Problems with .asx files (Not a n00b question)

[Nieekk]

Hi there,

I'm trying to run Shoutcast on my ClarkConnect 3.2 (Linux) server. Everything is running well except the fact that I can't create a working .asx file.

http://nlhop.nl/aa.asx

Source of this .asx file:

<ASX version = "3.0">
<Entry>
<REF HREF="http://88.159.165.154:8000"/>
</Entry>
</ASX>

Connecting to http://88.159.165.154:8000 with Winamp works fine. Opening that .asx file with Winamp works also fine. But if I want to open that same .asx file with Windows Media Player, it keeps buffering.

I have put the following in my .htacces:

AddType text/plain txt
AddType text/hackerdork dork
AddType audio/mpeg mp3
AddType audio/x-mpegurl m3u
AddType audio/x-ms-wma wma
AddType audio/x-ms-wax wax
AddType video/x-ms-asf asf
AddType video/x-ms-asx asx
AddType video/x-ms-wmv wmv
AddType video/x-ms-wvx wvx
AddType video/x-ms-wmx wmx
AddType application/ogg ogm
AddType application/ogg ogg
AddType audio/x-pn-realaudio ram
AddType audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin rpm
AddType audio/x-pn-realaudio ra
AddType audio/x-pn-realaudio rm

How can I make that .asx file work with Windows Media Player?

Thanks in advance.

[Sawg]

Try http://88.159.165.154:8000/ for the URL.

Yes, WMP is that picky it wants the trailing slash.

[Nieekk]

Unfortunately, it doesn't make any sens. WMP keeps buffering.. (You can try it youself: w w w.nlhop.nl/aa.asx )

[djSpinnerCee]

The .asx or any other launch file does not cause buffering -- if other launch files and players work, the WMP version may not support SHOUTcast [<10.xxx] -- rt.click the WMP window that opens, and look for an "Error Details" tab.

WMP is always gonna be problamatic, so don't waste too much time fussin' with it. Just about every other player you can find is better than WMP for playing SHOUTcast.

[Nieekk]

Ok, that is actually not such a big problem. But is it possible to embed a .pls file on your website, without converting it to .asx? So everybody can listen to it, even if they havent got Winamp?

[djSpinnerCee]

No. What you have to understand is that an .asx requires that the person viewing the page has WMP -- So don't expect anyone with *NIX or a MAC to even see any embedded WMP player you include on your site.

I know EMBEDs look cool, but simple links to the launch files [.pls, .ram, .m3u, etc...] will give your listeners the best chance of being able to listen because they will invoke the visitor's browser's configured player -- if you assume that they have anything, you'll find that listener's will have trouble.

The simple /listen.pls link can launch iTunes, RealPlayer, MusicMatch, and a host of other lesser-known but common players. But always remember, you cannot choose what the listeners will use -- that is totally dependent on their local settings, that Power Users will change, and others will leave at something that is probably the last player installed. So it's not a good idea to assume in any way what happens on your PC will happen on anyone else's box.

That's just the way it IS.

[Nieekk]

It should be possible, a lot of Linux servers are allowed to create .asx files.. And buying a Windows Server edition will not be cheap, so isn't there really a way?