Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most creators in the US, a browser-based studio like StreamYard is the most practical cloud video recording workflow, combining cloud backups, local high-quality files, and simple guest onboarding in one place. If you need deep encoder control or offline, PC-only capture, desktop tools such as OBS or Bandicam can sit alongside StreamYard as secondary options.

Summary

• StreamYard gives you a full cloud studio plus 4K local masters, 48kHz audio, and plan-based storage, all from a browser.
• Cloud recording matters because it protects your sessions, simplifies collaboration, and avoids dealing with huge local files.
• Desktop tools like OBS and Bandicam focus on local recording and need separate workflows for cloud backup and remote guests.
• For interviews, podcasts, webinars, and branded shows, a cloud-first studio is usually faster and easier than stitching multiple tools together.

What is cloud-based video recording software, really?

Cloud-based video recording software captures your session in a hosted environment so you can access, download, and repurpose it from anywhere with an internet connection. Instead of managing giant .mp4 files on your hard drive, your recordings live in an online library with storage limits driven by your plan.

At StreamYard, your sessions can be recorded directly to the cloud when you use recording or live streaming on paid plans, and you can also layer in local recording for higher-quality masters per participant. (StreamYard support) That mix—cloud copies plus local masters—is what most creators actually mean when they say they want “cloud recording.”

By contrast, OBS and Bandicam record to your own machine by default; if you want a cloud copy, you need to upload those files yourself or rely on another platform’s VOD system. (OBS support forum)

Why do creators care so much about quality and reliability?

When people search for cloud-based video recording, they’re usually chasing three outcomes:

1. High-quality audio and video
2. Ease of use for both hosts and guests
3. Consistent branding that looks like “a real show”

On quality, we treat the cloud as your safety net and local files as your master.

• StreamYard supports 4K local recordings, so you get high-fidelity masters that are suitable for professional post-production workflows on supported plans. (StreamYard pricing)
• You can capture uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio per participant, which gives editors clean, detailed sound to work with.

For reliability, local per-participant recording means each person is captured at device-quality, even if their internet dips, and then uploaded to your account. (StreamYard local recording) That’s a big shift from older workflows where a single bad connection could ruin the only recording.

In day-to-day use, this combination—cloud backups plus local masters—usually matters more than chasing one more notch of bitrate or a more exotic codec.

How does StreamYard’s cloud recording actually work?

Think of StreamYard as a virtual studio that lives in your browser. You and your guests join via a simple link; there’s nothing to install.

Under the hood, three layers matter:

1. Cloud recording library

   • On paid plans, your live streams and recording-only sessions are saved to your StreamYard account, giving you a cloud archive of your content. (StreamYard recording help)
   • Each plan includes a base amount of storage—5 hours on the Free plan, 50 hours on most paid plans—and you can buy extra storage as an add-on if you need more. (StreamYard storage)

2. Local per-participant recording

   • Local recording captures each person’s audio and video at device-quality, independent of their network, and then uploads these tracks after the session. (StreamYard local recording)
   • Free users get a small monthly allowance of local recording, while paid plans offer unlimited hours so recurring shows and podcasts can lean on this heavily.

3. Multi-track options in the cloud

   • On higher tiers, you can download separate audio files for each participant from your cloud recordings, which helps with light post-production when you don’t need full local tracks. (StreamYard individual audio tracks)

This is where StreamYard feels different from many “recording plus editing” apps: we focus on capture, quality, and simple access, and then let you move into your favorite editor once you’re ready to cut.

How do cloud-first tools compare to OBS and Bandicam?

Desktop apps and cloud studios solve different problems.

OBS Studio
OBS is free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming that runs locally on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports complex scenes, multiple sources, and flexible encoders, and saves your recordings directly to disk. (OBS official) For creators who want fine-grained control over codecs and GPU usage, that’s attractive.

However, OBS doesn’t include a built-in cloud library or guest onboarding. If you want remote interviews, you’ll bolt on other tools. If you want cloud backup, you’ll push files to Google Drive, S3, or another storage system yourself.

Bandicam
Bandicam is a Windows-focused recorder for screen and gameplay that sells licenses per PC and pairs naturally with its Bandicut editor. It’s aimed at local capture: record your screen or gameplay, then cut clips in Bandicut. (Bandicam bundle)

Both tools can record at high quality. But for most teams running interviews, podcasts, webinars, and branded content for US audiences, the missing pieces—guest links, branding, cloud backups, and simple sharing—tend to matter more than low-level capture controls.

A realistic setup many creators land on:

• Use StreamYard as the main studio for recording, guests, and branding.
• Keep OBS or Bandicam around for occasional PC-only captures, game streams, or internal demos where you don’t need a guest-friendly studio.

How does StreamYard help with branding and post-production?

Because your studio lives in the browser, branding is baked into the workflow instead of bolted on after the fact.

You can:

• Add overlays, logos, and on-screen text so your recordings feel like a show, not a Zoom call.
• Use color presets and grading controls to dial in a consistent look that matches your brand and lighting, reducing the amount of color work you need to do later.

For editing, we focus on leverage, not replacing pro tools:

• AI Clips lets you use prompts to quickly surface highlight moments from your recordings, helping you spin up short-form clips, teasers, and social content without scrubbing through every second.
• When you need deep editorial work—multi-track mastering, structural edits, frame-level visual polish—you bring your StreamYard files into dedicated editors. We see those tools as partners, not something we’re trying to compete with.

This keeps the recording experience fast and approachable, while still giving editors what they need to do serious work.

When should you choose a desktop recorder instead?

There are a few clear cases where local-first software is worth adding to your stack:

• You’re capturing PC gameplay only, with no guests.
  OBS or Bandicam can be very efficient for this, especially on gaming PCs where you want tight control over frame rates and encoders.

• You often record without internet access.
  If you’re traveling or working in locations with poor connectivity, a desktop app that doesn’t depend on a live connection is useful.

• You need niche encoder settings.
  Some broadcasters and technical teams require very specific bitrates, codecs, or transport protocols. OBS caters well to that group.

Even then, many teams still run important interviews, client-facing webinars, and public shows through StreamYard because the guest experience, backup recordings, and branding options save them editing time later.

What we recommend

• Use StreamYard as your primary cloud-based studio when you care about high-quality audio/video, easy guest onboarding, and brandable recordings.
• Lean on local 4K recording and 48kHz per-participant audio in StreamYard for sessions that need professional post-production.
• Add OBS or Bandicam to your toolkit only if you have recurring, PC-only recording needs or require very specific encoder control.
• Start with StreamYard’s free options and included storage, then expand with paid plans or storage add-ons once your workflow and content volume are clear.