Internet Radio Software

Streaming audio content on the Internet requires software that varies in the form of online radio or webcasting. There are 3 types of software involved in broadcasting Internet radio. These are encoding software, server software and player software.

The Internet radio encoder processes the signal by converting it to a streaming format. The streamed format is sent to a designated radio server using lots of bandwidth. Examples of these encoders are Shoutcast DSP, Edcast and Nicecast. An example of multi-platform audio streaming freeware developed by Nullsoft is SHOUTcast DSP. It uses MP3 or AAC audio content encoding. It also uses HTTP as the transport protocol to broadcast Internet radio. An example of a popular DSP plugin for applications such as Winamp and XMMS is Edcast. If used together with broadcast tools such as Peercast or Icecast, it can be used as an Internet radio station.

The Internet radio server receives the stream signal format from the radio encoder and passes it to the computer. A high bandwidth server is essential to allow the server to broadcast the Internet radio program. Examples of these servers are Icecast and Steamcast. Icecast is a collection of different programs and libraries for streaming audio over the web. Steamcast is a multimedia server that combines features of both SHOUTcast and Icecast in one server.

The Internet radio player connects to the server to receive the streamed signal. This is done not just for radio streams. It also lets you enjoy your music, videos, pictures and other multi-media functions. Some of the well known Internet radio players are VLC media player and Winamp.

Some available Internet radio software can be downloaded online and offers a free trial. An example of this is the SAM Broadcaster-Internet Radio Station Software. This streaming Internet software delivers professional sound, gap killer and other features that are essential for great Internet broadcasting. It can also handle large media libraries. Another radio Internet software is Pirate Radio software. This software is so easy to use and the interface is simple and intuitive. You can easily switch from a pre-recorded broadcast to live. The set up is straightforward, and instructions are easy to follow. To use this Internet radio software, a broadband connection is advised.

Winamp 5.5 also has Internet radio capabilities. It is a widely used media player created by Nullsoft. It supports all common media formats like MPEG, WAV, MP3, and others. It also supports open source codes like Ogg vorbis. WebMediaPlayer is another type of Internet radio application. This software can play any streaming media from the Internet. It is a versatile player, with which you can play online Internet radio and Internet TV channels. The software is directly connected to an online database of radio stations and TV channels. This feature allows users to easily play their favorite music or TV station with just a click.

There is a lot of Internet radio software available on the web for download. Some of them allow users to create their own radio station on the Internet. It is up to your imagination to come up with a creative and lively radio station. Choose your type of music. Whether it’s hip hop, rock or R&B, it is up to you. Just remember to choose good quality Internet radio software.