Streaming audio server

A streaming audio server is a server that helps a person listen to audio files online.

For most people online, Internet streaming means the ability to tune to radio stations right from their desktop. MP3 technology enables users to access this music.

MP3 format is better than WAV because it is in a compressed form and leads to a reduction in the file size, without a corresponding reduction in audio quality.

Using a streaming audio server to broadcast music is however not very difficult. For MP3 files, all you need to do is just upload the file or files to your web site and provide a link so that others may download the file. For non-live streamed audio, you can save the file in a streaming format such as the RealNetworks RA format and provide a link. When a visitor will click on the link, it will open the person's RealPlayer and start playing back the file as it downloads.

However to provide live streaming, you need a more complicated arrangement. You need access to a live streaming audio server. That is not all, you will also need to allocate a machine that will encode the live audio and feed it to the server. Obviously the link between the encoding computer and the server needs to be permanent, which obviously does not come cheap. Also, hiring a streaming audio server is also quite costly.

Here are a few that can help you:

Slimp3 Streaming Audio Server: It is very easy to use. All you need to do is just install it and then go to your local host. Then you need to open some ports and change a few settings - and you will be able to control it from anywhere. Once you have added music to your play list in the server, you can listen to it easily.

Genie Stream: It is a client/server application that allows audio streaming across Local Area Networks, Intranets or the Internet. In other words, it will let you broadcast within your office, between offices that are inter-connected or across the Internet. It also includes a Chat Room Server to communicate with users.