Streaming WMA on Apollo

[Daiver]

So, I finally convinced myself the WMA sounds a lot better than MP3 and would like to stream my audio using that format. I browsed around MSs site and couldn't find any info regarding the licence, install, etc.

Is it free? Can it be installed in my VPS?

[Daiver]

Anyone know anything about this?

[Vin DSL]

Only have a minute...

I don't know anything about WMA, but RealAudio does an excellent job too, and you can get the encoder for free. It's called RealProducer.

Having said that, the format with the most promise, IMHO, is AAC. I listened to a 56Kbps AAC stream for 20 hours yesterday, and it sounded great.

So, there are a couple of alternatives for you, if WMA turns out to be a hassle...

[Daiver]

Thanks. I'll look into AAC also. I hate RealAudio since the very beginning for some reason... Don't know.

I was thinking WMA because everyone with a Windows box has Media Player, so it should be fairly easy to tune in. Also, you can set a webpage in WMP via ASX. I did it a while ago, but can't remember very well all the details. Also, back then I was running on www.audiorealm.com, so I didn't have to set up anything.

[JonathanB]

I hate RealAudio since the very beginning for some reason... Don't know.

I was thinking WMA because everyone with a Windows box has Media Player, so it should be fairly easy to tune in.

While you hate RealAudio there are those out there (myself included) who do not like Windows Media Player.

I know you said you don't want to use MP3, but if you did, that would work no matter what player the user had configured to play MP3 files on their machine.

If you still want to use WMA then I would suggest giving the user a few options (i.e. WMA and MP3). Personally if an audio or video clip is only available in Windows Media format, I will not click on it and go elsewhere.

[Daiver]

Yes, I understand that there are some Media Player haters out there and it's OK, since I have the same problem with Real Player.

I did have in mind offering both streams, but considering that in the past my WMA stream was far more succcessful, I don't know if it's really worth it.

Anyway, can I run this stream from the Linux VPS that I have? Is it free?

[the_ancient]

I did have in mind offering both streams, but considering that in the past my WMA stream was far more succcessful, I don't know if it's really worth it.

that is like saying "Most of the internet using IE so why whould I make my site viewable on firefox"

[Vin DSL]

Yes, I understand that there are some Media Player haters out there and it's OK, since I have the same problem with Real Player...

That's funny!

I started off using the Windows player, whatever it used to be called, but when 'they' came out with RealPlayer, I thought I was in Hog Heaven. I tried other players, over the years, but the only one I 'hated' was Winamp. I avoided it like the plague.

Now, whenever possible, I use Winamp -- it's my player of choice today. Isn't that a hoot?

I guess I'm fickle, but personally, I cannot stand the Windows Media Player -- the one I started out liking the best originally...

[Vin DSL]

I did a little checking and found this:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...g/default.aspx

Is that what you were looking for?

This is where I found it:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...r/default.aspx

[Daiver]

Thanks Vin. Apparently, there's no was to broadcast live using a Linux box, so my VPS is out of the question.

I've always used Winamp as the player of my choice up until a month ago. All my mp3s, midis, wavs, etc. were played on it. Recently, Winamp was purchased by AOL. So there really isn't much difference between AOL and MS. Why install third party software on and OS which already comes with software that does exactly the same thing? I used to do it because I trusted and beleived more in Nullsoft than MS. However, now that it has been purchased by AOL, there is no need to make a stand. AOL-Time-Warner is a huge media conglomerate and I don't like media monopolies. So, between that giant and the other giant (MS), I'll take No. 2.

I really hate IE, but the fact is that most casual users don't even know that there are options available. They just assume IE is the only thing designed for browsing. Personally, I use Firefox, but I'd really hate to lose the IE traffic, which usually accounts for more than 90% of the visitors to my forum.

Also, please note that WMA has far better quality than MP3 at lower streamrates.

[Vin DSL]

Thanks Vin. Apparently, there's no was to broadcast live using a Linux box, so my VPS is out of the question.

Um... can you restate that a different way please?

Are you saying, for instance, that you can't run a Shoutcast server on VPS

http://www.shoutcast.com/support/doc...vlayout=normal

I really hate IE... Personally, I use Firefox...

Yeah, me too! I've been using Firefox since the day Phoenix came out, or thereabout. I'm currently using:

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-US; rv:1.7.12) Gecko/20051021 Firefox/1.0.7

Also, please note that WMA has far better quality than MP3 at lower streamrates.

I think that's a matter of opinion. I listen to a lot of streaming audio on the web -- always have. IMHO, when it comes to low bit rates, nothing sounds better than RealPlayer. If you'll pardon the pun, this becomes RealApparent when you start producing them. However, like I said above, AAC has captured my interest lately. I can't believe how good 56Kbps sounds.

See what you think...
Italian Dance Network (56Kbps audio/aac): http://stream.italiandancenetwork.com:8000/

It's not all that great, but it's perfectly listenable! This is the stream I listened to for 20 hours, the other day, while I was coding...

[Ron]

Vin,
If I click on that, am I going to hear the Chicken Dance for the Electric Slide?

[Daiver]

Vin, yes, I made a mistake. There is no way to broadcast a live WMA stream from a Linux box. I'm running Shoutcast on my VPS with no problems.

Regarding stream quality, I've found that if the stream is under 48kbps, it's really not worth listening to it unless it's a police or aeronautical scanner. Between 48kbps and 64kbps, an MP3 stream using MP3Pro technology is best. Between 64kbps and 96kbps WMA takes the win. Anything beyond 96kbps is pretty much the same. At least that's the was I hear it.

I can't listen to that AAC stream because I don't have Winamp in this box. I'll try it later from the other one and see how it is.

Oh, and Firefox 1.5 is out. Try it, it's great.