Riverside
Studio-quality remote recording for serious podcasters
What it is
Riverside records audio and video locally on each participant's device, then uploads lossless files to the cloud, so a shaky internet connection never ruins a take. It's used by podcasters, journalists, and video creators who need broadcast-quality recordings from remote guests. The built-in AI tools handle transcription, clip creation, and basic editing. One honest note: the interface has a learning curve for guests who aren't tech-savvy.
Key features
- ●Local recording up to 4K video and 48kHz audio per track
- ●Automatic cloud backup during the session
- ●AI transcription with speaker labels
- ●Magic Clips: AI-generated short-form clips from full recordings
- ●Text-based video editor for trimming by deleting transcript text
- ●Live call quality separate from recorded quality
- ●Screen sharing and multi-guest support
- ●Direct publishing integrations with major podcast hosts
Pros and cons
Pros
- +Local recording preserves audio and video quality regardless of guest internet speed
- +Up to 4K video recording per participant track
- +Automatic transcription with decent accuracy on clean audio
- +AI-generated short clips and captions speed up repurposing
- +Separate tracks per participant make post-production cleaner
- +Guest join via browser with no app install required
Cons
- –Free plan limits recordings to 2 hours one off, which runs out fast
- –Guests occasionally struggle with the pre-call tech check
- –Upload times after long sessions can be slow on weak connections
- –AI clip quality varies; heavy editing still often needed
- –No native full-featured DAW for advanced audio editing
- –Live streaming is available but not as mature as dedicated streaming tools
Who it's for
- ●Recording remote podcast interviews with professional audio quality
- ●Producing video podcasts with separate per-guest tracks
- ●Repurposing long-form episodes into social clips
- ●Journalists conducting remote recorded interviews
- ●Online course creators recording guest expert sessions
- ●Creators who need transcripts for show notes or accessibility
Categories
Good for
Podcasters, YouTubers
Frequently asked questions
What does Riverside's free plan actually include?
The free plan gives you up to 2 hours of recorded content as a one off at standard quality. It's enough to test the workflow but not valid for weekly podcast production.
How much does Riverside cost for a paid plan?
Paid plans start at around $24 per month (billed monthly) for the Standard tier, which increases recording hours and unlocks higher quality settings. Pricing should be verified on the Riverside website before purchase as it changes periodically.
Does Riverside work if my guest has a bad internet connection?
Yes, this is the core reason most people choose Riverside. Each participant records locally to their own device and the file uploads to the cloud after the session, so a poor connection affects the live call quality but not the final recording.
How does Riverside compare to Squadcast or Zencastr?
All three use local recording to protect quality. Riverside differentiates itself with more polished AI post-production tools like Magic Clips and its text-based editor. Squadcast tends to attract users who prioritize audio fidelity, while Zencastr has a lower entry price.
Can guests join a Riverside session without creating an account?
Yes, guests join through a shareable link in their browser and do not need to sign up or install anything, though they do go through a brief device check before the session starts.
Is Riverside suitable for live streaming, or is it mainly for recording?
Riverside does support live streaming to platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn, but live streaming is not its primary strength. Creators who stream frequently alongside recording may find a dedicated streaming tool like Streamyard more feature-complete for that use case.