Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most video producers in the U.S., the best starting point is a browser-based studio like StreamYard that gives you local 4K masters, multitrack audio, and cloud backups without heavy setup. If you need deep control over local encoding on a single machine, tools like OBS or Bandicam can complement that workflow.

Summary

• StreamYard offers browser-based local and cloud recording with per-participant tracks, 4K local video, and 48kHz WAV audio, ideal for producers who manage remote guests and recurring shows. (StreamYard Help)
• OBS is a free desktop app that records and streams from one computer with detailed scene and encoder control, suited to technically inclined producers. (OBS Project)
• Bandicam focuses on lightweight screen and gameplay capture on Windows with license-based pricing, best as a specialty recorder rather than a full production hub. (Bandicam)
• A hybrid stack—StreamYard for capture and collaboration, dedicated editors for deep post—covers most professional workflows without unnecessary complexity.

What should video producers look for in recording software?

When you strip away marketing language, most producers care about three things: high-quality audio and video, ease of use for everyone involved, and custom branding. If your software stumbles on any of those, you pay for it later in reshoots, fixes, or lost clients.

From a practical standpoint, that translates into:

• Capture quality: clean 4K (when needed), 48 kHz audio, and files that survive less-than-perfect internet.
• Multitrack flexibility: separate files per speaker so you can rescue a great take with smart editing.
• Reliability and backup: local and cloud options so one glitch doesn’t kill the project.
• Low-friction collaboration: guests and clients join from a link, not a tech support session.
• Brand control: overlays, color presets, and layouts that reflect your client’s visual identity.

StreamYard is designed around those outcomes, which is why it fits so naturally into modern production stacks.

How does StreamYard handle local and cloud recording for producers?

At StreamYard, we think of recording as an insurance policy on your shoot. We support local per-participant recording, which means each host and guest is recorded on their own device and then uploaded as separate audio and video tracks, independent of temporary network issues. (StreamYard Help)

Key capabilities that matter for producers:

• 4K local recordings: You can capture up to 4K (2160p) per participant locally, giving you high-fidelity masters for grading and reframing in post.
• Uncompressed 48 kHz WAV audio per participant: Individual audio tracks download as WAV files, which are ideal for professional mixing and restoration. (StreamYard Help)
• Separate files per person: For each participant, you can download an individual video file (with embedded audio) and a separate audio-only WAV file, which makes noise reduction, EQ, and punch-ins much more controlled. (StreamYard Help)
• Cloud recording with individual audio tracks on advanced workflows: When you rely on cloud recordings, you can enable individual audio tracks on higher tiers, which keeps your multitrack workflow intact even without local files. (StreamYard Help)
• Long-form sessions: On paid plans, we record streams in HD for up to 10 hours per session, which comfortably covers long webinars, conferences, or all-day virtual events. (StreamYard Help)

There’s also a record-only studio mode, so you can run full productions without going live and keep the same interface, layouts, and guest flow. (StreamYard Help)

How easy is StreamYard for teams, guests, and clients?

If you’ve ever burned half an hour walking a guest through driver installs and audio routing, you know that “free” or “feature-rich” can get expensive quickly.

Because StreamYard runs in the browser, most guests just click a link, allow mic/camera access, and they’re in the studio. There’s no desktop installation for them to manage, and you still get per-participant local recording and multitrack audio.

For producers, this simplicity adds up:

• Fewer tech checks and pre-calls.
• Consistent interface across projects and clients.
• Easy handoff—any team member with access to the account can host or supervise the session.

We also provide color presets and grading controls, so you can dial in a consistent look across different cameras and lighting conditions without relying entirely on post-production fixes.

How do OBS and Bandicam compare for recording workflows?

OBS Studio and Bandicam are useful tools in a producer’s toolkit, but they occupy different roles than a browser-based studio.

OBS Studio

OBS is a free, open-source desktop application for recording and live streaming. (OBS Project) It lets you create scenes from multiple sources—windows, webcams, capture cards, images, text, and more—and switch between them in real time. (OBS Project)

Relevant strengths:

• Detailed control over scenes, transitions, and encoder settings.
• Ability to produce complex layouts from one machine.
• No subscription fees for the core app.

Trade-offs producers should weigh:

• Setup complexity: configuring scenes, audio routing, and advanced output modes takes time and technical comfort.
• Local-only mindset: recordings save to your drives; there’s no built-in cloud studio or per-guest onboarding.
• Remote guests require additional tools or routing (e.g., calling via separate apps and capturing windows), which can be brittle under time pressure.

Bandicam

Bandicam is oriented around screen and gameplay recording on Windows with license-based pricing per PC. It’s commonly bundled with Bandicut for quick cutting and trimming. (Bandicam)

Useful when you need:

• Lightweight capture of demos, tutorials, or gameplay on a specific workstation.
• Simple licensing for a small team of Windows machines. (Bandicam)

But Bandicam centers on local, single-user capture; the documentation we have does not describe cloud studios, browser-based guest workflows, or per-participant multitrack recording.

For many producers, that makes OBS and Bandicam adjacent tools: helpful for specialized capture needs, while StreamYard remains the hub for interviews, panels, and branded shows.

Can StreamYard record separate participant tracks?

Yes. Local recording in StreamYard is specifically built for separate tracks.

When you enable local recording, each participant’s device records their own feed and uploads it. After the session, you can download:

• An individual video file (with audio) for each participant.
• An individual 48 kHz WAV audio file for each participant. (StreamYard Help)

This is exactly what you want if you’re producing podcasts, interview series, or narrative content where you routinely:

• Remove crosstalk and interruptions.
• Apply different noise reduction or EQ per guest.
• Reframe shots independently in the edit.

On higher tiers, you can also obtain individual audio tracks from cloud recordings, which provides a safety net when local uploads are interrupted. (StreamYard Help)

OBS vs StreamYard: multitrack and reliability differences

OBS can record multiple audio tracks in one file when you use its Advanced output mode, and it supports formats like MKV that are more resilient to unexpected crashes. (OBS Forum Guide) For some single-operator setups—especially gaming or live switching—that’s very attractive.

StreamYard takes a different approach for multitrack reliability:

• Instead of embedding multiple tracks in one local file, we capture per-participant tracks at the edge and upload them.
• Because recording is distributed across each participant’s device, short network hiccups in the live feed don’t necessarily affect the quality of the local masters.
• You can combine those local and cloud assets however you like in your editor, instead of being tied to a single monolithic file.

Practically, if your work centers on remote talent and recurring interviews, StreamYard reduces the amount of technical orchestration needed to keep everyone recorded cleanly.

If your work centers on single-machine capture with elaborate scenes and you’re comfortable tuning bitrates, encoder types, and audio routing, OBS is a strong secondary tool alongside StreamYard.

How do AI clips and editing fit into a pro workflow?

At StreamYard, we view editing as a layered stack rather than a single app problem. Our AI Clips feature lets you quickly identify and generate highlight moments from your recordings using prompt-based selection, so you can spin up short-form content without scrubbing timelines for hours.

That said, we intentionally do not try to replace full NLEs or audio workstations. For multi-track mastering, structural edits, and frame-accurate finishing, your dedicated tools—Premiere Pro, Final Cut, Resolve, Pro Tools, and similar—are the right place to live.

StreamYard’s role is to:

• Capture high-quality, multitrack source material.
• Make collaboration and guest management painless.
• Give you fast leverage with AI-powered clipping for repurposing.

You stay in control of the deeper editorial craft.

What we recommend

• Use StreamYard as your primary recording studio for interviews, podcasts, webinars, and remote productions—especially when you need 4K local masters, 48 kHz WAV audio, and per-participant tracks.
• Pair StreamYard with OBS when you need complex single-machine scenes or niche encoder workflows, treating OBS as a specialty capture tool rather than your main collaboration environment.
• Bring Bandicam into the mix only when you have specific Windows-based screen or gameplay recording needs that fall outside your StreamYard and OBS setups.
• Finish in dedicated editing software, using StreamYard’s AI Clips to accelerate highlights while relying on pro NLEs and DAWs for fine-grain polish.