Playback Platforms: Desktop, Web, iOS, and TV Feature Comparison
Compare Playback features across Desktop (macOS and Windows), Web, iOS, and Apple TV, and learn when Remoto Capture Agent is optional.
Written by Sara Griffith
Updated at August 4th, 2026
Table of Contents
Playback is available on multiple platforms so Organizers and Guests can collaborate the way that fits their workflow. This article compares the feature set across Playback Desktop (macOS and Windows), Playback Web, Playback for iOS, and Playback for TV (Apple TV), and clarifies the role of Remoto Capture Agent.
The feature set on Playback Desktop is the same on macOS and Windows. Playback Desktop is required to host and manage sessions. Guests may join from Desktop, a supported web browser, iOS, or Apple TV. Browser joining is unavailable when the session uses a 16-channel audio layout.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Desktop (macOS & Windows) | Playback Web | Playback for iOS | Playback for TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Organizer and Guest | Guest | Guest | Guest |
| Create / schedule sessions | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Host / stream sessions | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Join as Guest / view stream | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Session dashboard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video chat | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Text chat | Yes | No | No | No |
| Screen sharing during video chat | Yes | No | No | No |
| On-screen annotations | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Timecoded markers | Yes | No | No | No |
| Manual A/V sync adjustment | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Multichannel audio (5.1 / 7.1) | Full discrete / surround | Stereo fold-down | Automatic stereo fold-down | Surround passthrough when connected to a capable receiver; stereo fold-down otherwise |
| 16-channel sessions | Yes (up to 16 discrete) | Not supported | Yes (select stereo pair to monitor) | Yes (select stereo pair to monitor) |
| H.265 / high-quality native stream | Yes | WebRTC (H.264 or H.265 depending on session/browser) | Yes | Yes |
| Control Remoto Capture Agent | Yes | No | No | No |
| Installation required | Yes | No (Chrome or Edge) | Yes (App Store) | Yes (App Store) |
| Supported OS / device | macOS 12.1+; Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | Chrome or Edge on macOS or Windows | iOS / iPadOS 15.1+ | tvOS 15.1+ (Apple TV 4th gen or later) |
Notes: Guests can join from Playback Web by default. If the Organizer selects 16 discrete audio channels as the streaming audio layout, browser joining is not available for that session—Guests should use Desktop, iOS, or Apple TV instead. Text chat and screen sharing during video chat are available in Playback Desktop only.
Choosing a platform
- Playback Desktop (macOS or Windows) — Full feature set for Organizers and Guests. Required to create, schedule, and host sessions. Best for markers, text chat, screen sharing, full multichannel routing, and production workflows.
- Playback Web — Lightweight Guest access with no install. Supports viewing the stream, video chat, on-screen annotations, and manual A/V sync (audio offset). Text chat, screen sharing, and timecoded markers are not available. Not available for sessions that use a 16-channel audio layout.
- Playback for iOS — Portable Guest review on iPhone and iPad, including video chat and on-screen annotations. Text chat, screen sharing, and timecoded markers are not available.
- Playback for TV — Large-screen Guest viewing for conference rooms and screening rooms. Optimized for watching and listening; no video chat, text chat, annotations, markers, or screen sharing.
Remoto Capture Agent is optional
Remoto Capture Agent (RCA) is a companion application. It is not required for normal Playback operation or day-to-day sessions.
Most Organizers host sessions entirely from Playback Desktop: capture, encoding, streaming, and conference control all run on the same computer. You can schedule sessions, invite Guests, start streaming, and collaborate without installing or using Remoto Capture Agent.
RCA is an optional companion for advanced production workflows where you want to separate capture from session control—for example:
- Capture and encode on a dedicated studio machine while the Organizer manages the session from another computer
- Offload heavy encoding from the conferencing machine
- Use registered capture agents across studio workstations or rental systems (Team Account)
When RCA is used, Remoto Playback still manages authentication, sessions, and participants. The Capture Agent only handles capture and publishing on the source machine when instructed by Playback Desktop. RCA does not replace Playback Desktop and cannot create or manage sessions on its own.
If you do not need separated capture and control, you can ignore Remoto Capture Agent and continue using Playback Desktop alone.
For setup details when you do need RCA, see the Remoto Capture Agent User Guide.
Multichannel audio by platform
- Playback Desktop (Organizer and Guest on macOS or Windows): Up to 16 discrete channels when configured for a 16-channel session.
- Playback Mobile (iOS): Surround sessions (5.1 / 7.1) are automatically folded down to stereo. For 16-channel sessions, Guests select which stereo pair to monitor (default: channels 1+2).
- Playback for Apple TV: For surround sessions (5.1 / 7.1), Apple TV passes surround audio through to a connected receiver when the receiver supports it; otherwise, the mix is folded down to stereo. For 16-channel sessions, Guests select which stereo pair to monitor (default: channels 1+2).
- Browser-based joining (Playback Web): Does not support 16-channel sessions. When an Organizer selects 16 discrete channels as the streaming audio layout, they are notified that browser joining is not available. Guests should join from Desktop, Mobile, or Apple TV. For 5.1 and 7.1 sessions, browser clients receive multichannel audio via WebRTC and output stereo.