Riverside.fm

Riverside.fm is a browser-based recording platform that captures studio-quality audio and video from each participant locally, then syncs the recordings in the cloud. Originally built for podcasters and content creators, it has been adopted by casting offices and production companies for remote audition callbacks and chemistry reads where video quality matters.

Unlike standard video conferencing tools, Riverside records each participant's feed at full resolution on their local device rather than relying on the compressed stream sent over the internet. This means that even if the live connection experiences lag or quality drops, the final recorded files are clean and professional. This technical advantage is critical for audition recordings that will be reviewed by directors and producers.

Several casting directors and producers have begun specifying Riverside as their preferred platform for remote callbacks, particularly for projects where the recorded session will be shared with decision-makers who were not present live. The platform requires no software installation — actors simply click a link and are immediately connected through their browser, which reduces the technical friction that can cause delays at the start of a session. The platform supports up to four participants on the free tier and more on paid plans, with features including screen sharing, separate audio and video tracks, and automatic transcription.

Riverside's local recording architecture means that each participant's audio and video are captured at full quality on their own device, independent of internet bandwidth fluctuations, with the platform uploading these high-quality files in the background after the session concludes. This approach produces recordings that are dramatically superior to Zoom's compressed, cloud-dependent capture method, which is why production companies increasingly favor it for sessions reviewed by decision-makers. Actors who invest time in learning Riverside's interface will be better prepared when a casting office requests a session on the platform, and the browser-based design is particularly valuable for less tech-savvy performers who might struggle with software installation under the pressure of an imminent callback.

The platform is used by casting directors, showrunners, and producers who need to share callback recordings with network executives and studio heads, and actors participating in these sessions benefit from the higher recording quality because the files being reviewed look and sound professional rather than like typical video calls. Riverside has gained particular traction for international co-productions where participants are in different countries and in-person callbacks are not feasible, and several major streaming series have used Riverside for their final casting rounds. This is particularly important for final callback rounds where the recording effectively becomes the audition tape that determines casting decisions.

Riverside's free tier allows up to two hours of recording per month with sessions of up to four participants, which is sufficient for most audition callback scenarios, while the Standard plan at $15 per month provides unlimited recording time and additional features like custom branding and higher resolution exports, and the Pro plan at $24 per month adds advanced editing tools and longer session capabilities. For actors, the free tier is almost always sufficient since callback sessions are initiated by the casting office and typically last 15-30 minutes — the cost of a paid plan is only justified if the actor regularly hosts their own sessions for demo reel production or content creation. The real value for actors lies in being familiar with the platform so they can perform confidently when a casting office schedules a Riverside session.

Riverside is recommended for all working actors as a platform to be familiar with, even if they do not encounter it frequently — actors who are called back for high-profile projects, particularly streaming series and international productions, should ensure they have done a test session on Riverside before their first live callback, as preparedness on this platform demonstrates professionalism. However, actors who work primarily in commercial casting or theatre, where remote callbacks are less common, will encounter Riverside less frequently, though the shift toward remote final callbacks continues to accelerate across all sectors of the industry.

Before your first Riverside callback, do a test session with a friend to familiarize yourself with the interface, camera angles, and audio settings, and use Chrome or Edge for the most reliable experience while closing all other browser tabs to maximize performance. Use an ethernet connection if possible rather than WiFi, as the local recording quality benefits from stable upload speeds during the background sync, position your camera at eye level and ensure your lighting is consistent since Riverside's superior recording quality means that any technical shortcomings in your setup will be more visible than they would be on a compressed Zoom call, and test your setup at least 30 minutes before the scheduled session to troubleshoot any issues.