Getting Started with online radio broadcasting

Category: Broadcaster's Lounge

Post 1 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Saturday, 16-Feb-2013 21:32:46

So, I'm super excited because I'm about to have an opportunity to do something I've wanted to do since I got my very first Mr. Microphone.
Yep, you guessed it. I'm going to get my own radio show. Woohoo!
Anyway, I'm a bit freaked out because while it's something I've always wanted to do, I have very little, well ok, practically no, knowledge of how online broadcasting works.
I have been told that I'll need to use Winamp and Sam. I have Winamp and am about to do some research on Sam.
One question I have is if I will need to get a separate soundcard so that jaws isn't broadcasting with my music.
I've got a nice desktop USB mic that I plan on using so I think I'm good there.
If you were going to point me to a place where I could learn more about this so I don't sound like a complete and utter dumb ass, what would that be?
I guess I'll start with google but yall are always such great help so I figured I'd post this here too.

Post 2 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 17-Feb-2013 16:12:23

Having two sound cards is nice. Its something i'd suggest.
When you talk of using SAM, do you mean the SAM plug-in for WInamp? or are you talking about the Sam Encoders?
John

Post 3 by forereel (Just posting.) on Sunday, 17-Feb-2013 16:19:48

Also, for better sound and production many are now using Station Playlist instead of Winamp, but it cost some.
I saw your post on Winamp, and had posted a how to on it, but it might not apply to Jaws 14. If you don't get any responses I'll ask a couple people I know that do online radio to give you some help.

Post 4 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Sunday, 17-Feb-2013 18:49:45

Thanks for the info, yall. I'm not sure which Sam I'm talking about. How's that for clueless. lol Hey, at least I can admit that I'm pretty much starting from zero here.
Anyway, I have a friend who's already doing this and I'm supposed to speak with him on wednesday so I'm hoping he can walk me through getting started. There's so much info out there and so much to learn. I'm just not even sure where to start researching. I need a how to broadcast for dummies.

Thanks for the info on Station Playlist. This isn't a money making opportunity so I doubt the hubs will be thrilled about me purchasing extra stuff for a hobby that I don't even know if I'll be good at yet. Once I can demonstrate that I have a nack for it, I might be able to invest in better programs. For now though, it's free stuff all the way. lol

Post 5 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 17-Feb-2013 18:54:41

When you talk to your friend if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
some blind guys have used SAM broadcaster, which is a broadcasting program. This is different than the SAM Encoders for Winamp.
The Sam Encoders for Winamp is a DSP plug-in.

Post 6 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 18-Feb-2013 10:41:34

Why not join an existing one, like mushroom FM. They help you get started. The sound quality is good, and I believe you get a 3 hours slot to do your thing.

Post 7 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 18-Feb-2013 11:18:11

Here is the URL. Fill out an application and they'll help you get on. Please post when your new show will be online. Smile.
http://mushroomfm.com/

Post 8 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Monday, 18-Feb-2013 11:19:39

I'm actually going with www.sky106.net.
I have a friend who broadcasts there.
I'll definitely let yall know when my show will be on. It'll probably be in a week or so.

Post 9 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 18-Feb-2013 23:39:57

Coolness.

Post 10 by galonzo (Generic Zoner) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 4:37:20

Hello Yo this is what we have been looking for, we are a group of blind Africans boys. Our goal is to establish an online radio station for ours friends, relative, love once, and audience to listen to, but we don't have the knowledge of not allowing jaws to interfere with our broadcast. "Example when playing music, and trying to find the next track, knowing that we will needs jaws to find it" So is there any solutions for this behaviors that will sound and look ugly to our's listeners? please acknowledge me thanks.

Post 11 by Tila Tequila! (Zone BBS Addict) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 5:49:56

After broadcasting for several years I honestly am not a Station Playlist Fan. Its tricky to use and not easy to just catch on. Plus, if your starting out new winamp is definitely the thing to use because its simple and your new so you don't want to be out a hundred dollars or more if if you decide you don't like it.

They are probably talking about sam incoders, that is what I used. You do not need two sound cards if you only have one and want to make it work it works, trust me. Also, you need to know that if you are using a computer system other than xp you will need another program called Klightning or something like that as well.

I still have all my programs from broadcasting and would be willing to get it to you to make things easier if interested, just send me a private message!

Post 12 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 13:10:59

You dont need two sound cards, but in my opinion it is a help.
I think that is the best way, so that jaws can come thru one and your broadcasting goes thru the other.

Post 13 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 13:16:24

Another optin is to use OtsDJ, or OtsAV but it does cost.
Scripts for that are available at SnowManRadio.com

Post 14 by Winterfresh (This is who I am, an what I am about. If you don't like it, too damn bad!!!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 13:43:48

I've been wanteing to broadcast online myself, but now I have a mac and no idea how to get started without breakin my bank account. Any suggestions or help would be awesome.

Post 15 by renegade rocker (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 15:35:51

If you want to crossfade as well as having your compression heard, and also be able to voicedrop, then you do need two cards to use winamp with the sam encoders, plus all system sounds must be turned off for this method, because the what you hear option is used. Also the second card will be used for your screen reader, so all that comes out of your main card will be winamp. I've been using winamp and the two card method for eight years, and it's the easiest. For anyone who would like to try this setup, my skype is renegaderocker, so do contact me if you'd like pointers.

Post 16 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 17:23:39

you dont need to turn off system sounds in order for this messid to work, byran. Just have all of your windows sounds coming thru one sound card, and be sure your JAWS is coming thru the same sound card as your windows sounds.
the second card, ccan b used for Winamp
My example includes a Turtle Beach Ccard and Sound Blaster Live.
The Turtle Beach card has all of my windows sounds, plus JAWS going thru it and the Sound Blaster Live has Winamp.

Post 17 by renegade rocker (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 18:34:41

I usually turn them off anyway for normal usage. The sam encoders can be used with one card, but crossfading isn't possible using the audiopipeline setting in the encoders. For that you will need the line recording plugin to do voicebreaks. To do voicedrop-ins over your music two cards must be used. Also if you're using the sqr crossfader, be sure to select it from within the options of the plugin under it's dsp tab. Also for those who use xp, the quickmix program is your friend.

Post 18 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 19:01:52

I've heard of quickmix, isn't it a program that puts volume settings at a set level?

Post 19 by renegade rocker (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 19:13:42

No, it stores your settings in a file in case you do something that messes up your settings provided you made a file with your propper settings. It's a good idea to make more than one file, so you've got a settings file for normal use, and two for broadcasting, one file with your microphone in playback settings unmuted, and another with the playback microphone muted, both files utilising the what you hear option.

Post 20 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 19:16:33

Oh you have a different setup then I do, I have a mixer hooked up to my computer, so just use the pot to control the mike volume from that. my mixer is hooked up to the line in of my SB Live sound card. so all i need to do is have What You Hear in recordings, and line in unmuted under playback.

Post 21 by renegade rocker (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 19:38:36

I also have an eight channel yamaha 8mtx deck that has an onboard mixer and using two sm58 microphones, standard for vocals. I could use ither or, but I just use a headset combo for the most part using the settings I outlined.

Post 22 by renegade rocker (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 19:47:13

The sqr crossfader also needs some tweaking at first. Or if you'd like to avoid that, and you've got someone who has a .ini file that has saved settings, ya can use that. I have one a friend made with very fine-tuned settings.

Post 23 by renegade rocker (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 19:58:24

Also for anyone using winamp and the two card method and you're just getting started, get to know the winamp playlist editer, that will be of good use during a broadcast.

Post 24 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 20:46:20

if you are brave you can manually do crossfades as well.
just use 3 instances of Winamp running.
I have the Shure SM-57 mick, and i'd use the Sm-58 if i were you.

Post 25 by renegade rocker (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 23:51:14

Also you will need to put the lame mp3 encoder in three places when setting up the encoders, in the main winamp directory, in the winamp plugins directory, and in the system 32 folder in windows.

Post 26 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 23-May-2013 23:56:24

i used the Fraunhofer Radium MP3 codec 1.263. i told SAM Encoders to use those. i didn't have to have it in 3 places either.