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Winamp + Shoutcast Quickstart - 8 Easy Steps to Streaming
Step 1 - Install Winamp
Download and install Winamp (if you don’t already have it installed). Winamp is a free download.
Link - Click to download Winamp
Step 2 - Install the Shoutcast DSP Plugin
Download the Shoutcast DSP Plugin for Winamp and install it. This is a free plugin for Winamp that lets you stream out to the Internet.
Link - Click to download Shoutcast DSP Plugin for Winamp
Run the file you just downloaded and this will install the DSP into Winamp.
Step 3 - Start the Shoutcast DSP Plugin
- Start Winamp
- Press Ctrl - P (Ctrl and P keys together) - This will open the settings page.
- (a) Click ‘DSP/Effect’ on the left column - you may need to scroll down.
- (b) Select ‘Nullsoft SHOUTcast Source DSP’ - a window called ‘SHOUTcast Source’ will appear.
Step 4 - Enter the Shoutcast Server settings
- (c) Click the ‘Output’ tab
- (d) Click ‘Connection’
- (e) In the ‘Address’ field enter the Shoutcast server host as shown in your Shoutcast email or Fast Serv account under Services -> Shoutcast.
- (f) In the ‘Port’ field enter the Shoutcast server Port as shown in your Shoutcast email or Fast Serv account under Services -> Shoutcast.
- (g) In the ‘Password’ field enter the Shoutcast server DJ password as shown in your Shoutcast email or Fast Serv account under Services -> Shoutcast.
Note: You can log into your Portal account to obtain your Shoutcast server details critical for this step (if you don’t already have them):
Step 5 - Set up the Encoder
The Encoder is the ‘heart’ of Shoutcast. It takes the audio from Winamp (or the microphone or line input) and converts it into MP3 format to be sent to your listeners.
- (h) Click the ‘Encoder’ tab.
- (i) Click ‘Encoder 1’ in the ‘Encoder’ field.
- (j) Select ‘MP3 Encoder’ in the ‘Encoder Type’ menu.
- (k) Select the appropriate bitrate in the ‘Encoder Settings’. You can choose any ‘kbps’ that is equal or lower to the bitrate ‘kbps’ of the Shoutcast package you purchased.
Note: Be very careful when choosing your Encoder Settings. The bit rate (kbps) MUST be equal or lower to the Shoutcast plan you purchased.
Step 6 - Set up your Station Details
- (l) Click the ‘Output’ tab.
- (m) Click the ‘Yellowpages’ button.
- (n) Give your station a title.
- (o) Enter your website address, including the http:// part.
- (p) Enter a the genre of music or content. You can list more than one, separated by commas.
- (q) If you want the titles of songs streamed to the players, click ‘Enable Title Updates’.
Step 7 - Choose the audio source
Here we will choose whether to broadcast what is playing in Winamp, or instead the live sound input to your computer (microphone, line-in, ect).
- (r) Click the ‘Input’ tab
- (s) If you want to stream files played in Winamp, choose ‘Winamp’ in the ‘Input Device’ menu. If you wish to instead broadcast a live audio feed or microphone input, select ‘Soundcard Input’.
Note: If you select ‘Soundcard Input’, the default recording device in the Windows control panel will be used for streaming. You can monitor the levels in the ‘Input Level’ area—it is recommended to keep your input level less than -2 dB to prevent distortion. You may have to adjust the recording mixer properties if the levels aren’t moving (see below under ‘troubleshooting’).
Step 8 - Start streaming
- (t) Click the ‘Output’ tab.
- (u) Click ‘Connect’.
- (v) You should immediately see bytes counting up in the ‘Status’ box. If the bytes are stuck at 0 or remains ‘Not Connected’, see the troubleshooting section below.
- (w) If you would like to have the Shoutcast DSP automatically connect each time you start Winamp, tick the ‘Connect at Startup’ check box.
You’re now streaming live on the Internet!
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