Riverside Alternative for Musicians

Riverside is a remote recording platform built for podcasts and video interviews, with high-quality local capture. SONGTAKE is a free iPhone, iPad, and Mac app made for musicians: multitrack audio and video, multi-phone recording, true stereo, multicam angles, and AI stem splitting, all synced.

This is YOU?

Riverside is great for interviews, but you are recording music, not a talk show.
You want real instrument capture and stereo, not a talking-head grid.
Filming a band means several camera angles that all need to line up with the audio.
You want to pull vocals or drums out of a take after the fact.
You want to record in the room together, not only over a remote link.

Pro Tip: TIP: SONGTAKE is built for musicians. Record multitrack audio and video, place phones around the band as dedicated mics, capture multiple synced camera angles, and split stems with AI. Everything syncs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac and shares by link.

At a glance

Riverside: remote podcast and interview recording
SONGTAKE: built for musicians
Multitrack audio and multicam video
Multi-phone capture, each a dedicated mic
True stereo from iPhone mics
AI stem split, free to download

Key Software Features

Made for Musicians
This Riverside alternative for musicians is tuned for recording songs, not interviews. Capture multitrack audio and video of instruments and vocals rather than a talking-head layout.
Multicam Video
Capture multiple synced camera angles with audio auto-synced to the video, so a band performance lines up perfectly. Riverside focuses on remote interview and podcast video.
Multi-Phone Recording
Place a phone near each player, tap once to start them all, and they auto-sync afterward by audio fingerprint. Each phone becomes a dedicated mic for capturing a band in the same room.
True Stereo Capture
Record in true stereo from the two built-in iPhone mics for a wide, natural instrument and room sound, which matters more for music than for spoken word.
AI Stem Splitting
Separate vocals, drums, bass, and other instruments from any recording with AI, so you can remix a live take or clean up a part after recording.
Video Overdubbing
Layer video performances on top of each other with headphones to build a multi-part performance, a music-first workflow rather than an interview format.
Mobile to Desktop
Open the same project on Mac with a professional multi-channel interface for mixing, then export individual stems or a full mix.
Cloud and Sharing
Takes back up to the cloud and sync across devices. Share by link for remote collaboration and overdubs, and record offline so it syncs when you are back online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SONGTAKE a good Riverside alternative for musicians?

Yes, if you are recording music rather than interviews. SONGTAKE captures multitrack audio and video, uses multiple phones as dedicated mics, records multicam angles, and splits stems with AI, all on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Riverside is excellent for remote podcasts and video interviews, which is a different job.

What is Riverside best at?

Riverside is built for high-quality remote podcast and video interview recording, capturing each participant locally for clean results. If your project is a conversation or interview, Riverside is a strong fit. For recording songs and bands, SONGTAKE is the music-first tool.

Can SONGTAKE record a band in the same room?

Yes. Place a phone near each source, tap once to start them all, and they auto-sync afterward by audio fingerprint. You can also add multiple camera angles that stay synced to the audio.

Does SONGTAKE do remote collaboration?

You can share a project by link so a collaborator can add an overdub remotely, and everything syncs through the cloud. It is built around music capture and layering rather than live remote interview sessions.

Is SONGTAKE free?

SONGTAKE is free to download on the App Store and works with the gear you already own, no audio interface required. On Mac you can add external mics or an interface when you want.

What makes SONGTAKE different from voice memos?

SONGTAKE records in true stereo with automatic cloud backup, project organization, and multi-track capabilities. Unlike voice memos that create a graveyard of unnamed files, SONGTAKE keeps everything organized, synced across devices, and ready to develop into full productions.

Can I use SONGTAKE with just one phone?

Absolutely! SONGTAKE works perfectly with a single phone for recording arrangements, backing vocals, and layered instruments. While multiple phones provide multi-angle coverage and better isolation, one phone is sufficient to create professional multi-track recordings with video overdubbing.

Can I use SONGTAKE for professional music recording?

Absolutely! SONGTAKE allows you to effortlessly move from mobile recording to professional desktop production. Begin capturing your song ideas on your iPhone, then open the same project on a Mac with a 64-channel interface for mixing and mastering. It's the perfect tool to transform your inspiration into a polished production.

How does multi-phone recording work?

Place phones near each instrument for dedicated microphones. One tap starts all phones simultaneously, and they automatically sync after recording. No manual alignment needed—just position phones, hit record, and get professional multi-track isolation from devices you already own.