Descript vs Riverside: Our In-Depth Review (+ a Simpler Alternative)
Quick Summary
In this article, we compare Descript and Riverside across recording quality, editing features, and ease of use. We also introduce Cleanvoice as a simpler, more efficient alternative for podcasters looking to produce professional-quality audio with minimal effort. For more insights on choosing the right podcasting tool, explore our blog.
Descript vs. Riverside: Which Tool is Best For Your Podcast?
Deciding between Descript and Riverside depends on what you need most.
Descript gives you a full editing suite with lots of tools, but it can feel a bit too much if you are just starting out.
On the other hand, Riverside makes remote recording easy and smooth, but its editing features are limited.
The better choice really comes down to whether you care more about powerful editing or a remote recording setup. But if your goal is clean, professional edits done quickly, a simpler tool might serve you best.
In this Cleanvoice guide, we show you how Descript and Riverside compare across recording quality, editing features, and ease of use. Then, we’ll show you a smarter alternative for podcasters who want quick, professional sound without manual editing.
But first…
Why Listen to Us?
At Cleanvoice, we’ve helped countless podcasters produce crispier and clearer episodes quickly and easily. We’ve seen how complex platforms overwhelm podcasters, especially beginners. That’s why we created an intuitive solution that simplifies editing and delivers professional-quality audio for all.
Descript vs Riverside: Quick Comparison
Here’s a quick look at how Descript and Riverside stack up across core features:
| Features | Descript | Riverside |
| Best for | Podcasters, content creators, and editors who need an all-in-one tool for both recording and editing | Professionals and teams who need remote recording, especially for podcast interviews or video content with guests |
| Recording Quality | High-quality audio and video; ideal for studio recordings, but performance can vary in remote setups | Superior audio and video quality, optimized for remote recordings |
| Editing Features | Powerful all-in-one suite (text-based editing, multitrack, overdub, etc.) | Basic audio and video editing; advanced editing requires external tools |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface, but might be overwhelming for beginners due to its many features | Simplified recording and basic editing interface; more straightforward for beginners |
Overall, you can use Descript if you want a powerful all-in-one editing suite with advanced features. However, Riverside may be a better option if you prioritize remote recording and a simple workflow.
But don’t make up your mind just yet. Let’s look at both tools in detail.
What Is Descript?
Descript is an audio and video editing platform designed for podcasters, video creators, and teams. It offers a text-based editing feature where you can edit your video or audio through text.
The platform does this by automatically transcribing your content into editable text. You’ll then be able to modify the text as you would in a word processor (delete, cut, copy, or paste). Descript synchronizes these changes with the corresponding audio or video segments.
This makes it easy to cut mistakes, rearrange sections, and create polished content quickly, especially for podcasts and vlogs.
Beyond its unique text-based workflow, Descript also includes tools for overdubbing and a full suite of integrated features, making it a powerful all-in-one platform for recording, editing, and collaboration.
Key Features
- Text-Based Editing: Automatically transcribes audio and video, allowing users to edit content by editing the text transcript.
- Multitrack Editing: Supports editing across multiple audio and video tracks within the same project.
- Overdub: AI-powered voice cloning that lets users generate synthetic voice recordings in their own voice.
- Screen Recording: Built-in tool for recording screen activity with audio, useful for tutorials or presentations.
- Video Editing: Includes tools for trimming, cutting, rearranging clips, adding titles, and inserting images.
- Automatic Transcription: Provides machine-generated transcripts for uploaded or recorded audio and video.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Includes 1 transcription hour/month, basic editing, 720p exports with watermark, and trial AI tools.
- Hobbyist Plan ( $24 per person/month): Offers 10 transcription hours, 1080p exports, 20 basic AI actions, and 30 minutes of AI speech.
- Creator Plan ($35 per person/month): Includes 30 transcription hours, 4K exports, unlimited AI actions, 2 hours of AI speech, and 30 minutes of dubbing.
- Business Plan ( $65 per person/month): Comes with 40 transcription hours, full AI suite, 5 hours of AI speech, 2 hours of dubbing, and Brand Studio.
- Enterprise Plan (custom pricing): Offers SSO, SCIM, enterprise security, dedicated onboarding, account management, and SLA support.
Pros
- Text-based editing makes cutting and rearranging audio or video simple
- All-in-one platform with recording, transcription, editing, and publishing in one place
- AI-powered tools like Overdub (voice cloning), filler word removal, and Studio Sound
- Collaboration support allows multiple users to comment and edit in real time
Cons
- Can slow down on lower-end computers
- Subscription costs may feel high compared to simpler editing tools
- Overwhelming interface for users who only need basic editing
What Is Riverside?
Riverside is a professional-grade platform for recording audio and video remotely. It’s designed for podcasters, interviewers, and content creators who need to capture studio-quality recordings, even when guests are located remotely.
The platform offers features like separate audio tracks for each participant, 4K video recording, and live streaming capabilities.
With its simple interface and reliable performance, Riverside is well-suited for anyone who needs to record remotely, whether for interviews, shows, or webinars.
Key Features
- Local Recording: Records audio and video directly on participants’ devices in up to 4K video and 48kHz audio.
- Progressive Uploads: Uploads recordings continuously in the background while the session is going on.
- Separate Tracks: Captures each participant’s audio and video on individual tracks for more control.
- Browser-Based Studio: Runs in Chrome or Edge without needing to download additional software.
- Producer Mode: Lets a producer manage the session without being part of the recording.
- Media Board: Built-in soundboard for playing music, jingles, and effects during recording.
Pricing
- Free: Includes 2 hours of multi-track recording, 720p video quality, and basic editing tools.
- Pro ($29/month): Offers 15 hours of multi-track recordings, unlimited edits, AI transcriptions, show notes, and a full brand kit.
- Live ($39/month): Includes all Pro features, plus live streaming and multistreaming capabilities.
- Business (Contact Sales): This custom plan is for teams and includes unlimited recording and advanced production features.
Pros
- All-in-one platform for remote recording, editing, and streaming
- Simple, intuitive interface makes it easy for guests to join
- Separate tracks for each participant make editing easier
- Real-time collaboration allows for seamless, live interaction
Cons
- Limited editing features
- No native audio processing
- Free plan includes a watermark on exports
Introducing a Smarter Alternative: Cleanvoice
Cleanvoice was created with one simple goal: to help podcasters clean up their audio or video faster and easier.
It doesn't overwhelm you with endless menus like Descript, or focus mainly on remote recording like Riverside. Instead, it streamlines the editing process with AI tools that give you studio-grade recordings without needing professional editing skills.
Our platform automatically removes filler sounds, pauses, and background noise, saving you hours of editing. Plus, it works seamlessly with your existing recordings and you can use it alongside other tools without changing your workflow.
Cleanvoice stands out for combining advanced features with ease of use and speed. It delivers polished audio quickly, without the long hours of training most editing tools require, making it a smart choice for both solo creators and teams.
Key Features
- Filler Word Remover: Cuts out “umm,” “uh,” “you know,” and other filler words so your speech sounds clear and confident.
- Background Noise Remover: Gets rid of traffic, room hums, and other unwanted sounds for cleaner audio.
- Audio Enhancer: Boosts overall sound quality so your recordings have a polished, studio-like feel.
- Breath Remover: Removes heavy or distracting breathing sounds for a smoother listening experience.
- Echo and Reverb Remover: Cleanvoice helps eliminate unwanted echo and reverb, ensuring clear and crisp audio in every recording.
- Mouth Sound Remover: Filters out lip smacks, clicks, and saliva noises for more pleasant audio.
- Silence Remover: Shortens long pauses to keep your audience engaged.
- Podcast Mixing: Blends multiple audio tracks together with balanced sound and smooth transitions.
- Integrations: Connects easily with other tools to fit right into your workflow.
Pricing
- Free Trial: Try out Cleanvoice with 30 minutes of audio processing, no credit card required.
- Pay as You Go: Buy credits that last for two years. The more hours you buy, the cheaper each hour gets.
- Subscription: Get a fixed amount of credits every month, with any unused credits rolling over up to three times your plan's limit.
- Custom Plan: For users who need over 200 hours per month or have specific business needs.
Pros
- Automates the removal of unwanted noise to save editing time
- User-friendly interface makes editing and processing simple, even for beginners
- Affordable pricing plans offer good value, including a free trial to get started
- Useful for a variety of audio content, from podcasts to voiceovers
- Supports multiple languages and accents
Cons
- It doesn't have a dedicated mobile app
Descript vs Riverside vs Cleanvoice: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Descript | Riverside | Cleanvoice |
| Audio Enhancement & Editing | Text-based editing, automatic transcription, filler word removal | Limited editing features, focused more on recording quality | Advanced audio cleanup: removes filler words, noise, silences, breathing, stutters, and mouth sounds |
| Automation | Offers some automation like filler word removal and transcription | No extensive automation in editing | Highly automated, especially in noise reduction and audio cleanup tasks |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly but may overwhelm beginners due to multiple tools | Easy to use for both beginners and professionals | Extremely simple, designed for quick and effective audio editing with minimal effort |
| Noise Reduction | Background noise removal but limited to basic features | Focuses on high-quality recordings but no advanced noise reduction tools | Extensive noise reduction: background noise, breathing, stutter, and more |
| Speed | Fast editing with text-based interface for quick cuts and changes | Quick setup for recording; editing speed depends on the recording quality | Fully automated processing, significantly speeding up the editing process |
| Specialized for Podcasting | Great for editing and transcription, with some podcasting tools | Primarily focused on remote recording, less suited for editing | Tailored for podcasters with automatic audio cleanup and transcription tools |
| Multilingual Support | Supports transcription in multiple languages | Limited multilingual features for remote recording | Supports multiple languages for transcription and audio processing |
| Transcription | Automatic transcription with good accuracy | No transcription features | Provides accurate transcriptions as part of the audio cleanup process |
Why Do Podcasters Choose Cleanvoice?
Effortless Audio Cleanup
Cleanvoice automatically cleans up your podcast audio by removing unwanted sounds like filler words, background noise, breathing, and stutters. This makes your recordings sound much clearer and crispier, without the need for complex editing.
Speedy Edits
By automating routine editing tasks, Cleanvoice allows you to finish episodes much faster. With features like Audio Enhancer and Podcast Mixing, editing becomes quicker and easier.
This means less time spent on post-production, allowing you to focus on creating fresh content or growing your audience.
Clear, Professional Sound
The audio enhancement tools in Cleanvoice reduce background noise, improve speech clarity, and enhance overall sound quality.
This results in a polished, studio-grade podcast, even without high-end equipment or advanced editing skills, making it easier to deliver quality content to your listeners.
Made for Podcasters
Cleanvoice is made specifically for podcasters. It has features like automatic transcription and show notes creation, which help save time and make you more efficient.
These tools simplify the production process, so you can publish and share episodes faster, without needing to use several tools or do manual editing.
Easy to Use
Our platform is easy to use and navigate, even for beginners. Its simple design lets podcasters with little or no editing experience start editing quickly. With a few clicks, anyone can improve their recordings without running into technical problems.
Switch to Cleanvoice for Crispier, Clearer Podcasts
Descript and Riverside each have their strong points. Descript offers a powerful, text-based editing system while Riverside focuses on remote recording.
However, neither delivers the advanced editing tools needed to produce clearer, more professional-sounding podcasts.
Cleanvoice fills that gap by providing tools that automatically remove filler words, background noise, breaths, and stutters, while enhancing speech and overall sound quality.
Our intuitive interface allows podcasters to produce polished, studio-quality audio quickly and easily, without advanced editing skills or long hours in post-production.
Ready to make every episode sound crisp and polished? Try Cleanvoice for free today.
