Encoding to Windows Media

[MusicTampaBay]

Is there anything in the Winamp configuration that will result in a better quality stream when used with Windows Media Encoder?

I am using Winamp (which works great) to feed audio to BOTH Shoutcast and Windows Media Encoder, for streaming through 2 seperate web servers. The Shoutcast stream at 64kbps works fine, but the Windows Media stream at 37kbps (which the Encoder claims is "FM Quality) results in poor quality playback. Same at 45 kbps. I did a trial run with SAM Broadcaster using their Windows Media encoding system and found the audio quality comparable to the Shoutcast stream, so I don't believe the problem is with my limited bandwidth (currently 48kpbs) through my web server. But it just doesn't seem to work using the Microsoft Windows Encoder directly linked to Winamp.

Is there a forum for Winamp users who stream audio through Windows Media?

[Sawg]

SHOUTcast does not support streaming in Windows Media. If you are using some other encoder, contact them for support. SHOUTcast only support MP3 and AACPlus (and NSV for video)

[dotme]

I stream through Windows Media. I'm pleased with the audio quality. I take a 128k MP3 stream from a shoutcast server, pull it to Winamp and use the Spacial Encoders plugin for winamp to send the output to Windows Media servers.

So if Winamp is your chosen platform for sourcing, I would recommend Spacial's DSP plugin. It will encode MP3 to shoutcast servers and WMA to windows media servers. Less expensive than SAM, and works well. (Hi Rick...)

[gameplaya15143]

Both oddcast2 and jetcast dsp's can encode wma (for free too).

WMA is cruddy quality till about 96kbps no matter what you do.