Icecast Streaming Media Server

[ColdWorld]

Hello,

We're setting up Icecast and Ices. We're using what seems to be the default configurations shipped with these two packages (with the correct IP address, file locations and so on for our server.)

Our web page is at http://www.radiofreeneptune.com .

If I click on Play, a window appears to ask if I want to open the stream in Windows Media Player. I say yes, Media Player opens and starts buffering... and nothing happens until I manually click on the Play button in Media Player.

This seems to happen with any client, under any OS that we've tried.

All the Icecast-based radio stations I've seen started playing as soon as Media Player (or any other client) opens.

I sense we've done something wrong in configuring it, and I'll bet it's something obvious and basic.

Can anyone suggest where we should look to fix this issue?

Thanks.

-Michael

[karlH]

My vlc worked with your m3u link, I get playback without issue. The only unusual thing I see is the samplerate being 24khz. It's valid but maybe the players or audio drivers you tried cannot handle it. Check with a more common samplerate like 22khz or 44khz and see if playback occurs for you.

karl.

[ColdWorld]

Thanks for your reply, and for trying out our page.

Okay, I tried it again with several other clients, and you're right. Most of them did start playing immediately.

WinAmp, MusicMatch and such were solid.

The one that was consistently a problem was (no surprise) Windows Media Player. It just sat there "buffering" until its Start button was manually clicked.

I have successfully used Media Player to listen to other Icecast streams and it started all by itself. I'd like ours to be able to do so as well, so that listeners who aren't up to much more than booting up their computers and clicking on links will still have smooth experiences with our stuff.

Any thoughts as to what's wrong?

Thanks again.

-Michael

[karlH]

Like I said before, try a common samplerate. WMP has traditionally been a rather poor quality player so an unusual samplerate may not be handled. You may even find it plays the very same content as a file.

karl.

[ColdWorld]

Oooops... my bad. I rebuilt the MP3s, uploaded the MP3 and then forgot to move the MP3s to the correct directory.

The MP3s on line are now using 96 bps, which seems to be the sampling rate that most of the Icecast radio stations I've peeked at are using.

Sadly, the problem persists. Listening with WinAmp gets the music going immediately. Listening with Windows Media Player puts everything on hold 'til someone clicks on the Play button.

You're being kind when you describe Media Player as "a rather poor quality player;" I'd have said "rather dreadful." However, it does start playing automatically for other radio stations, so I assume I'm still doing something wrong.

Thanks for all your help so far.

-Michael

[karlH]

Check what wmp is actually trying to do. I don't know off-hand if the m3u support is handled properly so it may be dropping back to a previously cached link which needs the play clicking. MS like to reinvent something that already exists into something that is MS specific and have poor support for the cross platform spec, the native format for Ms is asx so maybe you can create an asx page and put that onto the webroot of icecast.

karl.