Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most public speakers in the U.S., the simplest starting point is a browser-based studio like StreamYard, which gives you reliable recording, live show options, and fast repurposing in one place. If your top priority is heavier built-in AI editing rather than live delivery or ease for guests, a recording-first option like Riverside can also fit.

Summary

• StreamYard offers browser-based podcast recording with local multi-track files, simple guest links, and audio cleanup tools tailored to speaker-led shows. (StreamYard)
• Riverside focuses more on per-participant local capture, higher advertised specs, and built-in AI editing tools at the cost of stricter monthly multi-track limits. (Riverside)
• For most public speakers, ease of use, automatic recording, and clean branding matter more than chasing the maximum spec sheet.
• A practical workflow is to record and go live through StreamYard, then hand files to a dedicated editor or podcast host for publishing.

Can public speakers record broadcast-quality podcasts in a browser?

Yes. You can absolutely get broadcast-quality results using only a browser and a decent mic.

StreamYard runs entirely in the browser and lets you record audio and video with up to 10 people on paid plans, and with 5 other guests on the free plan. (StreamYard) Guests join from a simple link—no software to install—so event organizers, panelists, or co-speakers can hop in quickly.

For quality, StreamYard supports 4K local recordings and uncompressed 48 kHz WAV audio per participant, giving you high-fidelity masters you can refine later in your editor of choice. It also offers echo cancellation and background-noise removal you can toggle on to clean up less-than-ideal rooms. (StreamYard)

Riverside also records each participant locally and uploads their tracks after the session, and it advertises up to 4K video and 48 kHz audio recording. (Riverside) In practice, once you have clean 48 kHz WAV audio and good mic technique, the differences between these platforms are usually less important than your speaking, content, and environment.

Which tool better handles multitrack recordings for speaker panels?

When you’re running panels, roundtables, or Q&A-heavy episodes, separate tracks are your safety net.

At StreamYard, all plans support local recordings, including the free plan, so each participant’s track is captured on their own device and then uploaded—this is what protects you from internet hiccups. (StreamYard) Paid plans allow unlimited local recording hours (within storage limits), which is helpful for speakers who batch multiple sessions or run long, interactive shows. (StreamYard)

On higher tiers, StreamYard can also create separate cloud audio tracks in WAV format for each participant, giving editors a clean, structured handoff for post-production. (StreamYard)

Riverside similarly records each participant’s audio and video locally, then uploads to the cloud, and it allows up to eight people in a session. (Riverside) However, its multi-track recording hours are capped each month—2 hours on Free, 5 on Standard, and 15 on Pro—so heavy-use speaker series have to keep a closer eye on their quota. (Riverside)

If you’re a public speaker running recurring panels, summits, or office-hour style podcasts, the combination of StreamYard’s unlimited paid local recording hours and separate audio tracks tends to feel simpler than managing monthly multi-track banks.

How do free-plan recording limits compare for StreamYard and Riverside?

Free tiers can be great for testing formats, but they do have real constraints.

On StreamYard’s free plan, you can record with 5 other guests and get local recordings, though those local files are limited to 2 hours of recording per month. (StreamYard) This is usually enough to pilot a show, rehearse your talk with a co-host, or capture a couple of full-length episodes before committing.

Riverside’s free plan gives you 2 hours of multi-track recording and then expects you to upgrade if you want additional per-participant tracks; single-track recording is described as more flexible, but the clearly documented multi-track caps remain 2/5/15 hours across plans. (Riverside)

In other words: if you’re a speaker testing the waters, StreamYard’s free tier makes it easy to try real recordings and guest workflows without worrying about intricate usage counters. As you move into a regular publishing cadence, paid plans on either service are where serious podcasting really starts.

Do these platforms support teleprompter and producer controls for speaker-led shows?

Many public speakers want their podcast studio to feel like a familiar stage: clear cues, minimal tech stress, and someone else watching the details.

StreamYard is built for live-first formats, so it naturally fits speaker-led shows where you or a producer need control over layout, branding, and pacing. You can:

• Bring branded overlays, logos, and backgrounds into your studio.
• Switch layouts during the show to highlight the current speaker.
• Use producer-style controls behind the scenes while talent focuses on delivery.

Because everything runs in the browser, a remote producer can manage scenes while you focus on your talk.

Riverside leans more into post-production tooling, with built-in AI editing features like Magic Clips and filler-word removal aimed at tidying your recordings afterward. (Riverside) For some solo creators, that built-in editing is attractive, but it doesn’t replace having a live producer or a clear, stage-like interface during the actual talk.

For scripted segments, many speakers prefer a dedicated teleprompter app plus StreamYard’s stable recording and live controls, instead of relying on everything to be inside one recording product.

Can I host full multi-track recordings from mobile devices?

Mobile can be handy for last-minute interviews at events or backstage, but it’s rarely the ideal base for a recurring show.

Riverside notes that you can only host a recording from the mobile app if you’re on an Apple device, which limits flexibility for Android-first speakers who want full control on the go. (Riverside) Multi-track uploads from mobile can also take longer over spotty connections.

With StreamYard, the default recommendation for public speakers is to treat mobile as a backup or guest option and to host from a laptop or desktop whenever possible. That gives you the full browser studio, stable local recordings, and access to your branding and producer tools.

A realistic workflow for a U.S. speaker might look like this:

• At home or in the office: host from a laptop in StreamYard, with a producer or VA in the same studio.
• On the road: join your own studio from a laptop on hotel Wi‑Fi; bring in audience questions or a co-host via their browser link.
• Absolute last resort: join from mobile as a guest if your main machine fails, while the producer still runs the show from a computer.

How do AI clips and editing fit into a speaker’s podcast workflow?

The big opportunity for public speakers is leverage—turning one great talk into many assets.

StreamYard’s AI Clips feature focuses on fast repurposing: you can use prompts to identify key moments and generate highlights suitable for social posts, short previews, or quick follow-ups to your audience. This works especially well when you’re recording or streaming hour-long keynotes, AMAs, or panel discussions and want several short clips without a full editing session.

Riverside offers more in-studio AI editing tools, such as one-click filler-word removal and other automated cleanups. (Riverside) For some creators, that’s appealing—but deep editorial work (multi-track mastering, structural rearranging, precise cuts) still belongs in a dedicated editor.

At StreamYard, we view AI clips and light editing as complements to, not replacements for, pro tools. You record clean, high-quality source material with local and cloud tracks, use AI Clips for quick wins, then hand the full files to your editor or podcast host for detailed polish and distribution.

What we recommend

• Default for most public speakers: Use StreamYard as your main recording and live studio—browser-based, easy for guests, and built around the way talks and panels actually run.
• For heavy built-in editing enthusiasts: Consider Riverside if you value in-app AI editing above live controls and are comfortable managing monthly multi-track limits.
• For long-term podcasting: Pair StreamYard with a dedicated hosting/distribution platform for RSS feeds and analytics; keep StreamYard as your system of record for recording, live production, and repurposing.
• For experimentation: Start on free tiers to test your show’s structure, then move up to paid plans once you’ve validated your format and publishing rhythm.