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Open Source and Linked Software Tools for Broadcasting
What I wanted to do with this CD-Rom is to give a place for you to be able to quickly and easily find the information that you will be needing to begin broadcasting. Some of the software that is included with this book are open source meaning that I was able to include them with this book either because they specify it or they gave permission. This in turn has allowed me to offer these to you here without the need to download any software. Others however like many of the paid for programming do not allow me to give you the software with the book. So I wanted to include their links here so you can find the information quickly and easily to save you the time of having to search.
So enjoy and thank you so much again for buying this book. I hope that the tools and things included here will help you with your ministry to share the message of the Gospel with a World that desperately needs to hear it. God Bless you.
Server Software
~ SHOUTcast Streaming Server
Here you'll find the link to the SHOUTcast radio tool section that will allow you to download the tools that work in conjunction with Winamp to begin broadcasting your own ministry. They have everything that you will need to begin broadcasting quickly and effectively. SHOUTcast is probably the most popular format that is available today for people to begin their own Internet Radio Stations. I originally wanted to include this on the CD-ROM however due to their ownership rights I was not able to include it here. So what I did was give you a quick link that will take you directly to their downloads page. See Shoutcast Streaming Server for additional information and to download the software package.
SHOUTcast allows you to broadcast out using AAC or MP3 types of audio formats.
~ IceCast Streaming Server
IceCast Streaming Server is a free open source type of software that will allow you to have a contact point between your audio and your listening base. The streaming server that is offered here is extremely popular much like SHOUTcast. Just click on the title here and follow the instructions on how to install the software onto your computer or onto your server. Once you have it configured and have your streams running you're ready to go in no time flat. Remember to set up your server properly for streaming just follow the examples and details that are outlined in the book. For additional information about IceCast Streaming Server.
IceCast allows you to broadcast using AAC, MP3, or Ogg Vorbis types of audio formats.
~ Windows Media Streaming Server
Here you'll find the information to use the Windows Media streaming options that are available to you from Microsoft. Depending on whether you have a 64-bit or 32 bit versions of Windows will determine on what version you use when streaming using their encoder. This typically is a server-based type of software that is a platform to broadcast out of either your PC or server that is running Windows 2003 or Windows 2008. Remember with the Microsoft Windows program you're limited in what you can broadcast and also limited with setting the max amount of listeners at any one time. This of course does not mean that it is not a great program, it is, and could be used by your ministry to effectively reach an audience. to find additional information on how to set up your own Windows media streaming server make sure to check out their knowledge Center with some videos and links to articles on how to properly set this up with your server.
To find additional information click Windows Media. As I am sure you have guessed Windows Media Streaming server uses the Windows format for audio.
~ BroadWave Streaming Audio Server
Of all the different types of software that NCH offers, the BroadWave streaming audio server is a tool that you might be interested in using. One of the great things about this software is the ability to create the links that you can post on your website when you're up and running live on the Internet. Remember that with this software you can either choose to pay full price for the software or as long as you include a link back to their website where ever you have an audio link, you can use this free of charge. Go by their website and download their software to see if maybe this could be a fit for you and your ministry with the type of set up you have. The downside to using this type of software is the inability to specify your maximum listening audience however if bandwidth is not an issue for you I would highly recommend this tool to be used by your ministry.
BroadWave allows you to stream in Windows Media Formats and MP3.
~ Darwin Streaming Server for MAC
The Darwin streaming server is a MAC-based system that is an open source and free to use on many different types of platforms such as Linux, Windows,and Solaris. This is the QuickTime counterpart that is been developed to help various people modify the server code to fit their particular streaming needs. QuickTime is also a type of streaming server that is available from Apple. I will post the link to QuickTime here as well for your review. However with QuickTime there is a cost associated with their software that is typically used in a MAC server environment.
To check out QuickTime click here.
To install Darwin Streaming Server.
Broadcasting Software
~ SHOUTcast DSP Plugin for Winamp
This broadcasting software tool is used in conjunction with Winamp to broadcast out using a SHOUTcast based streaming server. Simply set up this DSP plug-in and you're good to go. Remember that if you have any questions about how to properly set this up for your operation make sure to check out chapter 4 that deals with how to properly set up your DSP plug-in with Winamp to interact with the SHOUTcast streaming server. This I guess you could say is the broadcasting software that is offered for the SHOUTcast Internet radio package. Simply click on the link above to download the file directly to your computer.
~ Edcast DSP Plugin for Winamp
Edcast is the broadcasting type of application that will allow use a station owner to broadcast out your ministry stream to whatever streaming server you have available. Here with this book I have included it for you to immediately install into your PC because this software is an open source platform that allows me to do so. There is also a couple of different options for this at their website which you can find at Edcast. There is even a standalone version that is available which might be a good option depending upon your setup.
~ Nicecast Broadcasting Software
When using a MAC-based computer it is important to use the proper types of software that will allow you to interact with your streaming server. Nicecast is a program that allows you as a MAC user to broadcast using a Apple Mac computer. This type of broadcasting software is used in conjunction with SHOUTcast, IceCast, Live365, and a Darwin/QuickTime streaming server. To download the software or to get further information just click on the title of this section. This will allow you to quickly and easily have your station up and running in no time flat.
~ B.U.T.T. (Broadcast Using This Tool)
Included on the CD-ROM is this broadcasting tool which is free and open source. To install the software simply click on the title of this section to install this software onto your computer. This broadcasting tool will allow you to broadcast using either a SHOUTcast or IceCast streaming server with either a Windows-based PC, MAC computer, or even a Linux based system. This tool is extremely versatile and I'm sure will be a great tool to use when you go live on a regular basis. You can broadcast out using a variety of audio codec formats.
~ SAM Broadcaster
SAM Broadcaster is a tool that has been developed specifically for Internet radio broadcasting. With tools that will help you deal with all the various types of station operations, SAM Broadcaster is a paid for software that can easily be used to incorporate your station's day-to-day operations. Even though this a little bit on the expensive side it could very well be a tool that can help you with your ministry. Just click on the title of this section to go to their website to find out additional information in what they can offer you.
~ Live Web DJ
This of course is not really a software package but rather use the feature for Internet radio broadcaster to basically use their Web browser for all of the administrative purposes of your radio station. They give you full access and control of your station 24/7 with the ability to create play lists to run at times that you specify without interruption to your stream. With the option of having unlimited storage space on their servers Live Web DJ is a great option that will give you tools to effectively run your Internet ministry. They also have a special three day trial period that allows you to set up a SHOUTcast testing server to help you get started with how the program runs and operates. I also know that their customer service is pretty quick and any problems or issues that you come across will be quickly solved and handled. Live Web DJ also has special hosting packages set up with one of their business partners. You can be up and running in no time flat with very little operational costs. To get more information about their service Live Web Dj.
Audio Editing
~ NCH Software
NCH software is a company that offers a wide variety of software to their users. We just a little bit about the various types of audio editing and recording software that you used for either your Windows-based PC or Mac-based computer. I would encourage you to go by and check out what they have available that can help you with your day-to-day operations of running your station effectively. Remember that a lot of their software is a paid for type of service. For additional information about NCH in what they have to offer you in terms of software Website.
~ Audacity
Audacity is a open source and free software. It can be used to edit any audio file and then export out the file in a format of your choosing. It is extremely popular with a lot of people that I know and could be a great tool for your ministry when figuring out how to edit your own content to be available for downloading later. Go ahead and install the program. To install the program simply go to Audacity.
~ DVDVideoSoft Free Studio Manager
This free studio manager is truly remarkable. I've been able to include this program on the CD-ROM thanks to the people with DVD Video Soft. I found this software to be extremely valuable to me in a variety of different ways. Some of which is discussed in the book that deals with audio conversion of large amounts of MP3 files. Another great reason to use this software is the ability to have a preprogrammed Flash Player that lists all of the files that you just encoded. As you can see from this section on the CD-ROM of the interviews, I used this software in preparing that page with each of the individual interviews that I did. The software can do a lot more than I can get into here however I would encourage you to download the program and install the software into your computer. Then once you have done that make sure to go by their website Dvd Video Soft and check out all the various tools that they have included in this robust free software package.
~ Sony ACID Studio
The ACID product family from Sony, are designed to help you in dealing with audio files. Their music creation and mixing software will give you some of the tools that you will need for original song creations, effects processing like reverb, allow you to multi track your audio file, and give you the ability to create a studio quality mix to your files. The programs from Sony start from $54.95 up to $299.95 with many different options depending upon which product you choose. To get further information and to find out what products they have available for you go to Sony's Website.
~ M-Audio Pro Tools
This music production studio software is probably one of the best-selling recording interface options that are available in the market today. The software works in conjunction with one of the USB audio interfaces that Avid offers their customers. The plug-and-play USB connection offers people with either a PC or Mac to simply plug in your audio feed from your instruments or from your microphones and then use their Pro tools software that will allow you to create various types of stereo audio tracks. For further information of how their products might help you see M-Audio's Site.
~ Magix
This is the type of software that I use exclusively for my day-to-day operations with the station. I have found their programs to be extremely user friendly and highly reliable that allows me to handle all of the functions on a timely basis. They offer software that deals with music and media that are reasonably priced and well worth the investment. The current products I use from them or MAGIX music maker and MAGIX MP3 maker. Both of these programs combined allow me to edit large batches of MP3 files, edit and adjust my own radio program for playback and downloading, and allows me to create promos and commercials that run on my radio station. I would highly encourage you to check it what they have available since the majority of their software can be found at places like Best Buy. For additional information about the software they have available see Magix's Site Here.
~ MP3 Gain
This type of software is used to set your MP3 files to all of the same level. I have found this software just recently and I wanted to include it here since it is open source and free. I've included it on the CD-ROM as a special type of software that will enable you to keep your audio files all the same level in terms of volume. All you do is Download MP3 Gain to install the software and then when you're ready simply specify what folder the program should search and then press the track gain button. This will set the volume's of those files to the specified decibel level that you choose. This program has literally saved me hours of work so I wanted to make sure that I included it here for your benefit as well. This helps to ensure that all of your audio files that are streaming on your station are the exact same volume level.
Flash/PHP Based Radio Players for Streaming
~ Flash Native Radio Flash Players 1 and 2
As I began to broadcast I searched hi and low for a Flash based audio player that could be used with my stream I soon realized that this was going to be difficult since most forums balked at the idea of one ever working. However with enough searching and testing I have found a couple that are useable by anyone as long as they do not mess with the authors name on the file or alter any of the licensing that comes with it. So in order to save you a bunch of time looking for one I will put the ones that I use here. This should help you to get started with this type of player rather quickly and easily. Remember though that when you go to install any of these onto your server that you create their own folders for them or else it will make it a bit messy since there are some files that go with it for operational purposes.
NativeRadio Flash Player 1 is the first generation of these players by Sodah. I still use this one up on the site today. It is small, compact and is pretty easy to configure. Unzip the files NativeRadio 1 into its own folder and then simply read and follow the instructions to install on your website. I will let you know that I have also figured out how to encode this player into my MySpace page. This way when we are visited there people hear the live stream playing right on our MySpace page. I have also configured one on our Blog Talk Radio page too.
NativeRadio Flash Player 2 is the second generation of Flash based players by Sodah. It is a great looking player that can be customized to any color so it will fit into your website scheme. Simple and easy to use this will allow you to have something simple for your listening audience to enjoy your ministries feed. Unzip the files NativeRadio 2 into its own folder and then simply read and follow the instructions to install on your website.
If you have any questions about these players or want to see if there are any updated versions go by and check out his blog at www.sodah.de and click on the blog link.
~ PHP Base Radio Player
Originally I was looking for a Flash based player when I found this one. This uses different types of scripts to send the audio to your listeners PC or Mac based upon what there default media player is. What makes this one my favorite is the ability to customize the text within the player itself to say anything that I so desire. This has allowed me to customize it with the information that will be displayed to our listening audience including our call in Phone number during live programs. It works by seeing what media players are available on your listeners PC or Mac an installing the correct plug in required for it to work. It will even suggest what is needed to download in case they do not have one of the supported types. It supports Windows Media Player, Real Player, Winamp and iTunes. Remember though that in order to use this player on your website you must have the ability to run PHP based files on your website server. To see if you are able to run PHP contact your web server administrator.
You can unzip the files PhP Radio to its own folder in your website structure.
