When creators need to transcribe a podcast, repurpose a webinar, or generate content from video interviews, AI transcription tools have become essential. One of the most popular options on the market is Riverside.fm, known for its high-quality remote recording and increasingly, its AI-powered transcription capabilities.
But does it live up to the hype—and how does it compare to alternatives like Submagic, especially for short-form content creators?
The short answer, before we even begin, the short answer is, Riverside is actually pretty sweet. But it’s an all in one tool geared toward podcasts and online meetings. So, if you do one of those, Riverside can get you started.
We’re going to tackle the period after the honeymoon. Now you want to level up, or, you aren’t a podcaster. Let’s get this sorted out, for you. Read on.
What is Riverside’s AI transcription feature? Riverside .fm is widely known as a high-quality platform for remote video recording and podcast production. But beyond crystal-clear audio and video files, it now offers a robust AI transcription feature designed to transcribe audio into clean, editable text automatically.
This feature uses AI-powered transcription technology to turn your recordings—whether they’re interviews, webinars, or solo podcasts—into usable, searchable, and exportable content. With just a few clicks, you can go from raw audio to accurate transcriptions without needing to manually scrub through your footage.
AI transcriptions by Riverside What can you do with Riverside’s AI transcriptions? Once your audio files are processed, you can use the transcribed text for a range of purposes:
Show notes for your podcast or video SEO-friendly blog content Adding subtitles or captions to your video files Performing text-based editing directly in the Riverside platform Supported export formats: You can export your transcriptions in multiple standard file formats, including:
SRT – For captions and subtitlesTXT – For clean, raw text VTT – For use in modern video platforms This makes Riverside a versatile solution not just for recording, but for repurposing and distributing content across platforms.
If your goal is to quickly transcribe audio from long-form recordings and create accurate transcriptions for republishing, Riverside's built-in tool offers a streamlined solution—especially when paired with their high-quality video recording workflow.
Who is Riverside best suited for? Riverside.fm is a powerful platform that goes beyond just recording and audio transcription. Its built-in AI transcription feature is part of a broader ecosystem that includes text-based editing, speaker separation, and Magic Clips—a tool that uses AI to automatically create shareable short-form highlights from long-form content.
This makes Riverside especially valuable for creators and teams working on long, high-quality productions where automation, post-production tools, and precise editing capabilities are essential.
Ideal for: Podcast hosts and interviewers : If you regularly produce long-form conversations and need a streamlined workflow to transcribe audio and create social content, Riverside's integrated tools deliver both accuracy and convenience.Video educators and explainers : For teachers, coaches , or YouTubers producing detailed tutorials or educational series, Riverside’s user-friendly interface and transcript export options (like SRT, TXT, and VTT) make repurposing content fast and scalable.Agencies producing webinars and long-form video content : Agencies working with clients in B2B or media spaces will benefit from Riverside’s reliable video recording, accurate transcriptions, and batch processing features.Creators who prioritize precision : While it’s not the fastest system on the market, Riverside is ideal for those who value high-quality transcripts over instant turnaround. The platform’s AI transcription tool is tuned for clarity and speaker distinction, making it great for interviews, panels, and webinars.In short: if your content is long-form, accuracy is your top priority, and you're already using Riverside for video recording, the transcription feature adds significant value to your content creation process.
How accurate is Riverside’s transcription? Riverside claims up to 95% accuracy under ideal recording conditions. For most users working with high-quality audio—think clear speech, minimal background noise, and well-isolated tracks—the platform delivers strong results. It’s especially reliable for video transcription, podcasts, and long-form speech to text use cases.
However, accuracy can dip when:
Multiple speakers overlap There’s ambient or background noise The dialogue is informal, fast-paced, or includes regional accents The platform’s AI transcription does include a built-in editor, but if you're producing clips from longer conversations or fast-moving formats, editing can become time-consuming.
By comparison, Submagic’s AI technology offers 98.9% accuracy, specifically optimized for short, mobile-first video files—but more on that next.
Where Submagic fits in: Built for short-form creators If you’re not just transcribing for notes—but planning to repurpose video into Reels, Shorts, or TikToks—then your needs go beyond a basic transcription service.
That’s where tools like Submagic stand out.
While Riverside excels at transcribing podcasts and webinars, Submagic is built for creators who want to:
Transcribe, style, and export clips quickly Turn podcast content into short-form social videos Add branded open subtitles (fonts, colors, animations) Work inside a single, fast workflow Submagic uses AI-powered transcription and editing to make content creation seamless for social platforms. And it’s worth noting that the transcription accuracy is also strong, comparable to Riverside in most cases—with the added benefit of real-time subtitle styling and video exports.
Feature comparison: Riverside vs Submagic
Feature
Riverside.fm
Submagic
AI transcription
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Accuracy rating
90–95%
98.90%
Best for
Podcasts, webinars
Short-form video, social media
Speaker labels
✅ Yes
❌ Not focused on
File formats
.srt, .txt, .vtt
.srt, .txt, video export
Editing capabilities
Text-based editing
Clip editing, trimming, zooms
Clip creation
✅ Magic Clips
✅ AI-driven clipping for Shorts
Customization
❌ None
✅ Fonts, colors, styles
Use cases
Long-form, studio content
Social-first, branded content
Pricing
Subscription required
Free plan + paid features
Workflow speed
Slower for short clips
Fast, optimized for TikTok/Reels
Submagic is better for AI transcriptions Submagic's clipping tool: Create Shorts from long-form content like podcasts One standout feature is Submagic’s auto-clip generator. You can upload a full podcast, and Submagic will:
Identify viral-worthy segments Clip them automatically Add subtitles, zooms, and visual effects Export platform-ready content in seconds This tool is ideal for turning one long-form recording into dozens of snackable, high-performing short videos—perfect for building presence on TikTok, Instagram Reels, LinkedIn, or YouTube Shorts.
Honest pros and cons of Riverside's AI transcription Pros Great transcription accuracy (in good conditions) Text-based editing is useful for trimming long videos Exports clean transcripts in standard file types Integrates directly with Riverside recordings and Magic Clips Cons Limited subtitle styling—no fonts, colors, or animation Not optimized for short-form workflows Requires you to download and re-edit clips in another video editor Best suited for long content rather than rapid-fire social video Riverside can be pricey. Here’s the pricing plan breakdown. Free Plan: Cost: $0 per month Multi-track Recording: 2 hours of separate audio and video tracks (one-off) Single-track Recording & Editing: Unlimited Video Calls: Unlimited duration Video Quality: Up to 720p Audio Quality: 44.1 kHz Watermark: Riverside watermark on exported files Key Features: Full suite of editing tools, Magic Clips Standard Plan: Cost: $19 per month (or $15 per month billed annually at $180) Multi-track Recording: 5 hours of separate audio and video tracks per month Everything in Free, plus:Video Quality: Up to 4K Audio Quality: 48 kHz Watermark: No watermark on exported files (watermark during live streams) Smooth Speech & Set Pace: AI tools for audio editing Image & Text Overlays Pro Plan (Most Popular): Cost: $29 per month (or $24 per month billed annually at $288) Multi-track Recording: 15 hours of separate audio and video tracks per month Everything in Standard, plus:No limit on edits Magic Audio: AI-powered audio enhancement AI Transcriptions: 100+ languages AI Generated Show Notes Magic Clips controls AI Voice: Generate speech in your own voice Teleprompter (for host) Music & Video Overlays Full Brand Kit Live Plan: Cost: $39 per month (or $34 per month billed annually at $408) Multi-track Recording: 15 hours of separate audio and video tracks per month Everything in Pro, plus:Multistream on unlimited channels Omnichat Hide/show participants Custom RTMP Lower thirds Accept Live call-ins Live stream in Full HD (1080p) Business Plan: Cost: Custom pricing (Book a demo for a quote) Features: Designed for companies producing video content in-house. Includes everything in the Live plan, plus:Unlimited transcriptions Production workspaces for team collaboration Advanced editing capabilities Live Studio add-on included, plus lobby branding Producer mode controls Custom frame rates Priority support Customized onboarding & dedicated Customer Success Manager SSO (Okta, Azure, etc.) SOC2 Type II & ISO27001 certified Choose based on your content goals If your priority is podcasting, webinars, or publishing long-form content with clean transcripts, Riverside’s transcription tool is one of the best available—particularly if you're already recording with their platform.
But if your goal is social media growth, branded video creation, or clipping highlights from long content, Submagic is more streamlined.
You don’t just get ai transcription—you get styling, editing, and export in one fast system, purpose-built for:
TikTok YouTube Shorts Reels LinkedIn videos Bottom line Use Riverside.fm if:
You need detailed transcripts for podcast episodes You work with long-form content You want integrated tools for show notes or blog content Use Submagic if:
You’re creating short, high-performing clips You want to streamline the time spent editing and styling You need a transcription + captioning workflow in one tool Want to see how Submagic works? ✅ Try Submagic for free — no credit card required.
