Last updated: 2026-01-11

If you just want reliable, great‑looking recordings of your live streams, start with a browser studio like StreamYard and use its cloud and local recording tools. If you need deep encoder control or game‑style scenes, pair or replace that with desktop tools like OBS or Streamlabs.

Summary

• Use StreamYard as your default to record live shows and interviews in the browser, with separate local files for each participant.
• Decide whether you need cloud recordings (automatic, simple) or local recordings (maximum quality and control).
• Reach for OBS or Streamlabs when you need complex scenes, fine‑grained audio tracks, or PC‑centric game capture.
• Consider Restream or similar tools when multistreaming and cloud distribution are the main goal, not studio control.

What should you decide before you hit “record”?

Before you open any software, lock in three simple choices:

1. Where is your studio?

   • Browser‑based (StreamYard, Restream Studio, etc.)
   • Desktop encoder (OBS, Streamlabs Desktop)

2. Where will the recording live by default?

   • Cloud recording (saved to the platform or app)
   • Local recording (saved as files on a computer for each participant)

3. How many moving parts can you realistically manage?
   Most creators in the U.S. care more about reliability and simplicity than about squeezing out every last technical setting. That’s why we built StreamYard around a browser studio, guest links, and per‑participant local files instead of forcing you to manage encoders yourself. (streamyard.com)

Once you know these answers, picking the right setup (and the right software) gets much easier.

How do you record streams in StreamYard step by step?

If your question is literally “How do I record my stream?” this is the fastest, least painful path:

1. Create a broadcast or recording in StreamYard

   • Log into your account in the browser.
   • Create a new live stream or a “record only” session if you’re not going live.

2. Enable local recording for studio‑quality files
   StreamYard can capture separate local audio and video files for each host and guest, recorded directly on their device for higher quality. (StreamYard Help Center)

   • Turn on local recording in your studio settings before you go live.
   • Let guests know not to close their browser tab right after the show so their local files can upload.

3. Go live (or just hit record)

   • Click Go Live to stream, or Record for an off‑air session.
   • You can have up to 10 people in the studio and up to 15 backstage, which covers most talk‑style shows and webinars.

4. Stop the broadcast and let uploads finish

   • End the show from the studio.
   • Watch for the upload progress indicator; once it’s done, your local tracks are safe in the cloud.

5. Download your recordings

   • On paid plans, live streams are recorded and stored in your dashboard, and you can download the full recording or separate tracks. (StreamYard Help Center)
   • Local recording sessions give you individual participant files you can pull into your editor.

This workflow lines up with what most creators actually want: high‑quality recordings, minimal setup, and guests who can “just click a link” and be on the show.

How do you choose between cloud and local recordings?

Think of recording in two layers: what the audience saw and what you can edit later.

Cloud recordings (the “what happened” file)

• Captures the mixed show exactly as it went out.
• In StreamYard, paid plans record your live streams automatically so you can download or repurpose them later. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Great for quick replays, “evergreen” webinars, and uploading full episodes with light trims.

Local recordings (the “maximum quality and flexibility” layer)

• Captures separate audio and video files per participant on their own device. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Gives editors room to fix sync, remove crosstalk, and reframe individual cameras.
• Ideal when you care about podcast‑grade audio, or you plan to slice a live show into many clips.

In practice, we recommend turning both on when it matters: use the cloud recording for fast turnaround, and use local files when you need meticulous post‑production.

How do you record separate audio tracks for each guest?

Separate tracks are a big reason creators move from video‑call tools to real streaming software.

Here are your main paths:

1. StreamYard local recording (simple, browser‑based)

• Turn on local recordings in your StreamYard studio.
• Each participant’s device records their own audio and video, then uploads those files. (StreamYard Help Center)
• You end up with clean, per‑guest files without teaching anyone how to run recording software.

For most podcasters and talk‑show hosts, this is the sweet spot: studio‑quality, separate tracks, and no extra apps for guests.

2. OBS advanced audio tracks (more control, more setup)

OBS is a free, open‑source desktop program that can record and stream from your computer. (OBS on Steam)
If you’re comfortable with encoders and mixers, you can:

• Route each microphone or input to its own audio track.
• In Advanced output mode, choose which audio tracks you want saved in your recording. (OBS Knowledge Base)
• Save the recording to a folder you control on your machine.

This approach works well in gaming or studio setups where all audio goes into one PC, but it’s more technical than browser‑based options.

3. Other browser studios with local options

Some other browser studios (like Restream Studio or Streamlabs’ Talk Studio) offer per‑participant local tracks for subscribers. (Restream Help Center, Streamlabs Support)
These can work if you’re already deep into those ecosystems, but many creators tell us StreamYard feels easier to onboard guests into and simpler to control from the host’s perspective.

How do you record and stream simultaneously in OBS without issues?

Some workflows call for OBS plus a browser studio or platform. If you’re going that route, here’s how to keep recordings stable.

1. Enable recording alongside streaming
   In OBS, you can stream and record at the same time. The recording goes to a user‑selected Recording Path—a folder on your computer. (OBS Knowledge Base)

2. Use MKV for safer recordings
   OBS recommends using the MKV format because it’s less likely to corrupt if something crashes or you stop the recording abruptly. (OBS Knowledge Base)

3. Right‑size your encoder settings

   • Don’t push extremely high bitrates or resolutions unless your CPU/GPU and upload speed are strong.
   • If you see dropped frames, lower the recording resolution/bitrate first.

4. Keep StreamYard (or your platform) simple when OBS is the encoder
   If you’re sending an OBS output into StreamYard via RTMP for overlays and multistreaming, treat OBS as the “camera” and let the browser handle layouts and guests. This keeps your workflow understandable instead of trying to run a full production in both places.

For many hosts, the reality is that a pure StreamYard workflow is easier to trust live. They default to desktop tools like OBS only when they truly need super‑custom scenes or PC‑heavy gameplay.

When does Restream or similar tools make sense for recording?

Restream is primarily a way to send one stream to many platforms from the cloud, with a browser studio layered on top. (Restream Pricing)

For recording specifically:

• Cloud recordings on Restream are tied to paid plans; you can download your past streams for repurposing. (Restream Help Center)
• Local recording in Restream Studio (currently a beta feature) aims to give you separate participant tracks and up to 4K quality on higher plans. (Restream Help Center)

This can be useful if your main problem is bandwidth and you need to reach many destinations from a single upstream. That said, most creators don’t need more than a handful of channels; they care more about a smooth studio experience and easy guest onboarding, where StreamYard tends to be the default tool they reach for.

What we recommend

• Use StreamYard as your home base for recording live streams, interviews, and webinars—especially when guests are remote and not technical.
• Turn on both cloud and local recording for important shows so you get an instant replay plus per‑guest tracks for polishing.
• Layer in OBS or Streamlabs only when you genuinely need complex scenes or heavy game capture; otherwise the extra complexity rarely improves outcomes.
• Consider Restream or similar services when your primary constraint is multistreaming bandwidth, not studio control or guest experience.