Riverside Review

What Makes Riverside Different

Riverside is a recording platform first and a transcription tool second. While most transcription services start with an audio file you already have, Riverside starts at the recording stage. Each participant's audio and video is captured locally on their device at up to 4K resolution, then uploaded to the cloud. If someone's internet stutters mid-sentence, the local recording stays pristine.

This local-first recording approach produces studio-quality output from remote sessions. Podcasters, video marketers, and media teams use it specifically because the recording quality exceeds what Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams can deliver. Transcription is the bonus, not the headline.

Recording Quality

Audio records as uncompressed WAV files at 48kHz. Video captures at up to 4K. These are not compressed streams traveling through a server; they are local recordings that happen to sync to the cloud afterward. For podcast production, the audio quality difference between Riverside and a standard Zoom recording is immediately noticeable, especially when you apply post-production processing.

Separate audio tracks per participant give you full control in editing. You can adjust levels, remove filler words, or cut one person's audio without affecting the other. This is standard in professional production but rare in browser-based recording tools.

Text-Based Editing

Once your recording is transcribed, Riverside lets you edit the audio and video by editing the transcript text. Delete a sentence from the transcript and it is cut from the recording. This mirrors the approach pioneered by Descript, though Riverside focuses more on the recording workflow while Descript emphasizes post-production.

For quick edits and rough cuts, this is significantly faster than working in a traditional audio or video editor. It is less precise than dedicated editing software for complex productions, but handles the 80% case well.

AI Clip Generation

Riverside's AI automatically identifies highlights from your recordings and generates short-form clips ready for social media. You can customize aspect ratios for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and LinkedIn. For content teams repurposing long-form recordings into social content, this eliminates hours of manual clip selection and formatting.

Transcription Accuracy

Because Riverside captures high-quality local audio, the transcription input is inherently cleaner than what most platforms work with. On Riverside-recorded content, transcription accuracy tends to be higher than the same content recorded through a compressed meeting platform. That said, the transcription engine itself is comparable to mid-tier AI services, not best-in-class.

Speaker diarization is included, which makes multi-person podcast transcripts readable. The output works well for show notes, blog post drafts, and accessibility captions.

Live Streaming

Riverside can stream live to YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitch, and other platforms simultaneously while recording locally. This dual-purpose feature means you can livestream a podcast episode and keep the high-quality local recording for your published version. Few platforms combine studio-quality recording with multicast live streaming.

Publishing and Distribution

Direct publishing to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube from within Riverside streamlines distribution for podcasters. You can record, edit, transcribe, and publish without leaving the platform. This end-to-end workflow is Riverside's strongest argument against using separate recording and transcription tools.

Pricing Breakdown

The Free plan requires no credit card and includes basic recording and transcription features. The Standard plan at $19/month adds more recording hours and advanced editing. The Pro plan at $29/month unlocks full features and priority support. Compared to Descript ($24-33/mo) or dedicated transcription services, Riverside's value comes from combining recording and transcription rather than competing on transcription price alone.

Where Riverside Falls Short

If you already have audio files and just need transcription, Riverside adds complexity you do not need. The transcription engine is adequate but not exceptional compared to dedicated services like Rev or Sonix. There is no human transcription option for when AI accuracy falls short. Language support is more limited than platforms like Happy Scribe (120+ languages) or Sonix (53 languages). The text-based editor works for simple cuts but cannot replace a dedicated editor like Adobe Audition or DaVinci Resolve for complex productions. Free plan storage limits mean you will outgrow it quickly if you produce content regularly.

Who Should Use Riverside

Podcasters recording remote interviews who want studio-quality audio without mailing microphones to guests. Video marketers who need to record testimonials, webinars, or interviews and repurpose them as social clips. Content teams that want recording, transcription, and publishing in one workflow.

Our Verdict

Best for podcasters and video creators who need studio-quality remote recording with transcription included. Skip if you already have recordings and just need a standalone transcription service.