Tributary

Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

What Tributary is

Tributary is a browser-based remote recording studio for capturing audio and video with separate synchronized tracks for each participant, along with mixed exports. A host creates a studio and session; guests can join by invite link without creating an account. Recordings are saved in chunks to IndexedDB before upload, with retry and recovery support if an interruption or crashed tab disrupts a session. The editor includes trimming, cuts, transcript-based word editing, and social clip formats. Per-track transcription uses whisper.cpp, with speaker-labeled TXT, SRT, and VTT downloads. Users can stream to RTMP destinations such as YouTube, Twitch, or custom endpoints, and export XML timelines for Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. The CLI exposes transcripts, word timestamps, cuts, clips, downloads, and enhancement through JSON commands; the project says it has no LLM dependency. Tributary is free and MIT-licensed. Self-hosting requires Node 20 or newer, pnpm, and ffmpeg/ffprobe; production sessions with remote guests require HTTPS.

Who it suits

Tributary suits teams recording remote interviews or other multi-participant audio and video who want separate tracks and editing or export options. Self-hosters should be prepared to meet its software requirements and configure HTTPS for production sessions with remote guests.

What it does well

Guests can join by invite link without an account.
Recordings support retry and recovery after interruptions.
Exports include synchronized tracks and mixed audio and video.
Per-track transcripts support TXT, SRT, and VTT.
Free, open-source software with an MIT license.

What to know first

Self-hosting requires Node 20 or newer, pnpm, and ffmpeg/ffprobe.
Production remote sessions require HTTPS.
Mesh WebRTC is described as suitable for about six participants.
The mobile app is an early shell, not a polished native app.

Limits

The documented setup requires Node 20 or newer, pnpm and ffmpeg/ffprobe, and production use with remote guests requires HTTPS. Mesh WebRTC is described as suitable for about six participants; LiveKit SFU mode is available for larger rooms. The mobile app is an early Expo shell rather than a polished native app.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Tributary	Open-source · self-hosted	Free

As github.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the project at https://github.com/Realmullens/tributary.
Install Node 20 or newer, pnpm and ffmpeg/ffprobe for the quick start.
Self-host Tributary; use HTTPS for production sessions with remote guests.
Create a studio and session, then share the invite link with guests.
Record in the browser and use the editor for cuts, trimming, transcript editing or exports.

Verdict

Tributary combines browser recording, per-participant tracks, transcription, editing, and export options in a free, self-hostable project. Its setup requirements, room-size considerations, and early-stage mobile app are worth weighing before choosing it.

Questions

How much does Tributary cost?

The Tributary plan is free. The project identifies it as open-source and self-hosted.

Do guests need an account?

No. Hosts create studios and sessions, and guests can join with an invite link without an account.

What platforms does Tributary support?

It is browser-based and can be self-hosted. The project describes its mobile app as an early Expo shell, not a polished native app.

What license does Tributary use?

The project identifies Tributary as MIT-licensed.

What is needed to self-host it?

The quick start requires Node 20 or newer, pnpm and ffmpeg/ffprobe. Production use with remote guests requires HTTPS.

Who makes Tributary?

The GitHub repository is owned by GitHub user Realmullens.

Facts from Tributary's own pages

AI tooling: The Tributary CLI exposes transcripts, word timestamps, cuts, clips, downloads, and enhancement as JSON commands, and the project says no LLM dependency ships with it. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Editing and exports: The editor supports trimming, cuts, transcript-based word editing, social clip formats, and mixed audio and video exports. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Guest access: Hosts create studios and sessions, while guests can join with an invite link without an account. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Integrations: It can stream to RTMP destinations such as YouTube, Twitch, or custom endpoints, and export XML timelines for Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Maker: The repository is owned by GitHub user Realmullens. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Mobile status: The project describes its mobile app as an early Expo shell and says it is not yet a polished native app. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose: Tributary is an open-source, browser-based remote recording studio that records each participant locally and produces separate synchronized tracks and mixed exports. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Recording: Each participant’s recording is saved in chunks to IndexedDB before upload, with retry and recovery support for interruptions and crashed tabs. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Room size: Mesh WebRTC is described as suitable for about six participants; LiveKit SFU mode is available for larger rooms. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Security and connectivity: The deployment guide says TURN relaying may be needed for guests behind symmetric NATs or strict corporate firewalls, while recording remains locally captured and uploaded over HTTPS. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Self-hosting requirements: The project’s quick start requires Node 20 or newer, pnpm, and ffmpeg/ffprobe; production use with remote guests requires HTTPS. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Storage and scaling: The documented architecture stores media on local disk and uses an in-process job queue, with S3 and an external queue identified as scaling alternatives. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Support and licensing: The GitHub repository links to contribution instructions and identifies the project as MIT-licensed. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Transcription: Per-track transcription uses whisper.cpp and supports TXT, SRT, and VTT downloads with speaker labels. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026