A real-time communication device with an asymmetric mode is disclosed. During a real-time communication session, a communication application executing on the communication device detects an upstream communication channel having insufficient bandwidth to support real-time communications in an upstream direction. Consequently, the communication application enters into an asymmetric mode. In asymmetric mode, as the communication application continues to receive data over a downstream communication channel, the communication application allows a user to record a media clip, and communicate the media clip to a remote communication device over the upstream communication channel at a transfer rate supported by the available bandwidth of the upstream communication channel. Once the media clip is received at the remote communication device, the local communication application facilitates sending a signal to the remote communication device instructing the remote communication device to play the media clip at the remote communication device.