Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most podcasters in the U.S., a browser-based studio like StreamYard is the best default: it records local tracks per guest, auto-saves sessions, and keeps the workflow simple for you and your audience. When you care most about maximum per-track specs and are comfortable with monthly download or multi-track hour limits, Riverside can be a useful alternative.

Summary

• StreamYard offers a browser-based, guest-friendly studio with local multi-track recording on every plan, plus AI-assisted clips and noise removal aimed at fast publishing. (StreamYard podcasting)
• Riverside focuses on local, per-participant recording with uncompressed WAV files and 4K support, but ties high-quality multi-track usage to monthly hour and download limits. (Riverside pricing)
• StreamYard emphasizes live-first workflows (multistreaming, automatic recording, quick repurposing) that plug into your existing hosting and distribution stack. (StreamYard podcasting)
• Unless your show is built around strict 4K video delivery or heavy in-app editing, starting with StreamYard usually gives the best balance of quality, reliability, and simplicity.

What should podcasters look for in recording software?

Most podcasters in the U.S. care about the same five things:

1. High-quality, reliable audio and video. You need clean tracks that don’t fall apart if someone’s Wi‑Fi hiccups.
2. Ease of use for hosts and guests. Extra software installs and complex routing often translate into missed recordings.
3. Automatic recording. Hit go once; know that the whole session is captured.
4. Branding and visual polish. Even audio-first shows now repurpose video to YouTube, Reels, and Shorts.
5. Simple in-app tweaks. Light editing, trimming, and clipping should feel fast and intuitive.

StreamYard is built around those priorities: a browser-based studio, local recordings per guest, and built-in audio cleanup and AI clips for quick repurposing. (StreamYard podcasting) Riverside addresses many of the same needs, but leans harder into on-platform editing and detailed per-track controls, with more plan-based limits on high-quality usage. (Riverside pricing)

How does StreamYard fit into a modern podcast workflow?

At StreamYard, we think of podcasting as a three-part loop: record, produce, and publish elsewhere.

Record. You start in a browser-based studio, send guests a simple link, and everyone joins without downloading software. StreamYard records audio and video with up to 10 people on paid plans, with local recordings that create separate files per participant and upload in the background. (StreamYard podcasting) That local-first approach helps you get clean tracks even if someone’s internet drops for a moment.

Produce. During or after the session, you can turn on echo cancellation and background-noise removal, and export local WAV files for deeper editing in your DAW. (StreamYard podcasting) StreamYard supports 4K local recordings and uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio per participant, giving you high-fidelity masters for post-production while keeping the interface simple.

On top of that, we layer AI Clips so you can quickly generate highlight moments for social posts and teaser trailers without treating StreamYard like a full-blown editor.

Publish. StreamYard intentionally stops short of RSS hosting. Instead, we encourage you to pair the studio with tools that specialize in feeds, distribution to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and analytics. This keeps your recording workflow focused and lets you swap in the best publishing stack for your show as it grows.

Browser-based recording tools that are guest-friendly

If you regularly bring on remote guests, guest friction is often the hidden killer.

Both StreamYard and Riverside run in the browser, which is a big win compared with heavier desktop tools. But there are some practical differences in how they feel.

• Join flow. In StreamYard, you send a link, your guest clicks, adjusts mic and camera, and you’re in the green room. There’s no account requirement for your guests, and everything runs in a standard browser. (StreamYard podcasting)
• Interface complexity. StreamYard’s studio layout is intentionally straightforward: clear controls, obvious layout options, and live previews for overlays and branding. That matters when you’re juggling interviews, comments, and screen shares on your own.
• Visual polish. Built-in color presets and grading controls help you adapt to real-world lighting and brand requirements without reaching for a separate color-correction app.

Riverside is also accessible through the browser and offers a structured studio interface, but leans into more on-platform editing tools and advanced configuration. (Riverside pricing) Some teams like that; others prefer to keep recording simple and do heavy edits in dedicated software.

How do local recordings and multi-track audio work?

Local, per-participant recording is now table stakes for serious podcast software—but the details differ.

In StreamYard:

• Every participant records separate audio and video files on their own device, then uploads them to StreamYard in the background. (StreamYard podcasting)
• All plans have local recordings, including the free plan; the free tier limits local recording hours, while paid plans allow effectively unlimited local recording subject to storage. (StreamYard local recording support)
• Local files are delivered as MP4 for video and WAV for audio, so you can drop them straight into tools like Audition, Reaper, or Pro Tools. (StreamYard podcasting support)

In Riverside:

• Each guest is also recorded locally, with uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio and up to 4K video available on paid plans, then uploaded to the cloud. (Riverside product)
• However, multi-track recording hours are capped per month by plan—2 hours on Free, 5 on Standard, 15 on Pro—which means heavy podcasters need to keep an eye on usage. (Riverside pricing)

If your show runs long or you batch-record multiple episodes in one sitting, StreamYard’s unlimited paid local recording and straightforward per-session limits can feel less restrictive in practice, especially when you’re not trying to maximize every technical setting.

StreamYard vs Riverside — audio quality and file formats

On paper, both tools target “studio-quality” audio and video, but they optimize for it differently.

StreamYard focuses on:

• Clean, local WAV files per participant suitable for professional DAW workflows. (StreamYard podcasting)
• Up to 256 kbps output bitrate for podcast audio, combined with echo cancellation and background-noise removal to keep speech clear. (StreamYard podcasting)
• 4K local recording support for creators who want high-resolution masters, even if the live stream itself is delivered at 1080p.

Riverside emphasizes:

• Uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio for each guest and up to 4K video on paid tiers, framed as a studio-style capture workflow. (Riverside product)
• High-resolution specs that appeal to creators who want granular control over every frame and waveform.

In real-world use, microphone choice, room treatment, and mic technique will affect your sound far more than the difference between 48kHz WAV and a high-bitrate export. For most podcasters, StreamYard’s combination of local WAV tracks, automatic background-noise removal, and simple controls is more than enough to deliver professional results without extra overhead.

How do pricing and limits affect podcasters over time?

Because podcasting is recurring by nature, it’s worth considering how pricing and limits behave over months, not just on day one.

StreamYard:

• Offers a free plan for getting started, plus paid plans with unlimited streaming and recording hours per month, subject to per-session caps and storage. (StreamYard pricing)
• All plans include local recordings; the free plan caps local recording hours, while paid plans lift that constraint. (StreamYard local recording support)
• Paid plans auto-record live streams and store them in your library, with storage caps that can be expanded. (StreamYard recording limits)

Riverside:

• Uses a “download hours” model: free accounts get a small pool of high-quality hours (for example, 2 hours of multi-track downloads), while recording time itself can continue in single-track form. (Riverside download hours)
• Paid tiers increase the number of multi-track recording or download hours (e.g., 5 or 15 hours per month), but those are still finite. (Riverside pricing)

If you’re producing weekly shows, multi-episode seasons, or long-form interviews, having to track remaining multi-track hours or download credits can introduce friction. StreamYard’s approach generally feels more predictable: once you’re on a paid plan, you focus on making episodes, not on rationing your best-quality tracks.

How do AI clips and editing features actually help podcasters?

Most podcasters don’t want their recording software to replace their editor; they want it to shorten the path to a publish-ready cut and social content.

That’s why we built AI Clips around prompt-based moments instead of sprawling timelines. You record your session in StreamYard, then quickly identify compelling segments for short social videos, promos, or cold opens. This is ideal for:

• TikTok, Shorts, and Reels clips
• Pre-roll trailers for upcoming episodes
• Quick recaps you can send to guests or sponsors

For structural edits, fine-grained mixing, or complex storytelling formats, dedicated editing tools still do the heavy lifting—and we see that as a feature, not a gap. StreamYard’s job is to give you clean, flexible source material and fast repurposing, not to become your only editor.

Riverside offers built-in editing features, Magic Clips, and AI-driven show notes that can be convenient if you prefer to stay in a single interface. (Riverside pricing) Many teams, however, end up exporting those tracks into traditional editors anyway for final polish.

Exporting and importing StreamYard recordings into editing software

Once you’ve recorded in StreamYard, moving into your editor is straightforward:

1. Download your files. From your recordings library, you can download the cloud MP4/MP3 files, as well as local MP4 video and WAV audio tracks per participant when available. (StreamYard podcasting support)
2. Import into your editor. Drop the WAV files into your DAW (Audacity, Audition, Reaper, Pro Tools, etc.) and align them by start time; because they’re recorded locally and synced in the cloud, they line up for typical conversational formats.
3. Polish and publish. Do your normal EQ, compression, and storytelling edits, then export a stereo WAV or MP3 for your hosting platform.

This separation of concerns keeps StreamYard focused on reliable capture and fast clipping, while your editing software remains the place for deep creative decisions.

What we recommend

• Use StreamYard as your default podcast recording studio if you value reliability, guest simplicity, and live-plus-record workflows.
• Choose Riverside when you prioritize strict 4K/48kHz specs, want more on-platform editing, and are comfortable managing plan-based multi-track or download-hour limits.
• Pair StreamYard with a dedicated podcast host for RSS, distribution, and analytics; treat StreamYard as your system of record for recording, live production, and repurposing.
• Start simple: focus on consistent recording quality and a smooth guest experience before chasing marginal gains from more complex, editing-first platforms.