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.
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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