Riverside Review: I Ditched Zoom & Never Looked Back

Has your podcast ever sounded like a broken walkie-talkie, and your video looked like it came from a flip phone?

If you’ve ever finished recording a great remote interview, only to realize your guest’s audio cut out or the video looks pixelated, you’re not the only one. Remote interviews often face technical issues like low-quality audio/video, disrupted conversations, and connection problems or distractions.

That’s where Riverside steps in.

It combines local audio and video recording with transcript editing, AI cleanup, and tools for turning a long session into shorter clips. Paid plans support up to 4K video and 48kHz audio with compatible equipment. Guests can join from a supported desktop browser without creating an account; recording on a phone requires the Riverside app.

In this Riverside review, I’ll discuss the pros and cons, what it is, who it’s best for, and its key features. Then, I’ll show you how I used it to record, edit, and export a video.

I’ll finish the article by comparing Riverside with my top three alternatives (Trupeer, Loom, and Descript).

Whether you’re podcasting, live streaming, or conducting interviews, Riverside makes sure your content looks and sounds like it came from a studio (not your spare bedroom). Let’s see what it’s capable of and if it’s right for you.

Verdict

Riverside is a powerful tool for recording high-quality remote audio and video with built-in AI tools that simplify post-production. Its strongest fit is interviews, podcasts, and webinars that need separate participant tracks and efficient post-production. A reliable connection is still needed for the live conversation and uploads, and advanced capabilities depend on the plan.

What is Riverside?

Riverside is a remote recording platform that captures high-quality audio and video content that looks and sounds as if it were recorded in a professional studio. You can record locally, capturing up to 4K video for each participant independently of Internet connection speed.

The technology behind Riverside is called progressive upload technology. Riverside records each participant on their own device and progressively transfers those files to the cloud. This separates the quality of the recorded tracks from the live call, although equipment, device performance, storage, and a completed upload still matter.

Uploading during the session can shorten the wait afterward. Long recordings and slow connections can still take time to finish uploading and processing, so participants should keep the browser tab or app open until the upload confirmation appears.

Riverside Features

In addition to high-quality recording, Riverside comes with integrated editing tools powered by AI to speed up workflows. Some of these tools help with transcription, search, text-based editing, and automatic creation of short social media clips from recordings.

It also supports live streaming to platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch. Desktop guests can join using Chrome, Edge, or supported Safari versions; mobile guests use the iOS or Android app. Participant capacity depends on the studio and recording setup.

Riverside serves solo creators as well as production teams. Its current customer showcase includes The Official Marvel Podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, and Morning Brew Daily.

Riverside Background

Riverside was founded in 2019 by Gideon and Nadav Keyson. They were two brothers who were frustrated with the same recording quality issues that plagued the rest of us. They wanted to bridge the gap between expensive studio setups and low-quality Skype or Google Meet recordings.

What Sets Riverside Apart

What sets Riverside apart from your typical Zoom call is the focus on content creation rather than just communication. Sure, you can chat with people, but everything about the platform is designed around capturing broadcast-quality content.

Once you experience the studio-quality sound from your home office, it’s pretty hard to go back to traditional video calls for content recording.

Overall, Riverside is a remote podcast and video studio that lets you record high-quality audio and video, edit in the cloud, use AI tools, and live stream.

Who is Riverside Best For?

Here are the types of people who benefit the most from using Riverside:

• Podcasters can use Riverside to record studio-quality audio and video for their podcasts and livestream while recording.
• Video creators can use Riverside to record up to 4K video and create professional content for YouTube, interviews, or webinars.
• Businesses can use Riverside to produce professional webinars, events, and videos without needing a physical studio.
• Media professionals can use Riverside for reliable remote sessions with automatic backup, crash recovery, and real-time monitoring.
• Influencers and public figures can use Riverside to record high-quality podcasts and interviews from anywhere.
• Remote teams and educators can use Riverside to host interviews, courses, or panels with clear audio, great video, and easy guest participation.

Riverside Key Features

Here are the Riverside features to be aware of:

• High Quality Local Recording: Capture separate participant tracks, with up to 4K video and 48kHz audio on eligible plans. Camera, microphone, device performance, and recording settings affect the result.
• Separate Audio & Video Tracks: Record guests on their own track to edit or fix each person’s audio or video without touching the rest.
• Progressive Uploading: Tracks transfer in the background during recording. Download readiness depends on upload completion and processing.
• AI Tools: Get automatic transcriptions, edit with text, create show notes, and pull highlight clips for social media.
• Built-in Editing: Trim, split, and add scenes and captions in Riverside before exporting with no additional software required.
• Live Streaming: Broadcast to supported services or custom RTMP destinations while recording. The plan and destination account determine which streaming options are available.
• Guest Invitations: Invite guests with a link or email. Desktop guests do not need an account; mobile recording requires the app.
• Virtual Green Room: A space to test your microphone, camera, and Internet before recording begins.
• Mobile App: Record high-quality shows on the go using iOS and Android devices.
• Teleprompter Tool: Lets hosts read scripts while recording.
• Recovery Tools: Local recording and progressive uploads help protect a session, but they do not guarantee recovery after every device or browser failure. Confirm that every participant’s tracks have uploaded before closing the session.

How to Use Riverside

The walkthrough below documents my original recording session. The screenshots show the interface I tested; Riverside has since expanded its editing tools, and current menus and plan allowances may differ.

Here’s how I recorded, edited, and exported a video:

1. Create a Riverside Account
2. Record a Video
3. Give Riverside Access
4. Join the Studio
5. Explore the Recording Studio
6. Invite People to Join
7. Test Your Microphone & Webcam
8. Record Your Video
9. Process Your Video
10. Edit Your Video
11. Export Your Video

Step 1: Create a Riverside Account

I started by going to riverside.com and selecting “Start for Free.” After creating an account, I was taken to my dashboard.

Step 2: Record a Video

Right at the top were some ways I could start creating a video with Riverside:

• Record
• Edit
• Go live
• Plan (schedule a session or invite to record)
• Upload

Below that were some AI tools to explore:

• Animated Clips (Pro): Turn shorts into eye-catching animations.
• Magic Audio (Pro): Upgrade audio to studio quality.
• Magic Clips: Create shorts from full videos.
• Show Notes (Pro): Get instant summaries, chapters, and quotes.
• Captions: Add animated captions to boost engagement.
• Transcribe: Instantly transcribe uploaded files.
• AI Voice (Pro): Generate audio that sounds like you.

I started by hitting the “Record” button.

Step 3: Give Riverside Access

Next, I hit “Allow access” to join as a host and permitted Riverside to access my microphone and camera.

Step 4: Join the Studio

After previewing how my camera would look and adjusting my camera, microphone, and speaker settings, I hit “Join studio.”

Step 5: Explore the Recording Studio

Right off the bat, I liked how clean the interface was and how everything was laid out:

• My video preview and mic levels were front and center.
• Guest tiles appeared in a grid, making it easy to monitor everyone.
• Controls for recording, screen sharing, and settings sat neatly at the bottom.
• A sidebar offered access to chat, participants, and media files.

Step 6: Invite People to Join

The invite process stood out the most to me. The tile next to mine in the studio gave me two ways to invite guests to join that were simple and quick:

• Copy a direct invitation link.
• Send an email invite straight from the platform.

Guests do not need to create an account. For desktop sessions, send them the invitation link and ask them to open it in a supported browser; guests recording on a phone need the Riverside mobile app.

Step 7: Test Your Microphone & Webcam

Some advice: Before you hit record, take advantage of Riverside’s free microphone and webcam tests to test your microphone levels and camera quality.

Send the link to your guests ahead of time so they can do the same and avoid technical issues during the session. The last thing you want is to record a 45-minute interview where your guest’s mic is picking up their air conditioning.

Step 8: Record Your Video

During recording, I love how minimal the interface stays. I had my basic controls at the bottom (record, pause, stop). I could also see my upload status in real-time at the top.

Step 9: Process Your Video

After recording (I just hit the “Leave” button), Riverside began processing my video and uploading my tracks. Thanks to the progressive uploads, Riverside had my files ready within minutes as opposed to hours.

Riverside automatically generates both MP4 video files and separate WAV audio files. I found this out after hitting the “High quality” download button.

Here were my video and audio download options:

• Raw video: The raw video file exactly as recorded.
• Aligned video: The raw video with padding added at the start if someone joined mid-call or if media was shared. It ensures all tracks are aligned when combining them in editing software.
• Raw audio: The audio exactly as recorded.
• Compressed audio: The raw audio compressed to about a tenth of the size for quickly sharing with others.

Step 10: Edit Your Video

Below my recorded video were two options: Edit and Share. I selected the “Edit” button.

In my original session, the transcript was on the left, a video preview was on the right, and the timeline was at the bottom. That layout made it easy to move between editing the spoken content and checking the resulting cut.

The timeline was where I could split the content and add chapters and scenes. Meanwhile, I could make text-based edits in the transcript to edit the video like a document.

It’s also worth mentioning the AI tools available within the editor:

• Remove pauses
• Remove filler words
• Find fluff (recommends parts to cut)
• Magic audio (apply for studio-quality sound)
• Smart mute (mute anyone who isn’t talking)
• Smart layouts (automatically switch camera views)
• Eye contact (fix gaze for natural eye contact)
• Animate clip

Riverside now goes well beyond basic trimming. Its editor combines transcript and timeline editing with audio cleanup, layouts, captions, and AI-assisted repurposing. Co-Creator can apply edits and generate promotional assets from prompts. A dedicated editor remains useful for demanding motion graphics, compositing, or finishing work, but many podcast and interview edits can be completed inside Riverside.

Step 11: Export Your Video

After a little bit of editing, I exported my video. To do this, I went to “Export” on the top right. I could export the video, audio, or timeline in Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro formats.

Overall, Riverside made the entire recording process smooth and simple. From inviting guests to editing and exporting my final video, everything felt quick and easy.

Top 3 Riverside Alternatives

Here are the best Riverside alternatives I’d recommend.

Trupeer

The first Riverside alternative I’d recommend is Trupeer. Trupeer is an AI platform that makes it easy to create product videos, engaging walkthroughs, and guides from simple screen recordings. It streamlines content creation with features like AI voiceovers, automated zooms, and script generation.

On the one hand, Riverside is an excellent tool for remote recording. It records studio-quality audio and up to 4K video, separate tracks for each participant, and more.

Meanwhile, Trupeer stands out with AI tools that turn screen recordings into branded video demos or written guides in minutes. Some of its AI features include custom avatars and multilingual translations on eligible plans.

Choose Trupeer to create AI video guides from screen recordings. For high-quality podcasting and remote interviews, choose Riverside!

Read my Trupeer review or visit Trupeer!

Loom

Another great Riverside alternative is Loom. It lets you quickly record your screen, camera, or both. It’s perfect for walkthroughs, presentations, and explainer videos. With simple editing tools and easy sharing, it’s a favorite for fast, clear communication.

Both platforms create high-quality video content quickly. Riverside is made for creators who want studio-level remote podcasts and interviews. It’s great for serious podcasters or anyone who needs high-quality results.

However, Loom focuses more on communication for work and training. You can record your screen and/or camera, trim or stitch clips, and use AI to create titles and calls-to-action. It’s built for easy team collaboration with strong privacy controls.

Choose Loom for fast, easy business videos, team updates, and tutorials. Otherwise, choose Riverside for professional podcasts, remote interviews, and live streams with high-quality audio/video.

Descript

The final Riverside alternative I recommend is Descript. It uses AI to make editing podcasts and videos as easy as editing text.

Descript automatically transcribes, offers custom voice cloning, and adds captions. Riverside combines local remote recording with its own text-based editor and AI repurposing tools. Descript also offers remote recording through Rooms, so both cover more than one stage of production.

Choose Descript for easy AI editing. Otherwise, choose Riverside for high-quality remote recording.

Riverside Review: The Right Tool For You?

After recording and editing with Riverside, I can confidently say it’s one of the smoothest remote recording tools I’ve used. From the studio-quality audio and video to the AI tools, everything felt built for creators who care about quality and efficiency.

The interface was easy to navigate in my original test. The current editor adds considerably more production and repurposing capability, making Riverside a practical option for taking an interview from recording through to a finished episode and supporting clips. Upload time still depends on the session and connection.

However, Riverside may not be exactly what you’re looking for. If that’s the case, here are the best Riverside alternatives I’d recommend:

• Trupeer is best for marketers creating AI-generated walkthroughs, video guides, or demonstrations from screen recordings.
• Loom is best for professionals needing quick business videos, team updates, or internal training.
• Descript is best for creators focused on fast text-based editing using transcripts.

Thanks for reading my Riverside review! I hope you found it helpful.

Riverside offers a free plan with unlimited recording and editing, plus a one-time allowance to try separate-track downloads for the first two hours of recorded content. Higher output quality and some AI capabilities require a paid plan.

If you’re creating content that demands professionalism, Riverside makes the process painless. Try it for yourself and see how you like it!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Riverside used for?

Riverside is used as a remote recording platform for creating high-quality podcasts and video interviews with guests from anywhere in the world.

Can I use Riverside for free?

Yes. Riverside’s free account supports unlimited recording, editing, and exports of edits and clips. Separate-track downloads are available for the first two hours of recorded content as a one-time trial allowance. Free output is limited to 720p video and 44.1kHz audio, and exported videos carry a Riverside watermark. Paid plans expand quality, separate-track download allowances, and access to advanced features.

What is better than Riverside?

While Riverside is a top choice for studio-quality remote recording, some platforms may be better depending on your needs. Trupeer stands out with AI voiceovers and customizable branding; Loom is best for work communication and training; and Descript is best for text-based editing.

What quality is Riverside recording?

Riverside records video in up to 4K resolution and captures audio in studio-quality 48kHz WAV format. These maximums require an eligible plan and compatible equipment. Local participant tracks reduce the effect of network fluctuations on recording quality; they do not remove the need for a working connection or guarantee flawless results. Browser screen-share recordings have a separate limit of up to 1080p.

What is better, Descript or Riverside?

Descript is a strong choice for transcript-led editing, multitrack projects, and AI-assisted production. Riverside is especially appealing for remote interviews and live production with recording, editing, and repurposing in one place. Both platforms offer remote recording and text-based editing, so the decision depends on the workflow rather than a simple recording-versus-editing split.