Setting up the DRS 2006 Internet Broadcaster Plugin
After reading the beginners section for Winamp and the DSP Plugin for ShoutCAST Streaming, you will already know what you need to stream with ShoutCAST servers. The professional alternative is the DRS 2006 radio automation software. By using these professional radio tools, you will have countless advantages if you plan a professional radio station. The DRS 2006 allows you to pre-program your radio station and it will let the the playback sound highly professional, just like all the big radio stations. There is much information about the DRS 2006 available on our website at www.radioautomation.com. It is hard to explain what DRS 2006 is with just a few words. For all internet radio stations DRS 2006 already has built in encoder features which let you setup your online ready station on the fly. It can encode mp3, mp3PRO, WMA and Ogg Vorbis. All together and/or as many instances you want to use. It will take anything thats comes from the DRS 2006 playback system and it will then stream it right to your server. Of course it will also take all information and stream it as well, like artists, titles etc. Here is a short overview. For further information take look at our website.

After your streaming server is setup and you have received the necessary login data, you can begin to setup the "Streaming settings" in the DRS 2006 radio automation software V4. To do this you click on "Settings" in the "Common" ribbon and select "Streaming Settings" in the left box.

Streaming Settings SHOUTcast

Below the banner to our DRS 2006 Radio Streamer you will find the controls to setup the streaming encoder instances. You can setup one or even several encoders at the same time so you can stream parallel in different formats or bitrates. But lets begin to setup a simple SHOUTcast connection:

How to setup a SHOUTcast connection
1. Select "SHOUTcast" from the down box

2. Press on "+" to create a new server connection of the selected type


Now you have created a new SHOUTcast server connection and it should look like this:


Streaming Settings New Instance

The bold settings are required and the other settiings are optional. First we recommend to change the name from "New Options (1)" to a name that makes sense like "mp3 128 kbits".

Now fill in the required settings you got from your streaming provider:

1. Server Address: This is usually an IP or subdomain. At the DRS 2006 Radio Streamer it could for example be rs1.radiostreamer.com or 212.48.125.67
2. Server Port: This is the port where the server is running. For example 14900

3. Password: This is the password your streaming provider gave to you or that you have set in the server configuration interface of your provider
4. Encoder: Choose the encoder you want to use. For example "MP3 - LAME". DRS 2006 itself does not include its own encoders. However it will help you to download and install different encoders.
5. Bitrate: Now select the bitrate you have ordered. Higher bitrates deliver a better quality. However be sure it is the same as the bitrate you have ordered. Here we are using 128 kbps

 

This is basically every thing you need. However there are also more optional settings:

1. Radio Genre: This is the Genre of your radio station. For example "80s". This will help listeners to find your station easier in public listings
2. Radio URL: This is the internet address of your radio station. For example "www.radioautomation.com"
3. Station Name: This is the name of your radio station. For example "DRS 2006 Radio Network"
4. ICQ Number: If you want your ICQ number to be displayed
5. AOL messenger name: If you want your AIM number to be displayed
6. Efnet Channel (IRC): If you want your IRC number to be displayed
7. The checkbox "Public Directory" will automatically list your radio station at www.shoutcast.com. This is a public radio listing with thousands of online radio stations.

So now your "Streaming Settings" should look like this:


Streaming Settings Server Port Password

Now be sure the "Active" check box on top is checked. This checkbox is normally checked by default as soon as you choose an "Encoder". However you can deactivate any server connection if you temporarily do not want to use it.

 

That's it! Click "Ok" and the "Settings" window will close. To establish the connection to your streaming server you need to click on "Connect to Server" in the "Common Ribbon". If your settings are ok, you should see that you are connected on the lower left side of the main window. Here you will also see how long you are already connected.

Connected Streaming Servers

To check your stream, you can simply listen to it by entering this URL in Winamp (for our example)
http://rs1.radiostreamer.com:14900/listen.pls

If you want to disconnect your server simply press on "Connect to Server" once more.

If there is something wrong with your connection (for example wrong password or IP), you will get a "Server Error" error message. In this case simply disconnect and check your settings.

Multiple encoders
As already mentioned you can add several server connections in the "Streaming Settings". Most radio stations for example use this to add 2 different streams with different qualities like one low quality stream with 56 kbps and one high quality stream with 128 kbps. Some radio stations also offer several different formats like wma, aac and mp3. You can configure the "Streaming Settings" just as you need them.

Other encoder types
Basically all encoder types work similar. You have a few required settings like the "Server Address", "Port" or "Password". You usually get these required settings from your streaming provider or maybe you can set/change them yourself in a Server Control Panel (like with our DRS 2006 Radio Streamer). You usually also have optional settings which contain more information about your stream/radio station like the URL or Name.

If you have any problem with settings up your streaming encoders, please contact our Customer Help Desk.
We are there for you 24/7.

Setting up the DRS 2006 Internet Broadcaster Plugin
The DRS 2006 Internet Broadcaster plugin allows you to easily add, delete, configure, monitor status and fully manage all your encoder types including mp3PRO, plain mp3, Ogg Vorbis and Windows Media file formats (more formats coming up). You can simply configure the plugin directly over any DRS 2006 playback module or even in stand alone mode without any DRS 2006. To listen to MP3 Pro audio your listeners will need the mp3PRO plugin for Winamp provided by Coding Technologies. Download this plugin at Coding Technologies for free.

DRS 2006 Internet Broadcaster

Configuring the Internet Broadcaster
On the plugins main interface, select the 'Config' button and you should first see the 'General options'. Here you can set the general base encoder options. Select the sound card from which you want to grab your audio from and also a location of the log file (if you wish to record your stream). You should also select 'Automatically start on load' so the plugin will be started immediately when it is started.

Adding/Removing Encoder Instances
Select the Encoders button on the main display. In the top menu bar of the encoders plugin 'Click' on the + (add encoder) or - to (remove encoder). If you are indeed configuring an encoder for the first time - go ahead and select + (add encoder) and proceed to the next step - ('Select your encoder type').

DRS 2006 Encoders

The 'Toolkit' button will also allow you to configure your plugin at anytime by selecting it in the 'Status' window once it has been initially added. Additionally you can Start and Stop each of your encoders by selecting those buttons. Simply 'Select' an encoder you wish to Stop or Start in the encoders 'Status list' and click on the desired function/button.

Select your encoder type:
There are currently 3 different types in the list:
- WMA (v9 advanced)
- MP3 (Normal)
- Ogg (Vorbis)
- mp3PRO
DRS 2006 select encoder type

Select the one you wish to use and click 'OK' - it is now added to your list and you can now move on to the instructions for whichever encoder type you've chosen.

Adding mp3PRO or mp3 plain encoder Converter
For mp3PRO and mp3 plain you will need to click on the 'Choose Format' button and in the dropdown menu that appears you will select the mp3 type (pro or plain), the Bitrate and the samplerate (frequency) as well as the Stereo or Mono setting combination you desire. Then - Select 'OK' to add the setting you chose.

DRS 2006 adding encoder

Next, In the 'General options' section, you can set your encoder to 'Auto Start' and or 'Auto reconnect' within a specific time and also by selecting 'Allow Scripts in Stream' you will enable the 'Automatic Data Streaming' for embedded MP3 players that support it like that at AudioRealm.com - NOTE: Make sure to have also selected the 'Allow scripts in stream' option for this to function. If you find that this funtion is causing stuttering on your stream you may uncheck this function.

Make sure you know which type you will be streaming to as each server type may require some additional information to be added in the configuration - specifically for 'Icecast'.

Here we will be configuring the most widely used, a ShoutCast mp3 server like the ones we use on our DRS 2006 Radio Streamer. Simply fill in the details starting with your Servers IP, Port and Password information and then add your Stations details, Select your stations 'Genre' and add your websites URL. Optional are the AIM, ICQ and IRC details.

DRS 2006 set server details

If you wish to have your station listed in the associated servers 'Public' listing directory - you will need to make sure that you check the box to enable that. Selecting this option will list your station on www.shoutcast.com. Great for listener traffic generation! However, if you wish your stations listing to be 'Private', then DO NOT select the 'List on public station listing' option.

If you wish to have your stations information as well as Song, Artist, Album and such information displayed in the listeners player, you must check the 'Enable title streaming' option!

This is the basic information about the DRS 2006 Internet Broadcaster to get you going. You can find more information about further features of this plugin like the statistic relays on our website at www.drs2006.com.
Setting up Winamp and the DSP Plugin
Some users may wish to start to stream with a simple player like Winamp. Below we will outline how to set up the SHOUTcast DSP plugin used in conjunction with Winamp.

First you need to download and install Winamp, if you do not have it already installed. You can find it here:
http://www.winamp.com/player


Then you need the DSP Plugin which can be downloaded here:
http://download.nullsoft.com/shoutcast/tools/shoutcast-dsp-2-3-2-windows.exe

This plug-in will broadcast your playlist via Winamp in real time, or whatever is played through your sound card input.

Once the download has completed, you will need to install the software. Make sure that Winamp is not running before proceeding. Open the DSP software installer by double clicking on it at the location you saved it, and then follow the onscreen instructions to install. Once you have installed the DSP, start Winamp. If the plugin does not show an IP automatically, please open the preferences applet (CTRL+P), and click on the DSP/Effects subcategory under the Plug-ins tree.

If you see "Nullsoft SHOUTcast Source DSP vx.x.x" in the right hand pane, then you have correctly installed the SHOUTcast Broadcast DSP Plug-in.

Shoutcast Plugins

A window pops up labeled "Nullsoft SHOUTcast source". Bring the SHOUTcast source window to the front by clicking on its titlebar. Click on the "Input" tab and ensure that the correct Input Device is selected (usually Winamp). You can also select your "Soundcard Input" and you set your mixer settings. The "Input Levels" indicator has to be moving when you play music in Winamp or when you speak into your microphone.

SHOUTcast Input

After you have setup your "Input", please click on the "Output" tab, select "Output 1" on the left, and insert the server information in the "Connection" tab. Check "Use SHOUTcast v1 Mode", enter the "Address", "Port" and "Password". Either you have this information from our demo servers or you have signed up with our service and we have sent you the information needed via E-mail.

SHOUTcast Output Connection

Now you select the "Encoder" tab, and select the "Encoder type" and the "Encoder Settings". Please be sure you set the bitrate you ordered.

SHOUTCAST Output Encoder

On the "Yellow Pages" you can also enter a "Name" of the station you're broadcasting, a "URL" of a website with more information about your station, and the "Genre" your server is broadcasting. Optionally, you may enter an "AIM" name if you use AOL Instant Messenger, your "ICQ" # if you use ICQ, and an "IRC" channel if you use EfNet IRC. This information helps listeners locate you as a broadcaster. If you want this station to appear in the Station listings for Shoutcast.com, check the “Make this server public” checkbox. You can also check "Auto Connect" so the Plugin automatically connects as soon as you start Winamp.

Make sure your DNAS is running, and that you're playing MP3 files in Winamp (if using Winamp Input Mode), or that the soundcard input and mixers are correctly configured, if using "Soundcard Input" mode, and then click “connect” to connect to your server and start broadcasting. If you elected to make your server public, it will normally appear in the SHOUTcast directory within 15 minutes of starting broadcasting.

SHOUTcast Output Yellow Pages
How listeners connect to your stream
You can listen to SHOUTcast mp3 streams by using common free players like Winamp, the Real Audio Player, VLC, Freeamp, iTunes, or the Windows Media Player.

The link for SHOUTCast servers looks like this:
http://rs10.radiostreamer.com:16000/listen.pls (our 128 kbps demo stream)

rs5.radiostreamer.com is the Server IP (address) and 16000 is the port. Of course you need to use your own Server IP and Port for the link (provided by use e.g. http://rs1.radiostreamer.com:12345). You simply put this link on your website. You can also use the link together with an image like this:

MP3 Radio Stream


If your listeners click on this link, their standard player for .pls files will open and play the stream. This will usually either be Winamp, iTunes or the Real Audio Player. Feel free to test the links above!

When using a Windows Media Server to stream, the link looks pretty similar:
http://rs10.radiostreamer.com/drshigh

Again rs5.radiostreamer.com is the Server IP (Address). Instead of the port you use Publishing Points with Windows Media Servers. In this example it is "drshigh" (instead of ports as with Winamp).

If you want it a little more professional, you will need to make a Windows Media Metafile (.asx file) with your favorite html editor.

You can also use SHOUTCast streams in .asx files (for Windows Media Player 9 and higher). This way you can force Windows Media Player to play the mp3 stream. A simple .asx file with a mp3 SHOUTcast stream looks like this:

<asx version="3.0">
<entry>
<MoreInfo href="http://www.yourradio.com"/>
<abstract>Your Radio</abstract>
<title>Your Radio</title>
<author>http://www.yourradio.com</author>
<ref href="http://rs5.radiostreamer.com:16000"/>
</entry>
< /asx>

Importantly at the end of thelink is the server, port number and NO "listen.pls". Again, use your own server and port instead of http://rs10.radiostreamer.com:16000.

Here is an .asx file that points to our SHOUTcast mp3 stream and starts it in your standard wma player, which is normally Windows Media Player:
http://www.radiostreamer.com/wmahigh.asx

You will find more information about .asx files (Advanced Stream Redirector) right here!
How to install a Flash audio player
Programming your own custom flash audio player is rather complicated. However, there are a few cool and free flash players available on the Internet, like: Native Flash Radio, Minicaster, Ffmp3, JPlayer and the Invisible Radio Player. We will now show you how this works with the Nativeradio SHOUTcast player. The other players can be found via Google and work pretty much the same. However, we want to say that you really have to think about using flash players on your website. They have a few disadvantages. For example if the visitor of your website leaves your website, the stream will of course immediately stop. This will not happen if player software has been launched by a simple link as shown above. Also Apple products like the IPhone or IPad do not support flash players. It may make sense to install a flash player if you want the listener to stay on your website. For example if you are displaying advertisements during a sports event.

So here we go. Here is how the Native Flash Radio SHOUTcast player looks:

Sorry this site has a flash based native radio and needs Adobe Flash 10+. Download Flash here.

And here is a small version of this cool player.

Sorry this site has a flash based native radio and needs Adobe Flash 10+. Download Flash here.

Go ahead an download these players here:

After downloading and unzipping one of these downloads, you will find a few files. All of these files, except for the .txt and the example .html files, are needed and have to be uploaded to your web server. The example .html files show how to use the flashplayer. First you need to add the following line into the head section of your website:
<script type="text/javascript" src="swfobject.js"></script>

Then you need to place this code where you want to place the player on your website (Big player example):

<div id="flashcontent">
<p>
<strong>Sorry this site has a flash based native radio and needs adobe flash 10+.</strong><a href="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash">Download Flash here.</a>
</p>
</div>

<script type="text/javascript">
// <![CDATA[

var so = new SWFObject("nativeradio2big.swf", "nativeradio", "400", "130", "10", "#cccccc");
so.addParam("scale", "noscale");
so.addVariable("swfcolor", "3B5998");
so.addVariable("swfstreamurl", "rs5.radiostreamer.com:16000");
so.addVariable("swfpause", "1");
so.write("flashcontent");

// ]]>
</script>


You only need to change one parameter to connect your stream with the player:
so.addVariable("swfstreamurl", "rs10.radiostreamer.com:16000");

Simply replace "rs10.radiostreamer.com:16000" with your own server and port.
Of course you can also adjust other things like the color and size.

Here is an overview of the available parameters:
swfstreamurl - stream url (no support for container formats: pls, asx, etc.)
swfcolor - the RGB hex value to colorize the radio player
swfpause - the default mode when loaded. Direct start of the radio stream (=0) or paused (=1)

optional parameters:
swfbuffer - browser buffer before it reconnects, default value is 50 (MB)
swfradiochannel - alternative name for your radio channel name (if server cross-scripting is not possible)
swfinformations - alternative text for song text field (if server cross-scripting is not possible)
Setting up the DRS 2006 Radio Streamer Manager
The DRS 2006 Radio Streamer Manager is a listener and bandwidth usage statistical analysis software. Very basically it will tell you how much bandwidth your stream or multiple streams are using, and how many listeners per stream you have. This software is FREE for all DRS 2006 Radio Streamer customers. The link can be found in your order email which also contains your stream access information.

One possible use is to assess how your programming affects your listener peak, to help improve your programming. What does the listener like or dislike at any given time etc.

DRS 2006 Radio Manager

To begin you need to have a DRS 2006 Radio Streamer account/server running. The stats are automatically created and sent to the DRS 2006 Radio Streamer Manager from our servers. WMA Stats only work with the DRS 2006 Radio Streamer Service, since our servers run a server side stats software. This software generates the stats which are grabbed by the DRS 2006 Radio Streamer Manager.

Your first task is to start by entering a station into the main interface. Click on Add New Server.

DRS 2006 Radio Manager Add New Server

In the first box type in your server location, for example: http://rs5.radiostreamer.com:16000 (SHOUTcast) or http://rs5.radiostreamer.com/drs64 (WMA). For SHOUTcast please enter your SHOUTcast Server Password and check the SHOUTcast Server button.

For WMA please check your Stats Port information matches, usually this is set by default to 8000, and check the Windows Media Server button. Now "Save Server".

NOTE: You can also edit a server by right clicking on it in the main screen and choosing "Edit this Server". The window above will appear for you to enter new information.

Other options include "Listen to this User Stream", in the case of WMA this will directly open Media Player and begin playing this server. For Shoutcast servers, this will prompt for you to open or save a pls-file which is usually played via Winamp. From this menu you can also "Delete this Serve" and "Add New Server".

To assist you in rearranging your servers into a more readable format, such as in order of bitrate, you can highlight a server from the main window and drag it up or down to a new location.

For future use you have an option to save the server list to a file, which you can transport to different locations, simply click Save List to save this information.

To load this information to a new location click Load List, and your servers will appear in the main window.

DRS 2006 Radio Manager Bandwidth

Above is a small control and information section, showing you exactly what is happening to your stream/s. At the moment the list is updated every 1 minute, by adjusting the green arrows and checking the Auto Server Updates button.

Presently all 5 servers are combined, and show the current live statistics and bandwidth use. To individually identify a server, you may highlight one in the main window, and click update current server.

On a final note the time based graphical red line is a great way of assessing at a glance how your streams are performing. This will constantly update.
Complying with Copyright Laws
Musical compositions and sound recordings are creative works that are protected by the copyright laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) and other countries.

Under U.S. law, the owner of a copyright has the exclusive right to (and to authorize others to) reproduce the work, use parts of the work in a new creation, distribute the work in whole or in part, and to publicly display or perform the work (including on web pages and through webcasting). With few exceptions, it is illegal to reproduce, distribute or broadcast a sound recording without the permission of the copyright owner. It is your responsibility to comply with the copyright laws when you become a webcaster.

There have been recent amendments to the copyright law regarding webcasting of sound recordings. These new provisions allow webcasting under the terms of a statutory license, as a way to help webcasters get permission without having to go to each sound recording's owner. The statutory license, however, has strict requirements that you must follow. Some of these requirements include the payment of license fees, limitations on the number of songs from the same album or artist that may be played in a three hour period (called the sound recording performance complement); a prohibition on publishing advance playlists; and a requirement to identify the song, artist and album on the website. There are other requirements as well.

The Recording Industry Association of America provides quite a bit of information on copyright law as it applies to webcasting, and both ASCAP and BMI have created license agreements that they are willing to grant to webcasters that they believe conform to the provisions of the new copyright rules for webcasting. For additional information on the statutory license and other aspects of webcasting, please visit the following sites:

The U.S. Copyright Office
The Recording Industry Association of America
ASCAP
BMI

These are just a few examples, you may wish to check offices in your country.

If you are uncertain about what you can and cannot do, we suggest you check with the copyright owner or the owner's representatives (such as through the organizations above).