Intro file

[stee]

Got a bit of a weirdy problem....

When I run my station with an intro track specified, the intro track plays no problem, the user is then disconnected from the server (as if there`s no stream to play after the intro file finishes).

I`ve tried running the server with no intro track specified and my users can connect no problem.

Anyone got any idea`s?

Peace

[Tom]

The sample frequency does not match that of the stream (i.e. intro is at 44 kHz and stream is at 22 kHz). The solution is to reencode your introfile so it matches the bitrate, frequency and same number of channels as your stream.

Tom

[stee]

Cheers Tom (reckon that`s a bit of a noobie mistake I already knew the freq`s had to be the same but I obviously did`nt check properly)....I`ll give `er a blast and let you know.

Thanks for your time
Peace

[stee]

I have re-jigged my intro file but not had a chance to test it.
Does this mean all the other mp3`s on my playlist need to be at the frequency that I`m transmitting or do I not need to bother. I ask because I notice I`m still having problems (i.e, people getting connected for 8 seconds and then the connection drops)...I`m broadcasting at 22.050khz mono (24kbps) and my mp3`s mostly are
44khz 128kbps....should I re-encode them to the same as my broadcast rate?

Cheers guys

[FesterHead]

Only the intro, if specified, needs to be at the same bitrate, frequency and same number of channels of your stream.

The DSP will re-encode on the fly your mp3s to your selected streaming bitrate. Since the introfile is handled on the DNAS side, it needs to match your stream or things get borked up.

[stee]

cheers Fester!

[Zuccini]

Festerhead, how do you determine what your correct bit rate is? I just went with a bit rate of 24, which allows for a whole 10 listeners. I have DSL, should I raise my bit rate and if so to how much? Also I edited my intro.mp3 file to a 24 bit rate and all the music that plays afterwards sounds just like chipmunks. Any ideas why and what I did wrong. If I disable the intro.mp3 everthing sounds fine. Where does the playlist come in to the whole thing? Can actually have a .txt file with the songs you want to play and in what order? What exactly is the paylist for? Is the palylist considered what you have within your Winamp playlist? If so is there anyway to organize your music in that list alphabetically? It seems to up to a degree but then it misses a lot too. I am currently using GoldWave to edit my mp3s, will it work for me in the long term or should I begin using another program in place of it? Thanks for any help you may provide.

[FesterHead]

Q: how do you determine what your correct bit rate is?
A: The bitrate is up to you. Choose a bitrate that can serve the number of maximum connected listeners you want with your available upload bandwidth. See below for bandwidth bot.

S: I just went with a bit rate of 24, which allows for a whole 10 listeners.
R: Check the bandwidth calculators to be sure.

Q: I have DSL, should I raise my bit rate and if so to how much?
A: The higher you raise it, ht eless you can serve. See #1.

Q: Also I edited my intro.mp3 file to a 24 bit rate and all the music that plays afterwards sounds just like chipmunks. Any ideas why and what I did wrong.
A: The introfile's sample rate (22kHz, 44kHz for example) and number of channels (mono, stereo) needs to match the target stream. If they don't, expect "Bad Things" such as chipmunk sounds.

Q: Where does the playlist come in to the whole thing?
A: You play your playlist

Q: Can actually have a .txt file with the songs you want to play and in what order?
A: Playlists have a pls or m3u extension. If you hand create one, make sure it follows the M3U/PLS specification.

Q: What exactly is the paylist for?
A: To list what you are going to play

Q: Is the palylist considered what you have within your Winamp playlist?
A: Traditionally, yes. However, after you add songs to the Winamp playlist editor (with Winamp the active application, press ALT+E) you need to save it (With Winamp the active application and the playlist editor visible, left click the lower right button "LIST OPTS" and select "SAVE LIST").

Q: is there anyway to organize your music in that list alphabetically?
A: With Winamp the active application and the playlist editor visible, left click the middle bottom button "MISC" and select "SORT LIST".

S: It seems to up to a degree but then it misses a lot too.
R: Change the titles displayed in the playlist editor. With Winamp the active application, press CTRL+P. On the left side under "Plug-ins", select "Input". In the list of "Input Plug-ins" double click the Nullsoft MPEG Audio Decoder. Navigate to to "Title" tab. Change the title display to your liking.

Q: I am currently using GoldWave to edit my mp3s, will it work for me in the long term or should I begin using another program in place of it?
A: If you like it and it doesn't bork your files, then continue to use it.

*****

Check out the Sticky post titled:
SHOUTcast: Important Info & Answers to FAQs. READ ME!

Scroll down a bit and look for the section titled:
1. DNAS Stuff -> Bandwidth -> DSLReports Bandwidth tester(Only be concerned with the UPLOAD bandwidth)
2. DNAS Stuff -> Bandwidth -> CasterClub's Listener Calculator
3. DNAS Stuff -> Bandwidth -> CasterClub's Bandwidth Calculator

Use 1 to find your upload.
Use 2 to determine the number of listeners you can support at your selected streaming bitrate.

Jay (KXRM) also has a Bandwidth Calculator.

[Zuccini]

Thanks for the help. I have done what you have listed and feel more comfortable with how it all works. I have had the service running for a couple of hours and then all of a sudden it locked up. As I restarted Shoutcast and Winamp I receive the message "(source) listening for connection on port 8001" Also down in the lower left-hand corner where it shows how many listeners are connected it reads (0/10(no source)). Obviously no one can connect. I think that means it can't connect to the yp.shoucast.com site. To be able to run shoutcast do you have to be connected to the website? I basically just want to run the service on my LAN and if anyone outside the LAN wants to connect I just give them the external IP address and my firewall forwards them to the correct internal IP. Any ideas why it say no source? Thanks again for the tips.

[FesterHead]

"(source) listening for connection on port 8001" means you need to source the DNAS This is usually accomplished with a Winamp/DSP combo.

Once the DNAS is started, you need to connect your Winamp/DSP combo.

Q: To be able to run shoutcast do you have to be connected to the website?
A: Please elaborate.

S: I basically just want to run the service on my LAN and if anyone outside the LAN wants to connect I just give them the external IP address and my firewall forwards them to the correct internal IP.
R: Exactly!

[Zuccini]

When I asked if I had to be connected to the site I meant to the yp.shoutcast.com site. And as you said, yes, I do have to be connected.

I'm not sure exactly what the DNAS is. Is it titled with "Nullsoft SHOUTcast Server Monitor" once it is open and running? If so then I follow you so far. Is the Winamp/DSP combo simply running Winamp and having the ShoutCast-DSP-1-8-2b plugin? Isn't it what you have to use to be able to broadcast from Winamp? If so I already have it installed. Man I'm so confused. I checked the download section of the Winamp site and found DSP plugins. I've downloaded the Dee2 DSP for Winamp. Now it is asking me to run Wnamp now with Dee2 as the default plug-in. Is that what I'm supposed to be doing? I'm going to give it a try I guess I can always undo it later. Oh man was that a mistake! I put it back to the Nullsoft SHOUT cast Source DSP v1.8.2b DSP/Effect plug-in. Now it says "client main thread starting" but it doesn't connect. When I get removed from the site and need to re-connect do I need to shutdown Winamp and Kill the shoutcast server or what is the best procedure to follow to get re-connected? What would happen if I unchecked the option to "Make this server public"? Could individuals outside my LAN still access the shoutcast server as long as they knew the IP address and port number or would it block them out entirely? Okay, I've been doing a lot of reading tonight and I read a thread where they said to use "Encoder 2" on the SHOUTcast Source setup tab instead of "Encoder 1" because it supposedly has bugs. Maybe that's why it says I've asked to be disconnected and keeps me from being to be able to reconnect in just a few seconds. I may just be grasping at straws now.

It happened again. It was working for about 2 hours and then when I used the microphone to talk inbetween songs Winamp froze up and the shoutcast server said that "I" had asked yp.shoutcast.com to disconnect me. Why did that happen? One more thing, In watching the log I notice the message "yp.shoutcast.com touched!" What is that telling me? I'm trying to be as specific as I can to help you with determining what I'm doing worng so I hope it is helpful. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me understand these issues. Thanks.

[FesterHead]

Q: Is it titled with "Nullsoft SHOUTcast Server Monitor" once it is open and running?
A: Yes. DNAS = Distributed Network Audio Server. The monitor is the GUI version.

Q: Is the Winamp/DSP combo simply running Winamp and having the ShoutCast-DSP-1-8-2b plugin?
A: Yes

Q: Isn't it what you have to use to be able to broadcast from Winamp?
A: It is one way to provide a source to your DNAS.

For starters, just use Winamp and the SHOUTcast DSP plugin without messing with any other DSP plugins. Once your comfortable with the pieces, then start to add others.

Q: When I get removed from the site and need to re-connect do I need to shutdown Winamp and Kill the shoutcast server or what is the best procedure to follow to get re-connected?
A: Pressing the connect button on your Winamp/DSP combo should be sufficient.

Q: What would happen if I unchecked the option to "Make this server public"?
A: Your station won't be listed in the SHOUTcast yellow pages directory at http://www.shoutcast.com

Q: Could individuals outside my LAN still access the shoutcast server as long as they knew the IP address and port number or would it block them out entirely?
A: Exactly.

For the Encode 1 issue, Check out the Sticky post titled:
Known SHOUTcast Bugs: Status and Workarounds

Scroll down a bit and look for the section titled:
DSP :: Encoder 1 Defaults to 24 kbps When Switching Input Device Bug

Q: It was working for about 2 hours and then when I used the microphone to talk inbetween songs Winamp froze up and the shoutcast server said that "I" had asked yp.shoutcast.com to disconnect me. Why did that happen?
A: The DNAS disconnects you from the yp after it doesn't have a source for 30 seconds. Could be a driver problem, trhe encoder problem, network problems, ...

Q: One more thing, In watching the log I notice the message "yp.shoutcast.com touched!" What is that telling me?
A: "yp added me" means your station information (station name, bitrate, maximum number listeners, current number listeners, currently playing song, ...) has been added to the SHOUTcast yp (yellow pages) directory.

"yp touched" means your station information (station name, bitrate, maximum number listeners, current number listeners, currently playing song, ...) has been updated in the SHOUTcast yp directory.

It can take up to 15 minutes after the first "yp touched" message before your station appears from a SHOUTcast yp search.

S: I'm trying to be as specific as I can to help you with determining what I'm doing worng so I hope it is helpful.
R: Me too.

S: I really appreciate you taking the time to help me understand these issues. Thanks.
R: You're welcome