Want to start my own Internet Radio Network.

[Ty Ford]

Hello Wayne and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

Try these:

https://www.spreaker.com/page#!/home?sp_track=%2Fsignedup
https://www.ustream.tv/channel/kissradio-online

Regards,

Ty Ford

Cow Audio Forum Leader
Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide

[André Engelhardt]

Hi Wayne,

I used to broadcast my own live concerts using a MacBook Pro, a Motu Ultralite and Rogue Amoeba’s “Nicecast” software to do exactly what you are speaking of.

So you’ll need a computer, audio interface, software and a streaming host (unless you have a very high upload bandwidth) for starters. Licensing etc. is a whole different matter.

Mac software: https://www.rogueamoeba.com/nicecast/
Win software: https://spacial.com/sam-broadcaster

Hope that helps to get you started!

Good luck,

André

—
Audio Engineer, Sound Designer
Video- and Photographer
http://www.andreengelhardt.net

[Wayne Mitchell]

Those are great links. Thanks so much for all the help.

[Richard Crowley]

Don’t gloss over the LICENSING that Mr. Engelhardt mentioned. Possession of a recording (CD, MP3, whatever) does NOT give you the right or license to “broadcast” it. And that applies to live performance, as well. You can research internet “broadcasting” licenses from the usual suspects online (ASCAP, BMI, Harry Fox, etc.)

[Wayne Mitchell]

Really appreciate your reply. The Nicecast software looks like it’s close to what I’m looking for, but it only broadcasts one channel. Do you know of something similar that allows multiple broadcast channels? I prefer Mac, but PC could work as well. Thanks again.

[André Engelhardt]

Hi Wayne, this is a complex topic and you’d probably be best of starting here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_radio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_streaming_media_systems
https://www.wavestreaming.com/articles/how-to-start-an-internet-radio-station.php#legal
https://www.streamsolutions.co.uk/help/server_controls/getting_started

It would also help if you could give some more information on what you’re trying to achieve.

– How many stations (channels)
– What kind of content (music, original, talk, edu)
– Source of content (live production, file based from PC, other devices …)
– How many expected listeners per channel
– Operating time (24/7, ocasionally …)
– Your hardware or budget for hardware
– Bandwidth available (usually minimum bitrate per stream is 96kbps for music, needed bandwidth for 96kbps: 96kbps x (number of listeners) e.g. 96kbps x 20 listeners = 1920kbps. If you don’t have a fast enough upload link you will need to get a streaming host such as linked above (streamsolutions.co.uk) where you stream just one copy of your stream and they duplicate the stream to the listeners. Price is dependent on number of listeners and bitrate.

And again: Licensing also depends on how many listeners, streams, content etc. so that has to go into budget as well.

—
Audio Engineer, Sound Designer
Video- and Photographer
http://www.andreengelhardt.net

[Wayne Mitchell]

Thanks for the response. I’ll try to be as specific as I can without letting the cat of the bag. I’ve been using the Internet radio model as it’s the closest one to what I’m trying to do.

In terms of how many channels of input I’d like to take in, 10 would be ideal but I could live with as little as 5. The content is live, and constant. I want it to connect with the computer via traditional audio (Red & White) inputs.

Here’s the kicker. I don’t want to send it out over the Internet. Instead, over a local wifi network to portable devices/smartphones. I’d like to be able to have some 50ish separate devices be able to connect to any of the various channels.

In terms of budget, I don’t have one. Trying to put together a proposal for a larger concept, and the audio element is a large part of it.

[André Engelhardt]

Alright so the way I can imagine this working is like this *(roughly)*:

– A 10 or 20 input audio interface (10 for mono, 20 for 10 stereo channels) that connects to your computer (the signal should be processed and mixed etc before going into the audio interface so you’ll most likely need either another computer setup for the audio processing or go the analog/hardware way)
– Shoutcast Server https://www.shoutcast.com/broadcast-tools which allows multiple streams / stations / channels

(By the way, the “red & white” inputs I believe you are referring to are RCA connectors. You’ll probably not have much luck hooking up 10 of those to a normal audio interface although I think M-Audio still has the Delta-1010 which might do just that. That’s another topic though 🙂

Hope that helps.

André

—
Audio Engineer, Sound Designer
Video- and Photographer
http://www.andreengelhardt.net