Monday
Sep292008
TWiT-AM Is On The Air
Monday, September 29, 2008 at 11:07AM
I like to use my days off to work on projects that I just don't have time to get to otherwise. This morning I set up an audio server for the TWiT Live show that's compatible with the iPhone and other portable devices. This is something many of you have been asking for, even Dane! It's up now if you'd like to give it a try.
I've been listening on the iPhone using NullRiver's $5.99 Tuner Internet Radio (which is quite good for other streams, too, by the way).
According to Randal Schwartz, the free FStream works, too, but I haven't been able to figure it out myself. (UPDATE: I was adding .m3u to the URL - that confused Fstream, just use http://twit.am/listen.)
The stream works great, even on 3G while driving around. I'm sending a 64kbps stream, so it might not work as well on Edge (UPDATE: worked fine as a drove around Petaluma even with Edge!). I'd love to get some listening reports.
For folks who want the technical details, I've set up a dedicated server at Softlayer with a gigabit connection and icecast2. 4TB a month will cost me about $400. That's enough for 4000 listeners at 64kbps 24x7. If we need more I'll get more.
Listeners will connect to this server, but the content will be sent to the server from our studios using a Barix Instreamer hardware encoder. The encoder takes the output of my mixer, turns it into MP3 audio, then uses the T1 to send it to the server.
This should be a pretty reliable setup. I'll send live audio when we're on the air, and TWiT podcasts when we're not. We're in beta right now - at least until the Barix arrives and the twit.am URL propogates, but I would like your feedback, pro and con.
http://twit.am/listen
This URL will work in iTunes, WinAmp, and other Shoutcast/Icecast compatible players.I've been listening on the iPhone using NullRiver's $5.99 Tuner Internet Radio (which is quite good for other streams, too, by the way).
According to Randal Schwartz, the free FStream works, too, but I haven't been able to figure it out myself. (UPDATE: I was adding .m3u to the URL - that confused Fstream, just use http://twit.am/listen.)
The stream works great, even on 3G while driving around. I'm sending a 64kbps stream, so it might not work as well on Edge (UPDATE: worked fine as a drove around Petaluma even with Edge!). I'd love to get some listening reports.
For folks who want the technical details, I've set up a dedicated server at Softlayer with a gigabit connection and icecast2. 4TB a month will cost me about $400. That's enough for 4000 listeners at 64kbps 24x7. If we need more I'll get more.
Listeners will connect to this server, but the content will be sent to the server from our studios using a Barix Instreamer hardware encoder. The encoder takes the output of my mixer, turns it into MP3 audio, then uses the T1 to send it to the server.
This should be a pretty reliable setup. I'll send live audio when we're on the air, and TWiT podcasts when we're not. We're in beta right now - at least until the Barix arrives and the twit.am URL propogates, but I would like your feedback, pro and con.
Reader Comments (33)
Here's the code I use, your mileage may very.
http://www.justjohn.us/scripts/streamtwit.phps">http://www.justjohn.us/scripts/streamtwit.phps
Thanks for this! The TWIT stream is working well on my iPhone.
Now, if only Adobe and Apple can agree on a Flash plugin for the iPhone/iPod Touch ...
Thanks, Leo.
I'm listening on my Centro (sorry - no iPhone!). I'm using Pocket Tunes, Under Tools, Internet radio I added http://twit.am">http://twit.am and it's working!
Listening with Null River Tuner on iPhone in Peoria, IL. It plays in Peoria, it should play anywhere!
I finally got it to work. after much fussing, using FStream. (iPhone)
URL http://twit.am/listen">http://twit.am/listen
Bitrate 64K
Format m3u
I'm using it through a 3G network (Chicago suburbs).
Thanks Chris! worked first time!
Hey Leo,
I think it's great to have the stream, but I'd thought I'd mention you should check your math. If you have 4TB per month of total bandwidth, that will service 200 listeners who were connected 24/7 at 64kbps.
And thanks for sharing info about the Barix Instreamer. I've been looking for a product like this, and I happen to like it's feature set.
Lane (long time listener, first time caller)
Very cool. Being a new iPod Touch user who just happened to download Tuner for listening to our own Shoutcast feed I was very pleased to come across your Twitter stream. Thank you for making this available for us!