Linux Radio @ Linux Expo '99

ZenMaster writes "There will be a Linux broadcasting company attending Linux Expo '99 and broadcasting all throughout next week! They are also going to have a camera setup for people not attending the expo to watch what's going on. Go to their website for more info: www.linux-radio.com " Rob's already down there (on vacation. Bah-after two years of working everyday, he thinks he can take time off. Bah. :) ), but for all of you coming down, visit us in the non-profit...alley.

Re:Icecast (UPDATE)

[Ben Rigas]

They have updated the site again, they now have a working icecast setup!

from the site:

YOU ASKED -- AND WE DID IT!

We were hammered with e-mail messages from all of you Slashdot folks, and the majority of them were requests that Linux-Radio.Com start producing content in streaming-MP3 format. Well, we finally have everything setup using Icecast. Be sure to visit our website sometime Tuesday for more info on how to listen *LIVE* to us at Linux Expo '99. For the RealAudio folks -- we will post the shows in RA (and MP3) format after the live broadcasts. Linux-Radio.Com would also like to thank Linux Today for welcomming us into their booth at the expo. In addition, we would like to thank Barath Raghavan (Icecast), Nate Carlson (one of our techies here at LR) and Mark Spencer (Linux Support Services) for their assistance in getting everything setup and configured for broadcasting at the expo.

Sincerely, Lukas J. Dickie & Jeremy M. Klomp

Icecast

[Ben Rigas]

Looks like they are taking suggestions :)

from the site:

NOTICE: We are working feverishly to get Icecast running. We've ran into a snag, and can't seem to figure it out. Hopefully we will have the problem worked out before the expo starts. -Ljd

Excelent. Maybe someone who knows how could lend a hand?

Re:Icecast (UPDATE)

[Brian Knotts]

QT4? QT4?!?! What the hell good does it do to use a proprietary format that the intended audience cannot listen to?!?!

Sheesh!

RA is bad enough; you pretty much have to use a 2.0.x kernel to use RealPlayer 5.0.

MP3 is the most available compressed audio stream format on the Linux platform.

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Get your fresh, hot kernels right here [kernel.org]!

Re:Nice

[Brian Knotts]

"Error 1" is seen on 2.2.x kernels (and, I expect, 2.1.x kernels after about 2.1.90, and almost certainly 2.3.x kernels).

It occurs because RealPlayer 5.0 depends on a bug in 2.0.x kernels, which is no longer present in the new kernels.

Guess the Progressive Networks people are a little too used to programming for Microsoft operating systems. With Windows, you can take advantage of a kernel bug, and feel fairly secure in the knowledge that it won't get fixed anytime soon... :-)

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Get your fresh, hot kernels right here [kernel.org]!

Streaming Audio

[sterwill]

I would recommend streaming MP3 from the site. It scales very well from 8000 Hz voice quality up to 44100 Hz stereo music, and with relatively low bandwidth requirements. One can do 11 KHz stereo on a 56K modem and keep up with the signal pretty well.

There is an abundance of players which will read MP3 via http (mpg123, WinAmp, maybe X11Amp), just feed it a URL.

Serving MP3 is easy. First, start your favorite MP3 encoder off /dev/dsp at the correct bitrate, then attach it to a FIFO--or any other method of multiplexing the stdout. Then write a script to sit on port 8022 (or whatever you want to name it), fork on a request for any GET, and pump a hand-crafted MP3 header block (with the current bitrate), and then stream off the FIFO. There are sets of scripts that do all this work for you; you supply the encoder. I think it's called mp3server, look around for it.

Everyone can encode this way, everyone can hear this way, and the sound quality is very good.

OSS A/V broadcasting

[bhmit1]

Which brings up the question, what kind of OSS is there for broadcasting audio and visual data or both synchronized. The current solution seems to be the real video stuff, but it's not OSS.

Re:Icecast (UPDATE)

[szyzyg]

Icecast with the Variable bitrate xingmp3 encoder beats RA G2 hands down - especially at low bitrates..... of course most people arne't aware that mp3/2.5 can go down to 8Kbit encoding.

Learn about these things before making stupid judgments like that... you'll only look stupid.

They Should use an Open Source Broadcast system

[szyzyg]

Like Icecast....

Especially since a lot of Linux 2.2 users can't use real audio right now.

Re:Streaming Audio

[meese]

You can just use icecast [icecast.org] to do this. This is actually what they're going to use - I just talked with them, and they should have an icecast broadcast going soon.

Re:Nice

[PD]

Or, Error 1.

These error numbers are completely STUPID. I propose another Slashdot effect for good. Everyone should write an e-mail to RealAudio slamming them for putting assinined error numbers in their program.

Re:Nice

[jelle]

Solaris X86? That raises the question: is there a way to run those binaries under Linux?

Cheers.

Nice

[jelle]

Nice site.

Too bad they don't offer an alternative to the proprietary real-audio format though... For AM-radio like quality, it shouldn't be too hard to code up a basic ADPCM codec (or find it on the net...).

Anybody knows of a freely available G.723.1a codec engine? (that's an ITU standard that needs only about 6kbit/s for telephone quality speech).

quite a lot of people have problems with realaudio (like I do), with it saying "This document is not a RealAudio or RealVideo document"... Error 11? ... Which is almost as annoying as the stumbling over G2 streams that are not even supported for those fortunate enough to get the realplayer 5.0 for Linux to work. Those real* guys really should clean up their Linux act.

Jelle

Re:none profit

[_Stryker]

I was wondering the same thing! I don't have a problem with Slashdot (a product of BSI) making a buck, but by doing so doesn't that mean they are no longer none-profit?!?
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Re:none profit

[_Stryker]

Yeah, I know. I already have some interesting plans for it. I will be moving from Sweden back to the US in July and hope to get something going then. If anyone knows of any good co-location options in Dallas/Fort Worth please let me know. I'd like to get things setup ASAP when I get to Dallas.
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none profit

[raffe]

Hey!
What does none-profit mean here?

Re:none profit

[raffe]

Hey!
Not much response on this topic. But, hey sean u gotta work a little bit on www.linuxbox.org.
:-)

Re:none profit

[raffe]

Whats wrong with sweden? Gothenburg is fine for me!