F A Q

We are constantly building this page, so we might not answer all questions here. If you cannot find what you are looking for on this page, then please open a support ticket and we will do our best to answer your query and add it to this page. You do not have to sign up or be a customer to use the support ticket system.

Questions About Streaming

Questions About Services

What Is Shoutcast?

Shoutcast is a freeware audio streaming technology, devoped by Nullsoft.  Shoutcast uses MP3 encoding of audio contend and HTTP (through multicast can be used) as the transport protocol to broadcast Web radio, also known as Internet Radio.  There are all sorts of music genders, Rock, Jazz, Country, Raggea, Urban, etc. to choose from.

Can I Set Up A Shoutcast Server Myself?

If you have a 512k DSL line and run your own ShoutCast DNAs on your PC you can host only 3 - 4 listeners at 128kbps.  If you intend to have many listeners, as most stations do, you will need to use the services of a Shoutcast Streaming provider. 

What Are 'slots'?

This is the maximum number of listeners who can tune in at any one time.  So if you order 20 'slots' you can have up to 20 listeners at the same time.

What Bitrate Is Best For Me?

The bitrate is to amount of data that is transferred to each listener when you are broadcasting.  The higher the bit rate, the higher the sound quality and the higher the cost.  If you are broadcasting music, then we recommend a higher bitrate, but if you are only a talk radio station, you can use a lower bitrate.

Do I Need A License To Stream?

You do not need a license to broadcast, but you are responsible in paying royalties for each song played.  ASCAP, BMI, SoundExchange & SESAC require payment for any of their artists.  A cheaper way to go is to use services that provide 'blanket payments' at a discounted rate.  LoudCity is one service to check out.  Different countries have different legal requirements.

How Do I Get My Station On-line?

There are several software packages to choose from.  WinAmp is free and with a small plugin, called Shoutcast Source, you can be on the air.  A more professional solution would be to use one of the commercial packages like SAM4 or OTS.

Can I Upgrade My Account?

Yes you can get additional streams or add more slots at any time.  Presently, we do not have the process automated.  If you open up a service ticket explaining what you need, we can set it up for you.

Can You Set Up A Test Server That I Can Try Out?

Yes, just e-mail us and we will do that for you.  We are sure you will be quite happy with the quality of our streams.

Do You Also Host Websites?

No, we do not.  Unlike other streaming companies, we only supply Shoutcast Streaming Service.  That way we specialize in what we do, and we do it well.

Tell Me About Your Servers.

Our servers are AMD 2600+, with 1Gig of DDR2 memory, running Linux, CentOS, cPanel and have 100Mbps dedicated connections to the backbone.  Unlike other providers who use 10Mbps servers and/or have bandwidth limits to adhere to.  Before you choose a Shoutcast Streaming provider you should make sure they have unmetered servers with fast upload speed.