The on-device alternative to Descript and Riverside.
Silo Cast is a multitrack podcast recorder for macOS. It records one track per selected input, transcribes on your Mac, lets you correct speakers and wording, and cuts the episode from ticked transcript lines into a new edited M4A. Transcript corrections do not alter the source audio.
Silo Cast vs Descript.
on-device · vs cloud| Dimension | Silo Cast | Cloud (Descript, Riverside) |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | On your Mac by default (Apple Silicon, offline) | Their servers |
| Your recordings | Never leave your Mac | Uploaded & stored |
| Account | None required | Required |
| Pricing | One-time $19.99 | Monthly subscription |
| Transcript corrections | Speaker and wording edits; source audio unchanged | Varies by service |
| Cutting the episode | Tick transcript lines, preview the join, render a new M4A | Varies by service |
| Multi-input capture | One track per selected input device | Varies / remote record |
| Show notes & chapters | Drafted on your Mac; optional own cloud key | Generated in the cloud |
| Works without internet | Yes | No |
Cloud column reflects the typical architecture of Descript and similar hosted tools. Names are trademarks of their owners; not affiliated.
Descript alternative, answered.
Silo Cast · on-deviceFor private multitrack recording, transcription, cutting the episode from its transcript, and release preparation, yes. It is not a drop-in replacement for every Descript feature: corrections to the transcript text never change the recording, cuts render a new M4A instead of rewriting your originals, and it is not a remote recording or hosting service.
No. Silo Cast lets you correct speaker labels and transcript wording, but those edits do not alter, cut, or replace the source audio. To remove a stretch, tick its transcript lines as a cut, preview the join, and render a new edited M4A with a JSON edit list; the originals stay untouched.
No. Silo Cast is a one-time $19.99 purchase with unlimited local recording, transcription and rendering. Descript and Riverside charge recurring subscriptions.
No. Recording, transcription, cuts and renders run on your Mac, and your audio stays in the app container or the export folder you choose. Show-note drafting is on-device too unless you opt in to your own cloud AI key, which sends only the episode title and transcript text to the provider you chose.
Keep your work on your Mac.
Silo Cast: $19.99 one-time · no subscription. No subscription, no account, and nothing uploaded unless you add your own key: an on-device-first alternative to Descript.