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- streaming audio system
-
- README.TXT v1.0 for SHOUTCAST SOURCE PLUG-IN 1.0b - Dec 30 1998
-
- Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Updates
- Pricing
- Bug reporting
- Credits
- Installation
- Configuration
- Tech Notes / How it Works
- A Word To The Unwise
- License
-
- Introduction:
-
- SHOUTcast is a streaming audio system for Windows and Un*x platforms.
- The SHOUTcast dsp plug-in is essential to the system, and facilitates
- the link between Winamp and the SHOUTcast server. Its tasks include
- encoding audio at the desired bitrate, establishing contact with the
- SHOUTcast server, transmission of data for the SHOUTcast directory,
- and transmission of the encoded audio stream to the SHOUTcast server
- for subsequent delivery to listeners.
-
- SHOUTcast is a product of Nullsoft, Inc, makers of the fantastically
- popular Winamp audio player for Win32. The SHOUTcast system relies on
- Winamp for playback and content sourcing. Winamp is available at
- http://www.winamp.com
-
- Updates:
-
- SHOUTcast world headquarters is at http://www.shoutcast.com. Stop by
- to snag the latest version and view online documentation (with pictures,
- no less.)
-
- You can view other cool stuff Nullsoft does by visiting the Nullsoft
- home on the web at http://www.nullsoft.com.
-
- Pricing:
-
- SHOUTcast is designed to be a by the people, for the people product.
- If you are a nonprofit or non-commercial agency, you are free to use
- the SHOUTcast product at no cost whatsoever.
-
- Commercial agencies (radio stations, for-profit audio broadcasters, etc)
- are asked to help defray the cost of production and maintenance of the
- SHOUTcast directory by purchasing SHOUTcast. The price is currently set
- at $299 per server. Contact sales@shoutcast.com for more info, or visit
- the web page.
-
- There is no per-unit charge for the SHOUTcast DSP plug-in.
-
- Bug reporting:
-
- SHOUTcast is freeware, and doesn't really have a support team to back it
- up. If you come up with an intelligent question or notice a glaring bug,
- please notify us at bugfixes@shoutcast.com, but be advised we cannot
- guarantee we'll be able to get back to you.
-
- Credits:
- Justin Frankel - System design, and coding.
- Tom Pepper - Database design, and coding.
- Dana Dahlstrom - Web wonking.
- Jennifer Spencer - Moral support.
- Laura Gunn
-
- Thanks to our faithful (and reliable) beta testers:
- Taber, Jamuraa, Dr_Dan, and D4.
-
- Installation:
-
- Unzip the dsp_sc.dll file into your Winamp Plug-Ins directory (usually
- c:\program files\winamp\plugins). Quit and restart Winamp to ensure
- Winamp recognizes the plug-in.
-
- You will also need to install an MP3 codec on your machine. They're
- available from the shoutcast website at http://www.shoutcast.com in
- the Download section.
-
- Configuration:
-
- In Winamp, enter the Preferences and hit the Misc Plug-Ins tab. Under Sound
- Processing, select the Shoutcast Source plug-in, and hit Configure.
-
- Define the IP address of the SHOUTcast server, the port it's running on, the
- password set up on the server, and information for the directory server, if
- you would like your stream to be listed on http://yp.shoutcast.com. Hit OK
- when you're done.
-
- Select some MP3, WAV, MOD, etc. files to play, and when Winamp starts playing,
- you'll be streaming to the server (and the world!)
-
- While playing back, changing the volume will have no effect on the streamed
- audio. However, changing the EQ *does* have an effect. You can cheat and do
- fades with the preamp on the EQ if you time it right.
-
- IMPORTANT: Input sources which DO NOT use winamp's internal dsp system
- (i.e. CD audio, line input, MIDI) ARE NOT COMPATIBLE with the SHOUTcast
- Source plug-in.
-
- Workarounds:
-
- There's a cool cd-da input plug-in replacement on winamp.com in
- the plug-ins section. It reads data off the CD and decodes it in software.
- It's compatible with SHOUTcast.
-
- The Liverec input plug-in for Winamp was designed specifically for SHOUTcast
- to allow line input to be streamed. It's available at shoutcast.com.
-
- There is no known method of streaming MIDI files, excepting that you connect
- another CPU or loop the output back into the line input and play your MIDI
- file in another program.
-
- Tech Notes / How it Works:
-
- The SHOUTcast Source DSP Plug-in takes audio data from Winamp, encodes it
- into the bitrate desired, and passes it to the SHOUTcast server.
-
- A Word To The Unwise:
-
- All listeners are only able to listen at what their connections can support.
- For most users on the net, when you consider modem/PPP overhead, internet
- congestion, and the fact that most modems out there are around 33.6kbps, it
- makes sense to use 24kbps for most public streaming. Even though,
- theoretically, 33.6 users should be able to listen at 32kbps, with overhead
- it becomes impossible.
-
- Anyone with a 56k modem sending to an upstream server is affected by the
- asymmetric nature of 56k modems. That is, the fastest a 56k modem can download
- data as fast as 53kbps, the upload data is at most 31.2kbps. Sorry, no
- 56 or 32kbps streams are servable over a 56k modem.
-
- License:
-
- SHOUTCAST SOURCE DSP PLUG-IN(TM)
- SHOUTCAST(TM), all versions, are copyright protected and are the property
- of Nullsoft, Inc. Until further notice, this software may be used for personal
- purposes for free and need not be registered with Nullsoft, Inc. SHOUTCAST(TM)
- may not be copied, sold, distributed or used in any other manner without the
- prior written consent of Nullsoft, Inc. Those interested in licensing
- SHOUTCAST(TM) for other than personal or individual commercial use should
- contact Nullsoft, Inc. c/o sales@shoutcast.com.
-
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, Nullsoft, Inc. disclaims all
- warranties regarding this software, express or implied, including but not
- limited to warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
- purpose. In no event shall Nullsoft, Inc. be liable for consequential,
- special, incidental or indirect damages arising out of the use or inability
- to use this software even if Nullsoft, Inc. is aware of the possibility of
- such damages or a known defect.
-
- By using this software, you are agreeing to the above terms.
-