summary

• Screen recording tools handle podcast editing by creating either single-mix or multitrack audio files you later refine in a DAW or video editor.
• StreamYard records each participant separately (cloud and local) so you can clean up crosstalk, noise, and levels with minimal setup. (StreamYard Help)
• OBS provides configurable multitrack recordings if you are comfortable managing formats like MKV and assigning tracks before you hit record. (OBS Guide)
• Loom fits quick screen-led clips and simple cloud edits, but is less suited as the main capture tool for multitrack podcast production. (Loom Help)

How does screen recording translate into a podcast editing workflow?

Most screen recorders do one of two things for audio:

1. Single mixed track – your mic, guest audio, and system sound are blended into one file. Editing is simple but less precise.
2. Multiple isolated tracks – each voice (and sometimes system audio) is captured separately so you can tweak levels, EQ, and noise per person.

From there, the usual workflow looks like this:

• Record your session (often with a shared screen for slides or a demo).
• Export or download the audio files.
• Bring them into a DAW (Adobe Audition, Audacity, Reaper, Logic, etc.) or a video editor.
• Edit for clarity, pacing, and structure, then export a final stereo file for your podcast host.

The main difference between tools is how much control you get over those audio files, and how hard it is to get that control.

How does StreamYard handle podcast-friendly recordings?

At StreamYard, we start from the assumption that most podcasters want high-quality, separate tracks without wrestling with technical settings.

In a browser-based studio, you can record your camera, screen, and multiple guests without going live. StreamYard supports both cloud recording and local recording, and both can feed into a strong podcast edit:

• Cloud individual audio tracks: Every audio source in your broadcast can be recorded as its own audio file, which you can download after the session. (StreamYard Help)
• Per-participant local recordings: When Local Recording is enabled, each participant’s device captures a clean feed of their audio and video, then uploads it. Each participant gets their own file pair for audio and video. (StreamYard Help)

For podcast editing specifically, this matters because:

• You can mute coughs, cross-talk, or keyboard noise on just one track.
• You can EQ and compress loud/quiet guests differently.
• You keep all the visual context (screen share, speaker video) if you want a YouTube or social version later.

StreamYard is also designed around presenter-led screen recordings: you control layouts, turn sources on/off, and apply branding (logos, overlays, backgrounds) live, while keeping presenter notes private to you. That means your “raw recording” can already look like a nearly finished video podcast, even if you still plan to polish the audio in post.

How does OBS handle recording for podcast editing?

OBS is a powerful desktop application for video recording and live streaming, with lots of control over scenes and sources. It runs locally on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and exposes detailed controls for encoding and audio routing. (OBS Studio)

For podcast editing, OBS lets you create multiple audio tracks inside a single recording:

• You assign your mic, remote call audio, music bed, and system sounds to different tracks in the audio mixer.
• OBS then records them in a container format that supports multitrack audio (MKV is recommended). (OBS Guide)
• Standard media players usually only play one of those tracks, but your video or audio editor can expose all tracks for mixing. (OBS Guide)

This setup can work very well if:

• You already route your guests through another app (Zoom, Discord, a web meeting tool).
• You’re comfortable choosing formats, bitrates, and hardware encoders.

Where many teams run into friction is the initial setup and ongoing maintenance. You manage everything on your own machine—CPU/GPU load, disk space, file backups, and the quirks of each guest’s connection. For creators who just want reliable, separate tracks with less technical overhead, a browser studio like StreamYard often feels more approachable.

How does Loom fit into podcast-related recording and editing?

Loom is built for fast, asynchronous screen + camera messages and meeting recordings. It emphasizes quick sharing links and in-browser playback more than long-form, multitrack shows.

From a podcast-editing perspective:

• You can record your screen with a camera bubble and system audio, then trim or stitch clips together in Loom’s editor. These editing features sit primarily on paid plans. (Loom Help)
• Loom’s Chrome extension can only capture internal audio from a single browser tab, while the desktop app can record wider system audio, which matters if your guest audio comes from a meeting app. (Loom Audio Capture)

Loom can be handy for quick promos, internal feedback on an episode, or short solo segments with a screen walkthrough. But because its focus is on one main recorder and simple mixed audio, it’s less aligned with a multi-voice podcast workflow where you want full control over each speaker in post.

What actually matters for podcast editing inside screen recorders?

If you strip away brand names, here are the dials that matter for editing your show later:

• Number of audio tracks: Single mix vs. one track per participant/source.
• File formats and containers: Simple MP4 with one track vs. MKV/MOV with multiple tracks.
• Where files live: Local-only vs. cloud storage that everyone on the team can access.
• Setup effort: Do you need to configure scenes, routes, and encoders, or can you just hit record?
• Screen + camera handling: Whether the tool treats your video podcast layout as a first-class citizen, or as a byproduct of a meeting.

StreamYard is optimized so that non-technical hosts can get multitrack-style outcomes—separate participant files, clear layouts, reusable video assets—without becoming their own AV engineer.

When should you pair tools instead of picking just one?

You do not have to be monogamous with your software. Some practical combinations:

• StreamYard for capture + DAW for editing (recommended default): Record in StreamYard with per-participant cloud or local recordings, then mix and master in a dedicated audio editor. This gives you clean tracks and flexible editing with very little setup friction.
• StreamYard for interviews + OBS for specialty captures: Use StreamYard for multi-guest conversations, but fire up OBS when you need a one-off, highly customized local capture (for example, a complex software demo with unusual routing).
• StreamYard for the show + Loom for async notes: Produce the main episode in StreamYard, then use Loom for quick internal review videos, sponsor-read drafts, or production notes that don’t need full multitrack treatment.

For most U.S.-based podcasters on typical laptops, that first pattern—StreamYard plus a familiar editor—delivers the biggest quality jump for the least complexity.

What we recommend

• Start by recording your podcast in StreamYard with individual audio tracks and local recordings enabled so each participant has their own clean file.
• Bring those files into your favorite audio or video editor to handle cuts, EQ, compression, and final loudness.
• Add OBS only if you need advanced, hardware-tuned recording scenarios, and use Loom for lightweight async videos around your show rather than as your primary capture tool.
• Focus on a workflow that feels sustainable: minimal setup, reliable recordings, and enough control in post to make every episode sound intentional and professional.