Table of contents:
With the rise of video podcasting, you’ll want to pick top-standard podcast software to record video interviews (in-person and remotely).
After all, podcast viewers and listeners have high expectations. If you don’t have quality, reliable software that delivers the kind of results you’re after, you won’t be able to stand out from the throngs of podcasters who are all vying for listeners.
In this post, we’ll show you a few features to look for when choosing podcast software for your video interviews, and then we’ll compare different options for both Mac and PC users.
Here's exactly what we'll cover:
- What is podcast interview software?
- What to Look for When Choosing Video Podcast Recording Software for interviews
- Best Video Interview Podcast Software for Mac and PC
- Best Software for Video Podcast Interview Recordings for macOS
- Best Video Podcast Recording Software: The Results
- FAQs on the Best Video Podcast Interview Recording Software
What is podcast interview software?
Podcast interview software is a program or application that enables remote recording between podcast hosts and their guests. Technically, many remote video recording platforms allow you to do this, but there are some designed specifically with podcasting in mind. Different podcasters prefer different types of software, and it all depends on what their priorities are.
Read on to see what you might want to consider when choosing your own video recording software for podcast interviews.
What to Look for When Choosing Video Podcast Recording Software for interviews
There are many podcasting software options on the market today, but unfortunately, they’re not all created equal. When comparing podcast video recording software options, you’ll want to look for a few characteristics that could make or break your podcasting experience:
1. Reliability
- First of all, how much can you depend on the software to give you consistent, reliable results?
- Does the software depend on an internet connection speed to maintain the recording’s integrity?
Choosing software that only works for you part of the time will just lead to headaches.
2. Recording Quality
Possibly the most important feature for podcasters is whether the recording is as close as possible to studio-quality. Your audience isn’t going to have much patience for grainy audio or video that’s difficult to make out.
When searching for podcasting software, choose one that records in lossless, uncompressed audio and video. Many platforms compress recordings for ease of transmission (because the file size is smaller)—but that means some data is lost.
Always choose uncompressed audio, if you can, for clearest sound and best editing capabilities.
3. Overall Ease of Use
- How easy is it to use your software?
- Will you have to spend hours giving your guests a crash course in using the software from their end?
If you need a degree in audio engineering to work the soundboard, it’s probably not the software for you.
4. Control for the Host/Producer
Many software programs boast about their interface’s minimalism and ease of use—which is definitely a good thing—but you’ll appreciate having as much control over the recording elements in real-time as possible, too.
Choose software that employs a healthy mix of both customization and ease of use.
Best Video Interview Podcast Software for Mac and PC
We recommend choosing a more podcast-focused platform, when it comes to recording podcast interviews. Either way, these are some of the best software to record video interviews on Mac or Windows PCs:
Riverside
If you’re looking for a reliable video podcasting solution that was designed specifically for podcasters, Riverside is a great option. You can record video interviews with up to 10 participants, no matter where they are without worrying about internet issues. Riverside uses local recording, so everything is captured straight on your device and your recording quality doesn’t depend on your internet connection.
For each participant, you can download separate audio and video tracks. We know how important it is to edit smoothly as a podcaster, and with separate tracks, you’ll have more freedom to do that. Your guests don’t need to download anything to join. Riverside is browser-based so your guests can join from any Mac or Windows device.
Features
- Separate, locally-recorded tracks: Each participant has his or her own audio track, making the podcast easy to edit and mix later.
- Local recording: Since tracks are recorded locally and not over an internet connection, any glitches or drops in reception won’t affect the quality or interrupt the audio.
- Studio-quality video podcasts: With up to 4K video and uncompressed 48kHz audio, you can produce stellar recordings easily.
- Up to 10 participants per recording. The host is in charge of who joins each session (and when they leave).
- Producer mode: Invite a producer to join your sessions behind the scenes, without being accidentally recorded.
- Automatic cloud storage: Tracks are uploaded automatically to your Riverside dashboard, which can be synced with Dropbox —and the files upload as you record, meaning you don’t need to wait for an upload before you close your browser tab.
- Media board: Add sound and visual effects live as you record.
- Text-based video and audio editor: Fine-tune your audio or polish your podcast by removing unwanted sections as easily as editing a transcript.
- Magic Clip tool: Repurpose your podcast into short shareable clips for social media with a few quick clicks.
- Automatic transcriptions: Download transcripts of your podcast for quick subtitles or captions.
- Screen recording: Share and record your screen as a complete separate track.
- Live stream: Send your live feed directly to Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and Twitter.
- Live call-in: Listeners and viewers can call in with video during the live recording.
- Mobile app: With our iOS and Android podcasting app, you can record video interviews on the go!
Reliability
Since Riverside records local audio and video tracks for each participant, there’s no relying on spotty internet connections or hoping you don’t have a dropped call. Each participant’s recording is saved locally to their own computer and uploaded to the cloud automatically.
Recording Quality
Riverside records video in up to 4K resolution. The audio is uncompressed (meaning nothing is lost) and delivered in WAV format.
Amount of control for the host/producer
- During the recording: Host and producers have control of the frame rate, max resolution, and guests’ equipment. Riverside also comes with live sound monitoring, meaning you can monitor your microphone and adjust levels as you record.
- During post-production: You’ll have access to separate uncompressed audio and video feeds for each participant, meaning you can mix and edit each track separately for maximum control. You can also merge these tracks with our in-built editor which comes with automated tools for fine-tuning and polishing your podcast.
Ease of use for the guest
Riverside was built with a simple guest interface in mind. Guests can join with a single click, meaning there’s no extensive training or onboarding process.
Pricing
Our platform has a tiered pricing structure, starting with a free plan and paid plans starting at $15.
Did you know podcasters like Gary Vaynerchuk, Jay Shetty, and Tim Ferris all use Riverside? Join them and start recording professional video podcasts seamlessly.
Zoom
If you’ve done any remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, you likely already have Zoom installed on your computer—and so do your guests. It’s become the go-to video conferencing software for macOS and PC users alike.
And since it lets you record your video calls, it’s possible to use Zoom for your podcasting needs, as well.
Features
- Locally-stored mp3 or WAV (audio) files and/or mp4 (video) files
- Schedule meetings with guests from Zoom and integrate with your calendar
- Virtual background options
- Waiting room feature lets you control when participants join
- Screen sharing
Reliability
While Zoom has become popular during the pandemic due to its above-average audio quality and internet consistency compared to Skype, it still takes place over a live internet connection. This means that the audio and video recording depends largely on the quality and speed of your internet signal.
If you experience a lag or internet disconnection, the audio or video file will be interrupted.
Recording Quality
Since Zoom was designed for virtual conferencing and not studio-quality podcast recording, it makes sacrifices in quality to improve speed and ease of use. Like Skype, Zoom compresses the audio and video to make the file smaller and easier to transfer across the internet signal.
If you’re looking for the highest-quality recording for your podcasts, you’d do well to look elsewhere.
Amount of control for the host/producer
- During the recording: The host can invite others, mute and unmute all participants, share screen, and control the live stream. You can also adjust the speaker’s volume in real-time.
- During post-production: Zoom allows you to edit your recording in-app with the paid plan, or you can download the mp4 and export it to your favorite editing software. However, since the files will be compressed, there will be less material to work with during the editing phase.
Ease of use for the guest
Most guests will already be familiar with how to use Zoom, which is a plus. Simply invite guests by clicking “Invite” in the Participants tab. Select a participant to invite from your contacts or via email. Your guests can then join the call with a click.
Pricing
Zoom comes with a free ‘Basic’ tier. Paid plans range from $149.90 to $300 per year.
Skype
Another popular video conferencing platform, Skype is infamous for being less reliable than Zoom when it comes to connectivity and speed.
However, there are several useful tools for recording Skype calls that make it an affordable choice for beginners. PC users can utilize the free Pamela for Skype or a mixer to record their calls with guests, or use the built-in recorder.
Features
- HD video calling for up to four people
- Recording with live subtitles
- Screen sharing
- Ability to call phone numbers
- Create a meeting with one click without the need to sign in or download the app
- Customizable background effects
Reliability
While Skype used to be the most prominent video conference software, it was overtaken by Zoom at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for a reason. The platform doesn’t do well across devices and is infamous for being unreliable. If you have a spotty internet connection or your computer has a low CPU speed, your calls will likely be dropped often, which will interrupt and possibly damage your podcast recordings.
Recording Quality
Much like Zoom, Skype was designed for virtual conferencing and not podcast recording. The audio and video are compressed, making for lower recording quality for your podcasts.
Amount of control for the host/producer
- During the recording: Invite guests, mute and unmute participants, and share your screen.
- During post-production: You can download the mp4 file of your Skype recording and export it to your favorite editing software. But like Zoom, the files are compressed, so there will be less material to edit.
Ease of use for the guest
Skype makes it easy to invite guests with a click, and they don’t even need to download the software. Most people are familiar with this video calling software, since it was the platform of choice for most of the 2010s.
Pricing
Skype is free to use online. If you need to make calls to a mobile number or a landline, you can purchase subscriptions or pay-as-you-go options starting at $2.99 per month.
Best Software for Video Podcast Interview Recordings for macOS
Now that you have a good idea of the kinds of things to look for, let’s go over the four top options for video podcasting on the market today, starting with macOS and then moving to software that works on both Mac and PC. We’ll give you an overview of each software option and its features, along with how each one stacks up to our decision criteria.
QuickTime X
If you’re looking for video podcast software free for Mac, you can always use what’s already included on your device. Quicktime is a free application that comes pre-installed on all Mac computers, so there’s no need to download any additional software if you’re an Apple user. Since it’s a default application for video and audio recording on the Mac, QuickTime X is a simple and a great option for beginners trying their hand at video podcasting—especially if you don’t need to do any remote interviews.
Features
- Locally record audio and video files
- Record audio, video, or a video of your screen
- Easy interface
- Already installed on your Mac; simple setup
Reliability
Like most Apple products, QuickTime is streamlined and reliable to use. It’s the default audio/video recording software on your computer, meaning it should automatically and consistently work well with your Mac.
Recording Quality
QuickTime uses the built-in camera and microphone in your computer by default, but for better quality recording, you can connect external equipment and select those sources in the Options pop-up menu.
You can choose your recording quality in the settings. The High setting is H.264 video and 44100 Hz AAC audio. The Maximum uses Apple ProRes 422 video and Linear PCM audio, which are uncompressed files.
Amount of Control for the Host/Producer
- During the recording: there is very little control for the host/producer during the recording itself. You can start the recording, control the volume, and choose the audio and video sources.
- During post-production: Edit using the Trim function on your Mac or export the MP4 video file to your editing software of choice.
Ease of Use for the Guest
QuickTime is easy to use; however, it is not designed to facilitate video calls. If you and a guest want to record a video podcast remotely, you’ll need to use another calling software. Each participant on the call will need to record their own audio and video themselves, then send the files to the host after the recording is over.
Pricing
This application comes pre-installed on all Mac computers, so it’s free to use.
Ecamm Call Recorder
Ecamm is designed to help you record remote video calls on some of the more ubiquitous call software already available.
Ecamm Call Recorder for Skype is a minimalist add-on program that lets you record your video call within Skype itself (no toggling between applications).
Features
- Adds a recording window to Skype that saves exact reproductions of incoming and outgoing calls
- Record video in side-by-side, split-screen, or remote views
- Saves all recordings as QuickTime files
- Easy sharing to YouTube and Vimeo
- The multi-track recording feature allows you to edit split tracks
Reliability
Since this software is a Skype add-on, it depends on the reliability of Skype. Unfortunately, Skype is infamous for not being as dependable as other virtual conferencing software. If your internet connection is poor, your conference call will suffer.
Recording Quality
Ecamm records in HD to give clean, high-quality video. However, the quality of your guest’s video feed will depend greatly on the connection quality of your Skype call—which is not likely to be very good.
Amount of control for the host/producer
- During the recording: Since the application is meant to be an easy add-on to Skype, the real-time control is at a minimum. You can record automatically or use the ‘Record’ and ‘Stop’ buttons.
- During post-production: The built-in audio editor lets you edit each track separately, then convert it to mp3 or AAC files for export.
Ease of use for the guest
Ecamm is very easy to use for the host and the guest. If you’re looking for a simple add-on that doesn’t interfere with the call interface, Ecamm is a great option. It simply adds the option to press ‘Record’ while you’re on a call.
Pricing
Ecamm comes with a free trial, or you can buy the software for a one-time purchase of $39.95.
Checkout the Riverside guide to the best Podcasting software.
Best Video Podcast Interview Software: The Results
As a podcaster, you need certain features in your recording software. There are many podcast recording software options out there, but very few of them can meet all of your needs.
For Mac users, QuickTime is a great default and free tool—though it wasn’t built to record remote calls. Ecamm lets you record your Skype calls in HD, though you’re dependent on Skype’s spotty connectivity and quality issues.
And Zoom has become popular for beginner podcasters both on Mac and PC since it’s easy to use and has a free basic plan. But because it compresses recordings and depends on your internet connectivity, it’s not the most reliable software for your podcasting needs.
At the end of the day, you want a reliable program that delivers high quality every time, with just the right mix of control and ease of use. Riverside is the only platform that records your audio and video locally in studio-quality, uncompressed format while remaining intuitive and accessible for even beginner podcasters. Although we’re admittedly biased, we believe Riverside is the best choice.
What are you waiting for? Start for free with Riverside.fm today to test it out for yourself.
FAQs on the Best Video Podcast Interview Recording Software
How do I record a remote interview for a podcast?
It's easy to record a remote interview for a podcast with these steps:
- Sign up for, or download remote podcast software like Riverside
- Set up a remote recording studio on your chosen platform
- Invite guests to your remote podcast studio
- Test out your equipment and then when ready start recording
- Stop the recording and download your files for post-production.
For more, read: How To Record A High-Quality Podcast Remotely [in 2024]
What is the best platform to record video interviews for podcasts?
While there are many podcast recording options, we’d say that Riverside is your best for recording remote podcast interviews. Riverside offers local recording so no matter your internet connection you’ll get high-end resolution video and audio. You can also download separate tracks of each podcast guest and host for smoother editing, or you can edit directly after recording with Riverside’s Editor.
How do I record a Zoom interview for a podcast?
You can use Zoom’s recording features to record an interview for a podcast. Note though that you can only record separate audio tracks with Zoom and not video. Either way, we suggest you optimize your Zoom recording by enabling original sound and background noise.
Read our article on Zoom Podcasts to learn about the best way to record a podcast interview on Zoom.
-(1).jpeg)
.png)
