Matt Marlinski

Riverside records each participant locally on their device in up to 4K video and 48kHz audio, so a guest's weak internet connection won't ruin the recording. The platform also includes AI-powered editing tools, automatic transcription, and a clip generator for social media content. Widely considered the top remote recording platform for podcasters who need reliable, high-quality multi-track output.

Descript lets you edit audio and video by editing a transcript, turning post-production into something closer to working in a text document than a traditional DAW. It includes AI-powered filler word removal, background noise reduction, and automatic show notes generation, all inside one platform. Now includes SquadCast (rebranded as Descript Rooms) for built-in remote recording with progressive uploads.

Zencastr combines browser-based recording, AI-powered editing, hosting, distribution, and monetization into a single dashboard starting at $20 per month. It reduces dependency on a guest's internet connection by recording locally, which means fewer lost interviews and cleaner audio. A strong option for solo podcasters or small teams who want one tool to handle the entire production chain.

SquadCast records all participants locally in separate audio and video tracks, with progressive uploads that continuously back up files to the cloud during the session. Guests don't need an account to join, and the Green Room experience helps them feel comfortable before recording starts. Now included free with every Descript subscription, making it easy to move from recording straight into text-based editing.

Adobe Podcast lets you send a link to remote guests and record directly in the browser, saving each participant's audio locally as a high-quality WAV file. The platform includes transcript-based editing and AI audio enhancement, making it a solid free starting point for new podcasters.

Zoom remains the easiest option for remote podcast interviews because nearly every guest already knows how to use it, which eliminates onboarding friction entirely. Audio quality can be improved by enabling separate audio tracks per participant, using the original sound setting, and asking guests to use a dedicated microphone. Best for podcasters who prioritize simplicity and guest comfort over maximum audio fidelity.

The studio I co-founded runs 3 x 4K cinema cameras, 4 industry-standard microphones, a broadcast switcher, 3 backdrop options with customizable LED lighting, and 1 Gig upload for live and remote recording. This is the production standard I built to serve top-tier finance and tech podcasters in Midtown East. Use it as a benchmark when evaluating your own studio investments.

The platform I rely on for high-quality remote guest sessions. We run it at The Manhattan Lab on a 1 Gig upload infrastructure, and I recommend it to every remote production client. It records each participant's audio and video locally, which eliminates the quality degradation you get from standard video calls. If your remote guests sound worse than your in-studio guests, this is the fix.

The broadcast switcher category I work with at The Manhattan Lab is anchored by Blackmagic's ATEM line. The standard for professional multi-camera podcast and live streaming setups. It lets you switch between camera angles live, which is what gives a multi-camera show its dynamic, broadcast feel without a full production crew.

The SM7dB is the microphone I see more than any other in professional podcast production. Warm, broadcast-quality sound with a forgiving polar pattern that works well even in partially treated rooms. If your audio doesn't sound right, the microphone is usually the first thing I look at.

Flat, even key lighting is one of the most immediately visible differences between a home setup and a professional one -- and it is the first thing I recommend to creators upgrading their studio. The Elgato Key Light gives you warm, app-controlled lighting in a form factor that works in most rooms without major rigging. Pair it with a softbox fill light on the opposite side, and you eliminate the harsh shadows that make most home studios look amateurish.

My condenser recommendation for studios with proper acoustic treatment. Brighter and more detailed than the SM7dB, and exceptional for solo hosts who record in a controlled environment. When the room is treated, and the host stays consistently on the mic, the NT1 captures a level of clarity that dynamics can't match.

One of the most widely followed independent finance podcasts, featuring daily conversations with investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. I've been Anthony's producer since the show launched, helping scale it to millions of downloads and a globally recognized format. The show's growth is part of what pushed me to co-found The Manhattan Lab. NYC needed a studio built for this kind of production.

Anthony's daily video format, which I produce and direct out of The Manhattan Lab studio in Midtown East. It brings the same finance and business perspective as The Pomp Podcast in a shorter, high-production-value video format built for YouTube. This is a good example of what I build when consistency and production quality are both non-negotiable.

Anthony's primary distribution channel for daily commentary on business, finance, and investing. Following this profile gives you context for the kind of audience I build production operations to serve: fast-moving, high-information, financially literate.

A long-form interview show covering markets, macroeconomics, and investing, with several episodes produced out of The Manhattan Lab. The channel has grown to 54K+ subscribers and 17M+ minutes of watch time -- one of the more consistent finance video podcast operations running out of NYC right now. You can see my production work in the studio setup, multi-camera execution, and edit quality throughout the channel.

One of the most influential tech and politics publications in independent media, and one of the shows I work on as Video Director. Pirate Wires covers Silicon Valley culture, tech policy, and the intersection of technology and power at a level most mainstream outlets don't attempt. This one reflects the range of what I do beyond finance: from high-volume daily shows to editorially-driven independent media.

The studio I co-founded in Midtown East at 52nd and Lexington, built specifically to solve the production quality gap I kept running into in NYC's independent media scene. We run 3 x 4K cinema cameras, 4 industry-standard microphones, a broadcast switcher, 3 backdrop variations with customizable LED lighting, and 1 Gig upload for live and remote recording. Files are delivered within 2 hours. A standard I built into the studio from day one.