Live Broadcasting in Mixxx allow you to stream your mix over the Internet tolisteners around the world.

See also

The most popular DJ broadcasting software used in Second Life is probably SAM, but for many the price tag of around $300 is very off putting. However there are alternative DJ broadcasting systems and one of the best has to be Mixxx, not least because its completely free.

The Using Microphones chapter has detailed instructions forincluding input from microphones in your broadcasted mixes.

10.1. Streaming Servers¶

Mixxx allows you to feed your audio stream directly toShoutcast and Icecast streaming servers.Depending on the number of listeners, streaming audio requires a significantamount of bandwidth. Streaming servers provide the required bandwidth andbroadcast the stream to your listeners. A popular free streaming service isCaster.fm. A review of several free and paid streamhosts is available atbroadcastingworld.net.

Mixxx as client-side streaming source broadcasting to anremote streaming server¶

For experienced users, it may be interesting to set up your own local streamingserver. This turns your personal computer into a radio station and listenersconnect directly to your server. Mixxx as a streaming source does not need torun on the same computer as your streaming server. However, professionalstations often run the streaming source on the same computer as the streamingserver for stability and reliability reasons. Keep in mind that if want tostream audio to a significant number of listeners, you’ll need enoughbandwidth. Read theShoutcast documentationorIcecast documentation for server setupinstructions.

Mixxx as client-side streaming source broadcasting to anlocal streaming server¶

10.2. Configuring Mixxx¶

Start by supplying Mixxx with all information needed to establish a connectionto the streaming server:

• Open Preferences ‣ Live Broadcasting.

• Insert the settings following the descriptions in theLive Broadcasting Preferences

• Click OK

• Go to Options ‣ Enable Live Broadcasting or usethe Application shortcuts to start broadcasting.

10.3. Live Broadcasting Preferences¶

Server Connection

• Type: Select the type of streaming server you want to connect with.Shoutcast 1, Icecast 1, andIcecast 2 servers are supported.

  Mixxx works with Shoutcast 2 using the Shoutcast 1 protocol if you provide astream name in Preferences ‣ Live Broadcasting ‣Stream Settings. If you don’t provide a stream name, Shoutcast 2 rejects theconnection (where Shoutcast 1 would accept this case).

• Host: You can enter the host as either a host name or an IP address.

• Login: As provided by your streaming server provider. Without this, youwill not connect successfully to the server. The default login forIcecast is source while the default login for Shoutcast is admin.

• Mount: A mount point is a unique name identifying a particular stream.For Shoutcast it is not necessary to specify a mount point. The setting mustnot be blank if you are using Icecast. Try the default /mount or/live. If you haven’t been given a specific mount point you can usuallymake one up. It always begins with a / (slash) followed by a text withoutany special characters in it.

• Port: As provided by your streaming server provider. Most servers use thedefault port 8000.

• Password: As provided by your streaming server provider, unless you runyour own radio server. It is required to establish the connection to theserver and to start the broadcast.

Warning

Do not enter a URL as the host! http://example.com:8000does not work. Use example.com in the Host fieldand 8000 in the Port field instead.

Stream Setting

• Public stream: If enabled, this option adds your radio station to theShoutcast/Icecast directory.

• Enable UTF-8 metadata: If enabled, this option fixes broken accented andforeign language symbols in metadata, assuming the streaming providerhas configured the server to support UTF-8 metadata.

• Dynamically update Ogg Vorbis metadata: Due to flaws in some streamingclients, updating Ogg Vorbis metadata dynamically can cause listener glitchesand disconnections. Check this box to update the metadata anyway. Some playersthat listeners can use have bugs that can cause audio glitches ordisconnections when the Ogg Vorbis metadata is updated dynamically. If this isnot a problem, you can enable this checkbox.

• Stream name: So, what’s the name of your show?

• Website: The website you would like your listeners to visit.

• Description: Enter your DJ name and a short tagline.

• Genre: List the main genres you play. This attracts search hits on streamdirectories. Genre must not be blank.

Encoding

• Bitrate: Selecting a bitrate of 128 or 160 kbps is commonand provides sufficient quality to your listeners. Higher bitrates will use alarger chunk in your Internet connection bandwidth to stream and for yourlisteners to receive the stream.

• Format: Mixxx supports streaming to Icecast servers either in MP3or Ogg Vorbis format, streaming to Shoutcast servers is supported inMP3 format.

Shoutcast metadata format

This allows to set custom metatdata formats for the Shoutcast title field.Previously only artist-title was allowed. For example if you werebroadcasting as part of a station, you could add the station’s name or thepresenter’s name in the title: MyStation|$artist-$title.Or if you were doing a live mix with several artists, you could have:LivemixbyMyName-currentlyplaying:$artist. Or even if you wanted avery unusual format: Hey,Ilike$artist,hereis$titleby$artist.

The changes do not affect the case for the combination of OGG/Icecast2.

Custom metadata

By default, Mixxx broadcasts artist and title information of the files that youplay to your listeners. You can disable this feature and use your own custommetadata.

• Enable custom metadata: Toggles custom metadata on and off.

• Artist: Insert your custom artist metadata here, your DJ name for example.

• Title: Insert your custom title metadata here.

Note

Due to licensing restrictions, MP3 streaming is not enabled bydefault. For information on how to enable MP3 streaming, go tothe chapter Activate MP3 streaming support.

10.3.1. Icecast vs. Shoutcast¶

Both essentially serve the same purpose. An Icecast server can stream eitherMP3 or Ogg Vorbis. However, although Ogg is more efficient andeffective (you get higher-fidelity sound than MP3 at lower data rates) not allplayers can play Ogg streams. As a result MP3 is probably a safe choice unlessyou know your listeners can hear an Ogg stream successfully.

10.3.2. Broadcast directories¶

Generally your streaming server host adds your radio station to theShoutcast/Icecast directory, if you enable the Public Stream optionin Preferences ‣ Live Broadcasting ‣ Stream Settings.

• Shoutcast radio directory: www.shoutcast.com

• Icecast radio directory: dir.xiph.org

Often streaming hosts will run their own directories. Check your host’s FAQ tofind out. If you want to promote your streaming radio station even more,register at services like streamfinder.com.An overview of different internet radio directories is available atshoutcheap.com

10.4. Troubleshooting¶

• If you have trouble connecting to your streaming server, check theconfiguration in the Live Broadcasting Preferences.

• You may need the LAME libraries to stream in MP3. SeeActivate MP3 streaming support.

• You may have selected the Ogg Vorbis format that is unsupported byShoutcast servers.

• You may need to check your firewall settings. Both Icecast and Shoutcast usetwo ports. If you are streaming on a port (for example, port 8000) then youneed to open up the next port (port 8001) as well.

• You may need to configure port forwarding if you are behind a router or yourrouter will block requests to your streaming port (for example, port 8000)

10.5. Activate MP3 streaming support¶

Due to licensing restrictions, MP3 streaming is not enabled by default.In order to enable MP3 streaming you must install the LAME MP3codec yourself. The following section explains how you can do that.

Hint

If you have activated MP3 streaming support, you’ll be also able torecord your mixes in MP3 format. Go to the chapterRecording Your Mix for more information.

10.5.1. Activate MP3 streaming support on Windows¶

To activate MP3 streaming on Windows, follow these steps:

1. Download LAME 3.98.4 binaries fromhttps://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lame-libraries.php.

   Hint

   The download page includes 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Make surethe version you download matches the version of Mixxx that youuse, not the version of Windows. If you are on 64bit Windows butare using 32bit Mixxx, you need the 32bit (“x86”) version of theLAME binaries.

2. Unpack the downloaded archive. You need a utility for manipulating archiveslike the free 7zip.

3. Copy libmp3lame.dll to the location you have installed Mixxx,probably C:ProgramFilesMixxx.

4. Only if you are running Mixxx 1.11 or earlier, you must also renamelibmp3lame.dll to lame_enc.dll in the folder where you haveinstalled Mixxx. Select Help ‣ About to find out yourversion of Mixxx.

5. Restart Mixxx

10.5.1.1. Windows Troubleshooting¶

• Double check that the version of LAME you use (“x86” = 32-bit vs. “x64” =64-bit) matches the version of Mixxx you use.

• If you are running Mixxx 1.11 or earlier, did you rename thelibmp3lame.dll to lame_enc.dll?

• Make sure you put the correct LAME *.dll file in the same folder thatcontains the installation of Mixxx you are using.

Warning

Some websites like Audacityprovide lame binaries too. Do not use these versions orMixxx will show an error when activating live broadcasting and yourstream will fail.

10.5.2. Activate MP3 streaming support on macOS¶

10.5.2.1. Method A: Download¶

To activate MP3 streaming on macOS, follow these steps:

1. DownloadLAME 3.98.4Intel (macOS 10.8+ 64-bit)

2. Double-click on the downloaded zip file to unpack the file and you’ll getan installer package file

3. Double-click on the installer package file and follow the step-by-stepinstructions in the installer

4. Restart Mixxx

10.5.2.2. Method B: Package manager¶

Another easy way to activate MP3 streaming is to use Homebrewor MacPorts, which are package managers likeapt on Debian/UbuntuLinux. They provide a convenient way to install many Open Source packages.Once Homebrew or Macports is installed, adding MP3 support to Mixxx is rathersimple.

Homebrew:

1. Open a terminal and type the following commands:

2. Restart Mixxx

Macports:

Radio Streaming Prices

1. Open a terminal and type the following commands:

2. Restart Mixxx

10.5.3. Activate MP3 streaming support on Linux¶

Radiojar Vs Radio Co

On Ubuntu and GNU/Linux-based operating systems MP3 streams can be activated byinstalling the package libmp3lame. Dependent on your Linux distributionthe package might be slightly named different such as lame.

Online Broadcasting

1. Open a terminal and type the following commands:

2. Restart Mixxx