Virtual interviews have become a standard part of corporate video production. They are convenient, fast, and familiar. But too often, companies spend a lot of time preparing for an interview, only to discover afterward that the footage is unusable or seriously compromised.
This happens most often when interviews have a common denominator – they were all recorded directly in Zoom.
We recently worked with a client who invested a lot of time coordinating and recording a virtual interview, only to find that the video was limited to 360p resolution and one participant’s audio was out of sync. At that point, there is no fix. Editing cannot restore quality that was never captured. Even professional video editing in Washington D.C. cannot recover resolution or audio clarity that wasn’t properly recorded.
Here is why this happens, and why platforms like Riverside or an in-studio shoot are usually the better choice when quality matters.
Zoom Is Built for Meetings, Not Production
Zoom’s priority is reliability across thousands of internet conditions, not media quality. Zoom is amazing for what it does and is supposed to do. However, that is not video production.
To keep calls stable, Zoom aggressively compresses video and audio in real time. Resolution can drop automatically without warning. Frame rates fluctuate. Audio is optimized for speech clarity, not natural tone, and is often recorded at a lower bitrate.
Even if the call looks acceptable live, the recorded file may be far worse than expected.
Some of the common Zoom recording issues we run into include:
- Video resolution often automatically dropping to 360p or lower
- Audio drifting out of sync over time
- Compression artifacts that cannot be removed
- Inconsistent lighting and color between speakers
- No access to isolated, high-quality audio tracks
Once the recording ends, those limitations are baked in permanently, and there is no fix.
Why Platforms Like Riverside Deliver Better Results
Platforms such as Riverside are designed specifically for recording interviews, podcasts, and professional video remotely.
Instead of recording a single compressed stream, Riverside records each participant locally on their own device at full quality, then uploads the files after the session ends. This alone solves many of the problems that Zoom recordings have.
Key advantages of Riverside over Zoom include:
- Up to 4K video resolution per participant
- Separate, high-quality audio tracks for each speaker
- No resolution drops due to internet instability
- Perfect audio sync
- Cleaner files that hold up in post-production
From an editing standpoint, this difference is massive. The footage is sharper, the audio is cleaner, and the final video feels intentional rather than improvised.
Riverside Vs. Zoom – A Real-Life Example
One of our clients recorded an important interview using Zoom. Zoom works well for live video calls, but it’s not ideal for recording interviews intended for post-production. Individual speaker recordings are typically captured at low resolution and are heavily compressed.
In this case, the guest’s audio was several seconds out of sync. Because Zoom processes and mixes audio in real time based on internet conditions, any type of latency or instability in a participant’s connection can result in sync issues or distortion. Once the audio is mixed together, these problems are difficult to correct in post-production.
Platforms like Riverside work better for interviews because they record each participant’s audio and video locally on their own device and then it uploads the files afterward. This results in significantly higher quality recordings and greatly reduces the risk of sync or audio issues.
When Filming in a Studio Is the Best Option
Even with better remote tools like Riverside, there are times when filming in a studio is the right call.
In-studio interviews provide:
- Controlled lighting that flatters subjects
- Professional microphones placed correctly
- Consistent backgrounds and framing
- Direction from a producer or interviewer
- Zero risk of internet-related failures
For executive interviews, client-facing content, recruitment videos, or anything tied to brand perception, studio production eliminates the things that can totally derail a project.
Doing this also saves time. There is no troubleshooting, no coaching someone through microphone settings, and no surprises discovered after the fact.
The Hidden Cost of Poor Interview Quality
The biggest issue with low-quality recordings is not just aesthetics. There are other issues that come into play, too.
When a filmed production has poor video and audio, it does the following:
- Reduce viewer trust
- Make speakers appear less credible
- Distract from the targeted message
- Limit where the video can be used
- Shorten the lifespan of the content
A video recorded at 360p with audio issues may technically exist, but it often cannot be reused on a website, in proposals, at events, or across social platforms. What seemed like a time-saving decision ends up wasting the time spent recording it.
Choosing the Right Approach From the Start
If quality matters, the recording method matters.
Zoom can be fine for internal meetings or quick reference recordings. But for interviews that will represent your organization publicly, it is worth using tools built for production or filming in a controlled environment.
A simple rule of thumb:
- Internal use only: Zoom may be sufficient
- External, brand-facing content: Use Riverside or film in studio
Making this decision early protects your investment of time, avoids costly re-records, and ensures the final video reflects the level of professionalism your organization expects.
DC Corporate Video Offers Exceptional Recorded Videos
If you are looking for an affordable and knowledgeable company to work with to record your next interview, give us a call. We can help by working with you to find the perfect space, location, and best of all, give you a better option than Zoom for your recorded interviews.
