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John Chen's blog

Wednesday Sep 10, 2008

Internet Radio Assay

Internet Radio Origins

Internet radio was first pioneered by Malamud, Carl in the early 90's. After the development of streaming audio through the world wide web or local area network. It was first introduced to fill a niche market to allow businesses to communicate via voice from one country to another, using data rather then the plain old telephone service (POTS).

The first internet radio station was called "The Internet Talk Radio" which was also started by Carl Malamud, the show had an exclusive audience, mainly hardcore computer nerds. On the show each week, Carl would interview a computer expert on various new computer systems and hardware.

It was not until 1994 the first Internet Radio station to broadcast music was launched by a traditional broadcasting radio station WXYC based in the United States. During the same time a college radio station began experimenting with their own online radio streaming format. WREK atlanta (http://www.wrek.org/) not only offered to campus students and staff news and music, but also offered an online stream via their website.

Internet Radio technology

internet radio was only be made possible with the advances in audio compression / encoding technology and the increase spread of high speed broadband & network. Internet Radio in theory works on the same infrastructure as a traditional broadcast station, but the technology used is vastly different.

Stations can also use flash based players to stream their audio, many flash players such as the one used at krankydigital - internet radio  have volume controls and can be embedded using simple Javascript. 

Converting normal audio into data requires an encoder to turn the sound into data. Listed below are some of the most popular encoders available to the general public;

  • LAME (mp3)
  • FLAC
  • Vorbis (ogg)

    Internet Radio infrastructure

    An internet radio station can be located anywhere around the world. Using a specialized server or just a simple computer setup with the correct streaming software, turns the computer into a central hub where listeners can connect and listen to the audio stream.

    A source of audio is required into the server. This source is generally a normal audio source which has been encoded into various data formats such as MP3, AAC, OGG. The origin of the source does not need to be in the same location as the main broadcasting server.

    Using specialized software developed such as Nullsoft Shoutcast DSP, a stream source can connect to the broadcast server from anywhere around the world through the internet. This removes the need for an internet radio station to be tied down to one specific geographical location.

    Once the stream source connects to the broadcast server, the data is relayed to the listeners. Using multimedia software such as Winamp, VLC, Windows Media Player and iTunes, the listeners connect to the broadcasting service via IP (101.101.101.101) or via URL (http://streamingradio.etc:800).

    Internet Radio Related Downloads

    Broadcasting

  • Nullsoft Shoutcast - Click here
  • Oddcast - Click here
  • Icecast - Click here
  • Peercast - Click here
  • Steamcast - Click here

    Media Players

  • VLC - Click here
  • Nullsoft Winamp - Click here

    Sound Recording and Editing Software

  • HarddiskOgg - Click here
  • Audacity - Click Here
  • Total Recorder - Click here
  • MP3directCUT - Click Here

    Krankydigital is a non for profit internet radio station focusing on live electronic music, if you would like more information on this topic please visit http://www.krankydigital.com.

    You may distribute this article in whole only. You must give credit to the Author

    Author: John Chen
    About the author: John is the co-founder of krankydigital.com a non profit internet radio station. He is also a Drum and Bass DJ on krankydigital.com


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    John Chen


    Involved heavily in the web design industry and electronic music industry, I am currently mentoring young upcoming artists and designers. Assisting th...