What this comparison covers
This guide is based on Zoom support articles and Riverside's FAQ, read on 13 October 2026. It is based on official documentation, not on our own test recordings, so it makes no claim about how either service sounds. Zoom settings can be locked by an account admin; if an option is greyed out, that is the first thing to check.
Who this is for: interviewers who want each voice on its own track so they can fix levels, cut crosstalk or remove noise per speaker. Who can skip it: solo recordings, or interviews where one mixed track is genuinely fine.
Zoom local recording with separate audio
In the Zoom Workplace desktop app, the Recording tab of Settings includes 'Record separate participant audio files', described as recording separate audio files for up to 80 participants. The same page says audio from people who joined by phone is merged into one file, and lets you view or change the local recording folder. [1]
Zoom says computer (local) recording needs a Basic (free) account or above and the desktop app for Windows, macOS or Linux; it is not supported on iOS, iPadOS or Android. Participants other than the host need the host's permission to record. [2] Zoom's file formats article says each participant's track is named audio plus the participant's name plus a number, as an M4A file, and labels separate tracks as 'computer recording only'. [3]
Cloud recording: a conflicting detail
Zoom's cloud recording settings article lists 'Record a separate audio file of each participant' under audio-only files, recording up to 200 speakers individually, with phone participants merged into one file. It lists cloud recording as requiring a Pro, Business or Enterprise account and a licensed user. [4] That conflicts with the formats article's 'computer recording only' note. [3] We would not rely on the cloud option until you have checked it is visible in your own web portal settings and produced separate files in a short test meeting. If it works on your account, it can help hosts who cannot record from a desktop app, but local recording remains the documented route on a free account.
Setup steps for a Zoom interview
Our remote interview audio handoff guide covers what to do if you also ask guests to record locally as a backup.
- Open the Zoom desktop app, Settings, Recording, and turn on separate participant audio files before the call. [1]
- Ask guests to join from a computer with a headset rather than by phone, since phone audio is merged. [1]
- Start a local recording from the desktop app, not a mobile device. [2]
- After the meeting, wait for conversion to finish, then confirm one M4A per participant exists before deleting anything. [3]
- Keep the mixed recording too; it is your sync reference.
- Run a five-minute test meeting with a colleague first and confirm the separate files open in your editor.
What Riverside does differently
Riverside's FAQ says each participant's audio and video are recorded directly on their own device and uploaded to the cloud in the background during the session. It says you can record up to 10 participants (9 guests plus the host) on separate audio and video tracks, and that guests only need to click the invite link, with no sign-up or installation. It also says recording hours for multi-track recording may depend on your plan. [5]
We are not quoting Riverside prices here: on 13 October 2026 the pricing page we reached was marked as a staging version with figures that did not reconcile, so check riverside.com directly.
Zoom or Riverside: decision table
Based only on the official pages above. [1][2][5]
| Question | Zoom local recording | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Separate audio per person | Yes, up to 80; phone callers merged | Yes, up to 10 participants |
| Where capture happens | Host's computer, per Zoom's pages | Each participant's own device, per Riverside's FAQ |
| Separate video per person | Not described in these articles | Yes, separate video tracks |
| Free option | Basic account qualifies | Free plan to explore; hours depend on plan |
When Zoom is enough
We would stay on Zoom when the output is mainly audio, guests are already comfortable with it, and separate files per voice are what you need for editing. We would consider Riverside when you need each guest's own video as a separate track or want capture on the guest's side. Fictional example: a newsletter writer records monthly audio interviews in Zoom with separate tracks enabled and edits each voice independently; nothing in that workflow needs a new subscription. This example is invented.
Questions before you decide
Can I get separate tracks when recording Zoom on my phone?
Zoom says computer recording is not supported on iOS, iPadOS or Android, and its formats page describes separate tracks as a computer recording feature.
Why is everyone who dialled in on one track?
Zoom states that audio from users who joined by phone is merged into one audio file.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Zoom Support: Changing settings in the Zoom Workplace desktop and mobile app Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- Zoom Support: Enabling or disabling computer recording Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- Zoom Support: Understanding recording file formats Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- Zoom Support: Changing basic and advanced cloud recording settings Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- Riverside FAQ Accessed 13 Oct 2026
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