Why SHOUTcast?
“The leader in streaming audio [with] 77,771 radio stations using our technology.” – SHOUTcast
What makes SHOUTcast stand out from other internet radio station solutions like Icecast is its focus on users and its high level of accessibility.
Unlike stations on most internet radio sites, almost all SHOUTcast stations and programs are streamed live, instead of being queued up for broadcasting ahead of time by either a person or a computer.
Create Your Own Station
Most importantly, anyone and everyone can create their own online radio station simply by downloading SHOUTcast software and broadcasting tools. Those are just the bare bones of what it takes to create a smoothly-running station, though.
What Products Does SHOUTcast Offer?
When getting started, you might find the various SHOUTcast options confusing. Here are the products and tools available to you (though you may not end up using some of them at all):
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| SHOUTcast.com | The directory of online radio stations |
| SHOUTcast Server (DNAS) | The server used by you and other broadcasters |
| SHOUTcast DSP | Plug-in for Winamp that encodes your audio and sends it to SHOUTcast servers |
| SHOUTcast Free Streaming and Revenue Generation | The marketing and monetization tool that lets you earn profits based on your listenership |
| SHOUTcast API | An interface for developers who want to integrate their products with SHOUTcast |
SHOUTcast Hosting Options
Hosting providers such as VosCast, ShoutCheap, and Server Room provide comprehensive hosting plans which use many features and services to enhance your SHOUTcast streaming station.
Benefits of SHOUTcast Hosting
Here are just a few examples of the kinds of benefits you’ll get if you choose a hosting plan from SHOUTcast web hosts:
- Valuable statistics
- Pre-written codes and scripts
- The ability to stream to a variety of devices
- Control panel access
- 24/7 support
Using a Hosting Plan You Already Own
Of course, in many situations, it is also possible to run SHOUTcast on your existing web hosting plan if you’re not currently in the market to switch or don’t want to deal with the hassle.
Many hobbyists choose this approach, either by reusing a plan they already have or by building DIY web servers for small SHOUTcast stations. This approach makes sense for small ventures or individuals.
It involves a bit of tinkering, but, then again, it allows users to repurpose old hardware or use idle server capacity.
Under the Hood: SHOUTcast Technical Hosting Factors
Here’s what you need to know about technical requirements to get the right hosting for your streaming project.
Hardware and Software Requirements
In terms of hardware, SHOUTcast doesn’t place a lot of load on the server.
It is a very scalable audio streaming solution and you don’t need pricey high-end processors or very fast storage.
The SHOUTcast DNAS Server and Transcoder are available on a range of operating systems, including:
- 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7, and beyond.
- Linux is also supported in 32- and 64-bit variants.
- BSD 8.x and Mac OS X support is also included.
SHOUTcast Versions
SHOUTcast V1 and SHOUTcast V2 are both still in use, but the different versions have very similar requirements.
The biggest difference is the use of a new Stream ID and Ultravox 2.1 protocol in SHOUTcast V2.
SHOUTcast Hosting Requires Bandwidth and Scalability
Just because you can use the cheapest option for SHOUTcast doesn’t mean you should, especially if you care about your listeners’ experiences.
Cheap Hosting for SHOUTcast?
So, if the requirements are so low, why bother with hosting plans designed specifically for SHOUTcast?
The short answer is because bandwidth is important and, more often than not, it is the limiting factor for small operators. Critical factors are bandwidth, uptime, and network support.
How Many Listeners Does Your SHOUTcast Station Have?
The cheapest server hosting plans, usually priced south of $10 a month, can support a limited number of listeners. The exact number depends on the bitrate, but you are usually looking at a few dozen listeners. The average $25 plan supports up to a hundred listeners.
In case you want an unlimited number of listeners, you could get away with a $50 plan, but on a low bitrate — it’s more likely you will end up in the triple-digit territory if you go for a high-bandwidth (or even unlimited bandwidth) plan with more than 1TB of traffic.
Can I Design My Own Hosting Plan for SHOUTcast?
A number of web hosts have started offering custom SHOUTcast plans, allowing the customer to choose different parameters and create a tailored SHOUTcast host package for their radio station.
This approach makes sense depending on the niche you are interested in.
Hardware and bandwidth requirements can be drastically different depending on what sort of video or audio streaming broadcast you plan to host (different bitrate, regional peaks or global reach, talk radio, 24/7 music, etc.).
Dedicated SHOUTcast Servers
Dedicated plans are the best choice for ambitious users. They usually start with limited traffic and basic hardware, but users can customize and cherry pick the upgrades they are likely to need.
Unmetered Dedicated Plans
Unmetered plans typically provide a 100Mbps connection. These plans also tend to feature RAID or SSD storage, along with quad-core Xeons and at least 8 GB of RAM.
What Add-Ons Will I Need for My SHOUTcast Station?
However, bear in mind that many web hosts will also require you to purchase a control panel and license, pay for proper server management, and so on.
Comparing list prices is not enough – you will have to dig a bit deeper in order to accurately compare server hosting plans, as these costs can quickly add up.
The Top Three SHOUTcast Hosting Providers
If you’ve decided you’re not in need of SHOUTcast hosting provided by a niche web host (say, if you want to do other things with your site besides stream audio or video), or if you’re curious to see if your current web host supports SHOUTcast streaming, then look no further.
We’ve already made a number of recommendations above in terms of the best SHOUTcast server hosting providers.
However, if you’re not sure which one will truly be the best for your needs, check out our picks for the top three:
Bluehost
Bluehost Home Page
Let’s start with Bluehost, our top pick for SHOUTcast hosting. A well-known name in the web hosting space and synonymous with performance and support, Bluehost is a brilliant choice for pretty much anyone.
Here are some reasons why:
- Bluehost comes chock-full of video and audio streaming features and support.
- With world-class technology powering its servers, you won’t have to worry about uptime performance issues while streaming your internet radio station.
- This is the best option if you want VPS or dedicated server hosting that gives you control over configuration and peace of mind when it comes to performance.
Hostwinds
HostWinds Home Page
Hostwinds is another great choice for SHOUTcast hosting, as plans are available for users specifically looking to stream audio and video from their website. Hostwinds SHOUTcast hosting includes:
- A fantastic server uptime guarantee
- Easy setup
- Reliable technical support
- Affordable pricing options
- Assistance with advertising and marketing
These plans would be ideal if your internet radio station or podcast is brand new and you want time (and room) to eventually scale your server to accommodate traffic growth.
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting Home Page
Finally, we also recommend A2 Hosting, one of our picks for the best streaming audio/video hosting. There’s a good reason for this as, like Hostwinds, A2 Hosting has plans dedicated to SHOUTcast hosting. If security, bandwidth, and ease of use are a priority for your streaming audio site, then this would be a great web hosting option to consider.
As a bonus, since these plans fall under the category of managed server hosting, you won’t have to worry about configuring the server, managing upgrades, or handling other performance monitoring tasks often involved in traditional VPS and dedicated server hosting.
What to Look for in SHOUTcast Hosting
All in all, here is what you’re going to want to look for if you want to run a high-performance audio or video streaming website:
- VPS or dedicated server hosting
- 99.9% or higher uptime guarantee
- Audio and video streaming features
- CDN or other performance-enhancing add-ons
- Flexible or unlimited bandwidth options
- Reliable, 24/7 technical support
Other features in Niche Software
SHOUTcast Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use SHOUTcast with a shared hosting plan?
Shared hosting doesn’t normally support SHOUTcast, mainly because of the bandwidth it uses.
- Can I use SHOUTcast on a VPS hosting plan?
Yes. Check what the bandwidth limitations are and if there are any fees for exceeding them.
- What type of software is needed to listen to SHOUTcast audio streams?
Most MP3 players and services can play SHOUTcast audio streams, including Winamp, iTunes, and Windows Media Player. VLC Player has removed support for the SHOUTcast protocol due to licensing concerns.
- Is SHOUTcast free?
There is a free version of SHOUTcast. It does not include monetization features, analytics, or support. Premium editions of the software provide some or all of these features and also allow for the use of CDNs.
- Can I broadcast from my home computer?
Yes. You can set up a SHOUTcast streaming server on your web hosting account, then connect to it from the SHOUTcast app on your own computer. Although you can skip the server and broadcast directly, this isn’t recommended.
- What are the web hosting requirements for SHOUTcast?
You can run SHOUTcast on Linux, Mac, or Windows web hosting, providing your plan supports it.
- Can I use SHOUTcast for streaming video?
Yes. SHOUTcast supports the streaming of video.
- What is the difference between SHOUTcast v1 and SHOUTcast v2?
SHOUTcast v1 is not supported by modern browsers, as it uses non-standard ports which have been deprecated. SHOUTcast v2 is fully supported, and also adds API support.
- How much bandwidth do I need to stream SHOUTcast audio?
There is no set limit, because it depends on the bitrate, which will vary depending on whether you’re broadcasting audio or speech. It also depends on how many users are listening.
- Do I need a dedicated server for SHOUTcast?
If you plan to broadcast high-quality audio, or build a large audience, a dedicated server is a good idea. It will provide room to grow, while giving you complete control over the software. As with a VPS server, check the bandwidth limits carefully.
- Can I use SHOUTcast to run a station in iTunes Radio?
Yes. You can submit your SHOUTcast-based internet radio station to iTunes. Your station will need to be approved before it appears in the directory.
- What are some alternatives to SHOUTcast?
Take a look at Icecast v2, or use a subscription service that offers a full hosted radio platform.
Comments