Is your internet ready to record?
Test your connection, then see if it's fast enough to record a podcast or interview on Riverside or Descript, and which settings to use at your speed.
Your host asked you to check your connection before your recording. It takes about 30 seconds. When it's done, follow the tips under your results.
Close other tabs and pause big downloads first for the most accurate result.
Very fast connections, especially uploads above a few hundred Mbps, may read lower than your true speed. Speeds in the range that matters for recording on Riverside or Descript are measured accurately.
Your results
Best settings at your speed
What internet speed do you need to record a podcast?
Upload speed is the number to watch. Download speed brings your guest's video to you, but upload carries your video and voice to them, and later sends your full-quality files to the cloud. Most home internet plans have plenty of download speed and much less upload.
| Platform | Download | Upload | 4K video |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | 10+ Mbps | 5+ Mbps, 10 recommended | 30+ Mbps upload |
| Descript Rooms | 10+ Mbps | 10+ Mbps, 20 recommended | 30+ Mbps upload |
From each platform's own help pages, checked November 11, 2026. Riverside publishes only a minimum, so the 10 Mbps "recommended" upload and the 4K figure for Riverside are our own guidance from recording client shows.
Why local recording matters on a slow connection
Riverside and Descript Rooms record each person's audio and video on their own computer, then upload it. So if the call freezes for a second, the recording doesn't. We've done hundreds of recordings on Riverside, including sessions where a guest had very poor internet. Turning on low data mode and pausing the video upload until after the recording kept those sessions on track. Read more in our guide to local vs cloud recording.
How to get a better result
- Plug in. An Ethernet cable is the single biggest upgrade for most people.
- Get close to the router if you have to use Wi-Fi, and keep walls out of the way.
- Pause everything else: cloud backups (iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive), game downloads, other people streaming.
- Close other browser tabs and apps, especially other video calls.
- Test at the time you'll record. Evenings are often slower in busy neighborhoods.
Planning your first remote show? Start with how to record a podcast remotely, and see Riverside vs Descript to choose a platform.
Questions
What internet speed do I need to record a podcast remotely?
For Riverside, more than 10 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload. For Descript Rooms, at least 10 Mbps each way, with 20 Mbps recommended and 30 Mbps upload for 4K. Upload speed matters most, because that is what carries your video to your guest and your recording to the cloud.
Does a slow connection ruin the recording?
Not on platforms that record locally. Riverside and Descript Rooms record each person on their own computer, so the file stays clean even if the live call stutters. A slow connection mostly affects the live conversation and how long the files take to upload afterward.
Is Wi-Fi good enough for podcast recording?
Often, but a wired Ethernet connection is steadier. Wi-Fi speed drops with distance and walls, and other devices on the network compete for it. If you have to use Wi-Fi, sit close to the router and pause cloud backups and other uploads while you record.
What is a good ping for remote recording?
Under 50 ms feels like being in the same room. Up to about 100 ms is fine. Above that, you may talk over each other, so leave a little more space between turns. Ping does not affect the quality of local recordings.
How accurate is this test?
It runs Cloudflare's open-source speed test engine, the same one behind speed.cloudflare.com, against Cloudflare's nearest data center. On very fast fiber plans, apps like Speedtest by Ookla can show higher numbers and a lower ping, because they often test against a server inside your own internet provider. Riverside and Descript connect across the wider internet, so this result is closer to what your recording actually gets. Speeds change with the time of day and what else is on your network, so test when you plan to record.
Need help producing a podcast for your business? See our podcast production service.