13+ Ways to Record a Streaming Video [+ Step-by-Step Guide]

TL;DR:

• You can record your own live-streaming videos online using Riverside, OBS, Movavi or Flimora.
•  To record streaming video on your phone try Prism Live studio or Mobizen Live. 
• You can also download extensions such as Loom or Zight to easily capture an online streaming video.
• If you’re recording using equipment try encoders such as the AJA HELO Plus or TriCaster Mini
• If you’re recording with Riverside you can record your own live streams from the get to, or you can use our screen recorder to capture a streaming video already online.

Whether you’re hosting a webinar, making a podcast, or conducting any type of live stream, you can always record your session and repurpose it later. Repurposing means you can:

• Offer on-demand access to the event
• Clip highlights to share across social media

The catch? Recording a high-quality streaming video that doesn't look amateurish.In this guide, we’ll cover 13 great tools to record streaming videos. We’ll also share our best picks for the hardware you need to create a solid live stream setup. 

‍Disclaimer: Remember that we do not condone recording streaming content you didn’t create for distribution purposes. This article is for those who want to record their own live streams to edit or distribute later.

Table of contents:

• What do you need to record streaming video?‍
• 13 Ways to record streaming video with software
• Best online and desktop live streaming recorders for Mac & Windows
• Best online video recorders
• Best stream recording apps for Android & iOS
• Best online extensions for recording streaming video
• Bonus: Best hardware live stream recording encoders‍
• How to record streaming video using Riverside‍
• Over to you: Start recording your live streams‍
• FAQs on Record Streaming Videos

What do you need to record streaming video?

Before we cover our top tool recommendations, let’s break down the essentials for recording a streaming video like a pro.

Software requirements

Here are the must-have tools for your recording streaming setup:

Streaming platform

You need a good tool to broadcast your live stream with a built-in encoder. This converts your video into a format suitable for streaming. 

This tool should be compatible with social media platforms to stream your content. You also want to look for capabilities like storage, branding, custom graphics, inviting guests, and more.

Video mixing software

A video mixing or switching tool displays multiple audio and video sources during a live broadcast. With this tool, you can switch between multiple cameras, overlay graphics on your feed, add transition effects, and more.

Screen recording tool

You also need a tool to capture your live stream with video and audio tracks. A good screen recording tool will record all the activity on your screen and capture audio from different sources during the stream. 

Hardware requirements

Here are the must-have recording devices to capture streaming videos:

Computer or laptop

Not every computer or laptop is made for streaming. You need a device with sufficient processing power and memory to host a live stream without delays. 

Your computer’s processing power (including the CPU and RAM) will impact the quality and performance of your stream and recording. 

Capture card

If you stream content from one device and record it on a different device, you need a capture card. This card captures the video signal from external devices and sends it to your computer for streaming and recording it live. 

Microphone

Audio can make all the difference in a live stream. You need a quality microphone to eliminate distracting sounds from your audio. 

You can use a USB device or a condenser mic with an audio interface. A USB device gives you a quick plug-and-play setup without compromising on sound quality. On the other hand, a condenser mic captures a wide range of sounds and gives you greater control over the sound quality.

Encoder

The output from a video camera isn’t suitable for streaming. That’s why you need an encoder to convert your video signals into a suitable digital format for live streaming. A dedicated live streaming encoder can reduce the load on your CPU to perform this task and optimize streaming performance.

13 Ways to record streaming video with software

Once your basic setup is ready for streaming video, you can use any of these 13 ways to record a streaming video. 

Best online and desktop live streaming recorders for Mac & Windows

1. Riverside

Price: Free plan, Standard at $15, Pro at $24, and custom pricing for Business

Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Riverside is a studio-quality streaming and screen recording platform with a built-in video editor. You can invite up to 8 guests to a livestream and record the session. The platform will create a localized screen recording for each participant. 

You can edit this recording with Riverside’s intuitive editor to distribute it across social media channels. 

It’s also possible to download videos, screen share, and audio tracks separately for creating a podcast, publishing a YouTube video, or other use cases.

Key features:

• High-resolution recordings: Up to 4K video and 48kHz audio resolution.
• Local recordings: Record directly on your device instead of relying on faulty internet connection.
• Live streaming: Stream to any social media platform and custom RTMP and invite up to 1000 audience members directly on Riverside.
• Separate track recordings: Capture each guest speaker’s audio and video on a separate track for easier editing.
• Screen recording: Record your screen in HD and download this as a separate track.
• Presentation recorder: Upload slides, present and capture them in top-quality.
• Seamless video editor: Trim your recording with text-based editing or stylize your video with captions, text, images and your own logo and background.
• AI transcriptions: Download a highly accurate transcription of your recording, available in 100+ languages.
• Magic Clips: Auto-generate snippets capturing the big highlights of your stream.
• Producer mode: Invite people as producers to handle the technical aspects of your stream backstage.

Pros:

• Record from anywhere with the Riverside mobile app.
• Recording, streaming and editing, all in one platform.
• AI tools and simple UI for an easy workflow.
• Extra features like custom backgrounds, teleprompter, live call-ins, and more.

Cons:

• No option to annotate recorded videos.
• Watermark on edited videos in the free plan.

Learn more, or start recording streaming videos effortlessly.

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2. OBS Studio

Price: Free

Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux

OBS is an open-source tool for streaming and recording videos on your desktop. The tool lets you stream through webcams, share your screen, or use a capture card. 

Key features:

• Dock UI: Connect multiple sources and create a customized dock user interface. 
• Intuitive audio mixer: Improve sound quality with noise suppression, gain control, and noise gating. 
• Unlimited scenes: Create and switch between multiple scenes like text or image overlay, browser window, webcam, and more.

Pros:

• Create hotkeys to quickly moderate your session.
• Great for events with multiple speakers or activities.
• Intuitive interface to get started without a learning curve.

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer native support for multiple simultaneous outputs.
• Can consume higher RAM bandwidth with a longer processing time.

3. Movavi

Price: $39.95 for a lifetime license, $49.95/year for a business license

Compatibility: Windows, macOS

Movavi is an advanced video editor that lets you record your entire screen or select a custom area. You can also capture webcam recordings—for a webinar or podcast event—and record a video on the go with its mobile app.

Key features:

• Recording scheduler: Pre-schedule any events you want to record.
• Built-in editor: Edit and enhance your recorded video using Movavi’s editing tools.
• Highlight keystrokes: Capture mouse movement, keystrokes, and hand-drawn annotations.

Pros:

• One tool to record, edit, save, and share videos.
• Comparatively cheaper pricing for a lifetime plan.
• 30-day money-back guarantee to try the tool.

Cons:

• Lack of reliability since the tool can crash when exporting videos.
• Limited options to customize the recording setup.

4. Filmora 

Price: Individual plan starts at $49.99 /year, Business plan at $155.88/year, Education plan at $40.99/year

Compatibility: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Filmora is a versatile video creation and editing tool. Its screen recorder lets you capture any part of your desktop screen and get audio from the mic and the system. 

As one of the best online video recorders, the platform lets you record live sessions, gameplays, meetings, and more.

Key features:

• Record time: Schedule your recording tasks with a start and stop time. 
• Mobile app: Capture your live stream anywhere with a dedicated mobile app.
• Define your hotkeys: Complete your recording setup by creating keyboard shortcuts.   

Pros:

• Capture keystrokes and mouse clicks when sharing your screen.
• Instantly edit your recorded videos with a free built-in editor.
• Customize the ratio of the screen recording window.

Cons:

• Doesn’t transcribe video recordings 
• Limited options to export a recorded video

Best online video recorders

5. Screencastify

Price: Free plan, paid plans start at $7/month

Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux

Screencastify is purpose-built for screen recording. You can record a camera-only video, a screen share session, or both. The tool lets you share a recording with a URL or download the video. 

All recordings are instantly saved in Google Drive in your personal video library. 

Key features:

• Add interactive questions: Ask viewers relevant questions and collect responses in real-time 
• Track engagement: Monitor metrics like views, completion rate, interactions, and more.
• Multilingual captions: Add captions in different languages to make your recorded videos more accessible.

Pros:

• More features available at a cheaper price point.
• Create a dedicated Watch Page to share videos with a URL.
• Get storage of 10GB for free and up to 100GB in paid plans.

Cons:

• Recording limit of 5 minutes in the free plan.
• Doesn’t support recording a custom region on the screen.

6. ScreenRec

Price: Free

Compatibility: Windows, Linux, macOS

ScreenRec is a lightweight screen recording tool that can capture your entire screen, a browser window, or a selected part of the screen. The tool can also record sound from your system and microphone. 

You can use this screen recorder without an internet connection. It saves the recording locally and uploads it to the cloud when you’re online.

Key features:

• Content management: Organize your recordings in a database and search or tag. videos
• In-depth analytics: Learn how viewers are interacting with your videos with real-time. data
• Access control: Restrict access to confidential videos by creating passwords.

Pros:

• Free screen recording tool that works offline. 
• Record and save videos without any watermark.
• Lag-free recorder with a private cloud storage space.

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer multiple export options.
• Doesn’t capture audio outside the browser.

7. Snagit

Price: Individual subscription at $39/year, lifetime license at $62.99

Compatibility: Windows, macOS

Snagit is part of TechSmith’s suite of tools for creating and editing videos. This screen recording tool allows you to record any part of your screen, show cursor movements, and draw anything for additional context.

Once the recording is ready, you can share it via a link or download it in different formats.

Key features:

• Annotations: Add arrows, shapes, callout boxes, numbers, or freehand drawings to call out information.
• Custom templates: Create your templates with custom colors, fonts, and designs aligned with your brand identity. 
• Create GIFs and screenshots: Make GIFs and screenshots directly from your recorded videos.

Pros:

• Supports screen recording of up to 4k resolution.
• User-friendly interface and editing tools.
• Quick sharing and export options.

Cons:

• Comparatively more expensive than other screen recorders.
• Can slow down or crash your system at times.

Best stream recording apps for Android & iOS

8. Mobizen Live

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS

Mobizen lets you stream and record a live session directly from your mobile. Purpose-built for gamers, you can use this app to build a custom brand setup for streaming with your camera and screen share.  

You can also chat with viewers, get their reactions, and see the total number of attendees. 

Key features:

• Multiple sources: Connect up to 5 input sources for audio and video capture.
• Background music: Play background music in your live-stream sessions for free.
• Multistreaming: Stream on up to 3 platforms and choose custom RTMP destinations.

Pros:

• 50+ built-in event templates
• Drag-and-drop scene editor
• Add video clips and text overlays

Cons:

• Doesn’t transcribe the recorded video.
• Lacks advanced recording features like noise suppression.

9. Prism Live Studio

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS

Prism Live Studio is a multistreaming tool that lets you host a live session on six platforms, like YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and more. You can also create your avatar and customize the backgrounds for your streams. 

The app creates high-definition recordings in 1080p resolution, capturing your audio, video, and picture-on-picture overlays. 

Key features:

• Interactive effects: Add GIPHY stickers and GIFs to your recorded stream.
• Live transcription: Use Motion Text Templates to add live transcription to your stream.
• Quick controls: Connect your PC with the mobile app to easily control your recording setup.

Pros:

• Integrated chat with the streaming app.
• Create a theme for your chat and livestream.
• Add overlays to your session while recording.

Cons:

• Doesn’t support multiple export options.
• Doesn’t offer a built-in editor to customize the recording.

10. DU Recorder

Price: Premium plans starting at $3.99

Compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS

DU Recorder supports high-quality live streaming and powerful video recording and editing capabilities. You can go live on multiple platforms and record microphone and internal audio. 

After your stream has ended, you can edit this recording to trim and crop the video, adjust speed, add filters, convert to GIF, and more. 

Key features:

• Live themes: Create a background for your streams using pre-made templates.
• Privacy protection: Choose to stream on a public platform or a private space.
• Custom watermark: Add your own watermark in your stream and recorded video.

Pros:

• Powerful editor to enhance stream recording.
• High-definition recording and capture your face camera.
• Live pause settings to take a break when recording a stream.

Cons:

• Doesn’t capture pop-up windows on the screen.
• The audio doesn’t sync well with the video.

Best online extensions for recording streaming video 

11. Loom

Price: Free plan, paid plans start at $12.50/month

Compatibility: Firefox, Chrome, Edge

Loom is a multi-purpose screen recording tool for quickly recording, editing, and sharing videos. While Loom is conventionally for async communication, you can also use this browser extension to record longer live streams. 

A team workspace, engagement insights, and various export options make it a good choice for businesses and individual creators. 

Key features:

• Loom AI: Automatically generates titles, chapters, video summaries, CTAs, and more.
• Transcriptions: Transcribe your recording in 50+ languages and edit the video by tweaking the transcript.
• Engagement insights: Metrics like views, reactions, downloads, clickthrough rate, and team usage.

Pros:

• User-friendly and intuitive interface.
• Various integrations with Slack, Gmail, Notion, and more.
• Record with speaker notes that aren’t visible in the recording.

Cons:

• The app can crash when processing the video.
• Doesn’t capture multiple audio and video inputs.

12. FuseBase (formerly Nimbus)

Price: Free plan, paid plans start at $9/month 

Compatibility: Firefox, Chrome, Edge

FuseBase is a good option for capturing a streaming video and fine-tuning the output with editing tools like trim, crop, speed adjustment, and more. 

One of its key differentiators is that you can redact sensitive information before and after capture. You can also add your watermark to create on-brand videos.

Key features:

• Export options: Download videos as GIFs or MP4 files, share them with a URL, or create password-protected videos.
• Custom branding: Add your logo as a watermark and create a branded link and landing page.
• Seamless collaboration: Work with 100+ people in real-time and directly upload to Slack, YouTube, and Google Drive.

Pros:

• Create a dashboard to work with your team.
• Leave comments and chat with different stakeholders.
• Make your own video library with screenshots and recordings.

Cons:

• Doesn’t capture multiple audio and video inputs.
• No transcription or captioning available.

13. Zight

Price: Free plan, paid plans start at $9.95/month

Compatibility: Chrome

Zight is another browser extension for recording streaming videos. It lets you record your screen in different formats, pause a live session, and finish recording instantly. 

The tool lets you share a recorded video with a link or export it as an MP4 or GIF file. 

Key features:

• Zight AI: Generate titles and summaries for each video, and automatically creates a transcription.
• Content management: Organize videos into different folders and save select videos as favorites. 
• Various integrations: Integrate with tools like Slack, Teams, Confluence, and more.

Pros:

• Built-in video editor with tools like trim, crop, split, merge, and filters.
• Share, download, and embed videos across channels.
• Get viewer analytics and export people’s emails.

Cons:

• Interface isn’t as intuitive as other tools.
• Doesn’t capture multiple audio and video inputs.

Bonus: Best hardware live stream recording encoders

AJA HELO Plus

Price: $1,869

AJA HELO Plus allows you to stream videos with up to 1080p resolution. The device also supports a picture-in-picture display, adding visual overlays, and recording multiple scenes. 

It’s possible to save your streaming recordings on an SD card, USB, or an SMB network. 

Pros:

• Portable streaming for HDMI video quality.
• 2-channel stereo audio by default with optional 4-channel stereo.
• Multilingual interface available in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

Cons:

• Setup and use could take time because of its complex functionalities.

TriCaster Mini

Price: $9,495

Tricaster is a portable live production unit that streams videos at up to 4k UHD resolution. By adjusting the aspect ratio, you can use its built-in dual encoders to stream across multiple screen sizes. The device also lets you record your stream in 4K quality with multiple video sources.

The device also supports different audio sources, such as digital, analog, and USB. Plus, Tricaster's software allows for multichannel audio mixing.

Pros:

• Get started within minutes with Plug-n-Play NDI
• Connect up to eight video inputs with a 4K UHD video quality
• Render an entire landing page into Tricaster without any CDN

Cons:

• Requires additional purchases, like a virtual sound card license

LiveU Solo Pro

Price: €/$1495 (HDMI version) and €/$2195 (HDMI/SDI version)

LiveU Solo Pro is a part of Solo’s suite of tools designed for creators and streamers. It offers a seamless streaming and recording experience with up to six input sources and 20Mbps speed. 

You can take this portable device anywhere to stream on the go without the hassle of carrying your entire recording setup. 

Pros:

• Instantly stream on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Vimeo, or any RTMPs.
• Comes with a high-quality cross-shoulder bag with a belt pack.
• Ideal for travel-based streaming because it can be charged with a USB-connected power bank.

Cons:

• Requires additional subscriptions for full functionality.

How to record streaming video using Riverside

Riverside creates studio-quality videos with 4K video resolution and 48kHZ audio when recording a livestream video.

One key differentiator of using Riverside is that the platform records a live stream directly on your device. This means you get a high-quality output even if you’re not connected to the internet or the connection is unstable. Plus, you can stream and record on the go with the mobile app.

So, let’s learn how to go live and record your stream with Riverside and how to record a streaming video using its screen recorder. 

How to record your own livestream 

Let’s break down the steps to record your own stream with Riverside.

Step 1: Create a new studio or join an existing one

Log into your Riverside account and create a new studio by clicking the plus icon. 

Instead of setting up a new studio every time, you can go to any existing studios. You’ll find the options to search and sort your studios in your dashboard on the right.

Step 2: Set up a new studio and invite guests

When creating a new studio, you’ll be prompted to add a name for it. You’ll also find other settings like transcription language, option to create an audio-only recording, or schedule a new recording.

Once the studio setup is complete, you can click on “Plan recording” to schedule a new recording session and invite guests to this session. 

You invite guests either through an invite link or via email. 

Riverside lets you invite three types of users:

• Guest: The co-host or speaker who will join the conversation with you.
• Audience: The viewer who will watch and participate through chat messages.
• Producer: The backend manager to optimize the recording setup and not show up in recordings. 

Step 3: Adjust live stream recording settings 

Before entering the studio, you can optimize the settings for your recording session. To do this, click on the three dots next to your studio name on the left menu bar and go to “Settings.”

Here, you can optimize your recording setup with various options, such as:

• Toggle on the noise reduction and echo cancellation options.
• Choose the video quality, frame rate, and layout.
• Pick your preferred transcription language.
• Add background music or video.

You can also send your live stream to social media channels like YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. Or set up any RTMP destination for your stream. 

To do this, go to the live stream section in settings to find different platforms where you can stream directly. You can set up a live stream on any of these platforms by adding your stream URL and stream key. 

A live stream will start automatically when you hit the “Record” button in your Riverside studio.

Step 4: Enter the Lobby to get started

Now that your studio is ready, click “Go to studio” to enter the lobby. Here, you can add your name and check your equipment. 

Adjust the settings to select the right audio and video input sources. You can also choose to join as a host (participating in the stream) or a producer (handling the tech setup for the stream). 

Once everything looks good, click on “Join Studio” to get started. 

Step 5: Hit record to get started 

When you’re inside the studio, all that’s left to do is hit the big red “Record” button and start recording your stream. 

Step 6: Access, edit, and share your recording

After the session has ended, you can stop recording. You’ll see the option to “View recordings” within seconds. 

Here, you’ll find a master recording of the complete session. This dashboard also includes AI-generated show notes summarizing the session. And you’ll see multiple short clips created from the show's best moments. 

You can pick these clips and fine-tune them effortlessly with Riverside’s video editor. Then, export these videos or the main recording in your preferred format. 

How to record streaming video online

Already have a tool to host a live stream but need help recording this stream? Riverside’s screen recorder can help you capture up to 4k resolution video recordings. Here’s how. 

Step 1: Join a new studio

Log into your Riverside account and create a new studio. Or join an existing one. 

Repeat the steps mentioned above to access the settings for your studio. 

Here, you can tweak some settings, like turning on the audio-only recording mode and changing the transcription language. 

Step 2: Adjust settings and enter the studio

Once you’re ready select. “Go to studio” to enter the lobby. Adjust your name and equipment as necessary and then select “Join studio”. 

Step 3: Share the tab/window to record

Once you’re inside the studio, click on the “Share” option to share the tab or window you want to record. 

You can choose to capture:

• The entire desktop screen
• A browser window
• A browser tab

Choose whether you want to capture audio with your video as well.

Once you’re done, hit the “Record” button to start recording the stream. Click on “Stop” when you want to finish the recording session.

Over to you: Start recording your live streams

You can record a livestream video with a desktop or mobile-based screen capture tool or a hardware encoder. 

While each option comes with its set of pros and cons, it’s difficult to find just one solution that offers high-quality video, crisp audio, lag-free downloads, and an intuitive interface. 

Ideally, you should look for a live streaming platform with a built-in screen recorder, like Riverside. This option saves you the hassle of juggling two different tools to stream and record a session. Plus, you can edit recorded videos and manage upcoming streams with one tool.

Sign up for free to create studio-quality recording videos with Riverside.

FAQs on Record Streaming Videos

Is it illegal to record streaming video?

Recording someone else’s stream for commercial purposes without the organizer’s permission is illegal. Even if you’re recording  for your own personal use, we’d suggest gettign permission first. 

It’s also considered illegal even when you’re recording a stream for personal use without permission. 

How do I record a video on a Mac with audio?

Use tools like Riverside to record a video or live stream on a Mac with audio. You can connect multiple audio sources to capture sound from the system and external devices. 

Follow these steps to record your screen with Mac’s built-in recorder:

• Go to your Applications folder and open QuickTime Player.
• Decide what you want to record—entire screen, selected region, window, or tab.
• Choose your audio and video input sources for the recording. Select the microphone option to record your voice and system audio.
• Then, click the “Record” button to start recording.

How do I record streaming video in the Google Chrome browser?

You can record a streaming video in your Chrome browser with a screen recorder like Loom, FuseBase, and Zight. These browser extensions allow you to capture your screen with audio without downloading any software.