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How2... Broadcast internet radio via the PeerCast network
PeerCast & mp3 setup
What is PeerCast???

PeerCast is a free simple and reliable software client using a Peer-2-Peer network for web radio broadcasting where anyone can easily stream audio and video across the internet to other users on the network for free and without the need for expensive web streaming hosts or a large Bandwidth allocation.
All you need is a PC, at least a 56k connection, PeerCast Client, A media player, A DSP encoder and a bunch of audio files to stream across the web to other users. PeerCasting is not restricted by your bandwidth to stream your station. each listener acts as a link for the next listener and this means a caster on a 57k modem can reach just as many people as a caster with a T3 connection can. Sounds good Huh?

Here we will be dealing with the Broadcasting in mp3 Format and helping you to setup a PeerCast station and stream your stations output using the network.

Visit the PeerCast YP and take a look at some of the stations already streaming at PeerCast.

At PeerCast there are a large number of stations already broadcasting in many languages streaming a veriety of diffrent content in both Audio & Video media formats PeerCast is an ongoing project and is growing and evolving all the time.
Getting started

What will I need to broadcast???

There are three main items you'll need:

1) A PeerCast client. (allows you to access the PeerCast network)

2) A compatable Media Player. (What youll be playing your broadcast on)

3) A DSP. (It prosesses the digital signal from your player and sends it to the client.



First - The Client: Its only a small download at about 160k. It connects you to the PeerCast and allows you to stream to the entire network.

Second - The Player: There are a few compatable players but Winamp is highly recommended for use with PeerCast.

Third - The DSP: This links the player to the Client and encodes & prosesses the audio signal for streaming. There are a few DSP's available using formats of Ogg Vorbis, mp3 & mp3PRO to encode the audio stream.



How do I install the Client???

Download the PeerCast Client Then Click 'OPEN' and PeerCast will self install to your chosen folder on your PC. When asked 'Do you want to start PeerCast now?' click '' You will now see a small icon appear in your TaskBar (down by the clock)

How do I install WinAmp???

Download WinAmp v2.91 and save to a folder on your drive. Make a note of the folder as next step you will need to install the DSP in the same folder.

How do I install a DSP???

Download SHOUTcast DSP and install it in your WinAmp/Plugins folder on your hard drive.



Setting Up

How do I set up the PeerCast client???

The client setup

Now you have the client, WinAmp & SHOUTcast DSP successfully installed on your computer you are almost there. Go to the icon in your TaskBar (down by the clock) Simply right click on it to bring up a menue. Click 'Advanced and then in the sub menue click on 'GUI' The following window will appear.



In the GUI window click on the Enabled button to fill in the port number (usualy 7144), your password (this password needs to be the same as in the SHOUTcast DSP configuration)Then click on the Disabled Button.

This is all you need to do in the GUI for now. That was easy want it?

If you dont know your IP Address
Here it is...


How do I set up the WinAmp & SHOUTcast DSP???

Winamp & SHOUTcast DSP setup



Open WinAmp and on your keyboard press Ctrl & P look down the list in the left pane for DSP/Effects Click this and it will open the DSP window in WinAmp. Look down the list in the right pane for Nullsoft SHOUTcast DSP v1.8.2b (dsp_sc.dll)



Double click this entry in the list and it will launch SHOUTcast DSP.

The configuration of SHOUTcast DSP is quite simple.

On the SHOUTcast DSP click on the Encoder tab



Select mp3 Encoder and your bitrate. Remember that listeners with 57k Modems cant recieve streams higher than 38k - 40k so keep it low if you want to access as many listeners ay you can.

Next click on the Output tab.



Output Configuration: Address use 'Localhost'

Port & Password: Set the same as in PeerCast Client.

Encoder: Select '1'

Auto Reconnect: Set as you wish.

Next click Yellow Pages button.



Here you add your Station Information.
Check the'Make this server public' to ensure placemnt in listings pages.

Description: Station Name.

URL Station web site address goes here.

Genre: style of music you will be playing, (Rock, Dance/House/Trance, Country, Classical, Rap/Hiphop, J-Pop, Talk/Spoken word, etc.)

Aim, ICQ, IRC: this will enable your listeners to contact you directly via the IM systems during broadcasts if you wish.

Enable title updates: Check this and the two Auto boxes and this will allows streaming of Track/Artist names.

Once you are happy with your settings..... all you need to do is to load up some files in your WinAmp player, press Connect on the SHOUTcast DSP and Play on WinAmp and you should be streaming your station to the PeerCast network.
Go back and look in your GUI and in the left pane you should see your station name followed by 'BROADCAST' sometimes you will need to stop and re start SHOUTcast DSP for it to connect to the network properly.

Is it realy that easy???

YES


But what if I still cant connect???

The four main areas that cause the most initial problems for new casters are:

Firewall's/Routers:
You will need to allow PeerCast to have access via port 7144.
Password:
They must match in the PeerCast client and the in DSP.
Ports:
They must match in the PeerCast client and the in DSP.
IP number
Its so easy to miss type them.
If you have trouible initialy, you should double check all four and then try again.



If you should have any problems with your Broadcast setup you can get Tech support at PeerCast.Org where you will find some online tutorials and a Forum where you can get first hand help and advice from other users of the system on all matters to do with PeerCast and associated third party tools.

For WinAmp/SHOUTcast Information, Plugins, Skins or Support forums visit - WinAmp.Com



All the software that we recomend using and linked to here is all freeware and is certified free from all spy/ad/malaware and all other malicious codes and tracker devices.



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