Knowledge Base

HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) is an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol developed by Apple. It works by breaking the audio stream into small .ts (MPEG-TS) chunks, typically 2–10 seconds long, and serving them via standard HTTP (or HTTPS). A master playlist (.m3u8) dynamically lists available stream variants (e.g., 64 kbps, 128 kbps, 256 kbps), allowing players to switch quality in real time based on network conditions.

✅ Pros of HLS

• Adaptive bitrate: Listeners automatically get the best quality their connection can handle.
• Firewall-friendly: Uses standard HTTP(S), so it works everywhere - including mobile networks and strict corporate firewalls.
• Scalable: Easily served via CDNs and standard web servers.

⚠️ Cons of HLS

• Latency: Due to chunking and buffering, HLS typically adds 10–30 seconds of delay, making it unsuitable for real-time interaction.
• No real-time listener stats: Unlike Icecast or SHOUTcast, HLS is delivered over HTTP like regular web files - there’s no built-in way to count concurrent listeners or track who’s tuned in.
• Geo-blocking limitations: Since HLS chunks are served like static files, traditional IP-based geo-restriction at the stream level doesn’t work in our setup.

Clarifying HLS Misconceptions

Many confuse two types of .m3u playlists:

• Static playlist: A simple list of unrelated streams (e.g., http://radio.com:8080/stream_128, http://radio.com:8080/stream_64).
• True HLS: A chunked, segmented live stream with time-sliced audio (.ts files) and dynamic quality switching.

Our control panel uses the correct, standards-compliant HLS - live audio is split into short chunks, not a static playlist.

Additionally:

• MP3 and AAC streams are kept separate: You’ll get distinct HLS URLs for MP3 and AAC - never mixed.
• Multiple Icecast/SHOUTcast sources? If you have several encoders or servers running different bitrates (e.g., 64, 128, 256 kbps), our system combines them into a single HLS master link. The player then auto-selects the best stream based on bandwidth.

This modern approach ensures broad compatibility - especially on iOS, Android, and web players - while delivering a smooth, adaptive listening experience.

Our Streaming.Center Internet-radio Control Panel allows you to upload audio files (MP3, FLAC, AAC, and others) directly through the web interface in the Media Library section. However, it’s much more convenient, faster, and reliable to use a dedicated FTP client - especially when uploading large batches of files or high-quality albums.

Why Use an FTP Client?

• Fast bulk uploads: send hundreds of files at once.
• Full format support: MP3, FLAC, AAC: you can upload files with *.mp3, *.flac, *.aac, *.m4a extension.
• Greater stability: fewer errors compared to web-based uploads.
• Full control: easily manage your folder structure and files: quickly rename and move files and folders.

Download the FTP Client: FileZilla

One of the best free FTP clients is FileZilla.
It is:

• completely free and ad-free,
• fully supports Unicode and special characters in filenames,
• available for Windows, macOS, and Linux,
• equipped with an intuitive interface,
• ideal for managing and updating files on your radio.

👉 Download FileZilla from the official website: https://filezilla-project.org/

Please install FileZilla Client (not Server!). The program is only about 4 - 5 MB in size.

Installation and Launch

FileZilla installation is straightforward and requires no technical expertise.
Once installed, launch the program via the “FileZilla Client” shortcut on your desktop or in the Start menu.

Connecting to Your FTP Server

To connect, you’ll need three credentials, which you can find in your control panel:

1. Host (server address)
2. Username
3. Password

💡 Where to find your credentials?

All FTP login details are available in the “Settings” section of your internet radio control panel. You can also change your password anytime there.

In FileZilla, enter these three values in the top toolbar and click “Quickconnect.”

Upon successful connection, the right panel will display the following server directories:

• media/ — main folder for music (used by Auto-DJ)
• jingles/ — jingles and short station IDs
• intro/ — intro tracks
• htdocs/ — website files for your radio

How to Upload Audio Files

1. In the right panel, navigate to:
   media/Server_N, where N is your radio server number (typically Server_1 for newly created stations).
2. In the left panel, locate the audio files on your computer (MP3, FLAC, AAC, etc.).
3. Drag and drop the files into the right panel or double-click a file to start uploading.
4. A progress bar (green) will appear at the bottom, showing upload status.

⏱️ Important!
The server automatically scans folders every few minutes. New tracks usually appear in the “Media Library” and “Playlists” section of your control panel within 5 minutes after upload. Once processed, Auto-DJ can play them and you will be able to add them into your playlists.

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Using FileZilla gives you a professional, efficient way to manage your station’s music library—quickly, reliably, and without limitations.

Important: this guide applies only to the Streaming.Center radio panel

The setup described in this article applies only to the Streaming.Center Internet-radio control panel and uses streaming credentials generated inside your account in our panel. Settings for other services may differ.

How live streaming works on our platform (short)

To start streaming, create a DJ user in the DJs section of the Streaming.Center control panel and then configure any live streaming software using the connection parameters provided by the system. This approach is the same for all live streaming apps, not only RadioBOSS.

What is RadioBOSS?

RadioBOSS is a professional paid automation software for internet radio and FM stations:

• works as an AutoDJ: plays music 24/7 without a host;
• supports playlists, scheduling, track rotation, jingles, ads;
• can stream directly to Shoutcast / Icecast;
• supports live input: microphone and line-in;
• includes audio processing (compressor, EQ, normalization);
• widely used by small and mid-size radio stations.

It is developed by DJSoft.Net and is often used as an “all-in-one” solution to launch a station without complicated server setup.

Supported operating systems

RadioBOSS works only on Windows.

Where to download RadioBOSS

It’s recommended to download RadioBOSS only from the official website to get an up-to-date and safe version:

https://www.djsoft.net

Go to Download and choose the latest RadioBOSS version. To purchase, use Purchase .

Create a DJ user for live broadcasting

Log in to the Streaming.Center control panel and open the DJs section. By default, this section contains only AutoDJ, which is used for automated playback.
For live streaming, click Add DJ and create a new DJ user that will be used specifically for live broadcasts.

DJ settings during creation

After clicking Add DJ, the DJ creation form will open. In this form you need to:

• select Desktop/Standalone application in the Broadcast using field;
• upload the DJ image;
• enter the DJ name;
• set a password — this password will be used in RadioBOSS settings.

After filling in all fields, click Add DJ. After the DJ is created, our platform will automatically assign a separate streaming port that will be used for the live stream.

View the DJ connection parameters

After the DJ is created, it will appear in the list of DJs. Find your DJ and click Edit next to it.
The DJ settings page will open. In the Connection parameters section you’ll see the credentials for popular live streaming applications.

To connect from RadioBOSS you need three values:

• Server — the server address without http:// or https:// (important — this is a very common mistake);
• Streaming port — numeric value only;
• Password — the DJ password you set during creation.

Use these values when configuring RadioBOSS.

Add the station connection in RadioBOSS

1. Open RadioBOSS and in the top menu go to Settings
2. In the settings window, open Broadcast:
3. Next to Encoders, click the plus icon to add a new encoder
4. Fill in the Server and Password fields.
   • Server — the server from our control panel (for example: demo.streaming.center) without http:// or https://, then a colon and the port from the panel, e.g. demo.streaming.center:1050
   • Password — the DJ password from the control panel (Connection parameters)
   When both fields are filled correctly, click OK.
5. Back on the Broadcasting screen, enable Enable broadcasting, and also enable the encoder you just added. If everything is correct, you will see active in green next to the encoder — this means it is connected and streaming (you are live).

At the same time, refresh the DJs page in the control panel.
First, the DJ status will change to Connected: Yes, and after a short buffering period, On air will also become Yes. This means the DJ is connected and live streaming successfully.

Audio quality settings (recommended)

If needed, open Broadcasting in RadioBOSS again and set encoder parameters such as format, sample rate, and bitrate.

Because our radio platform automatically transcodes the incoming source into the required formats and bitrates configured in the control panel, we recommend setting the highest possible quality and bitrate in RadioBOSS. The streaming format is always MP3. This ensures the best audio quality for all streams available to listeners.

That’s it — RadioBOSS is one of the best and most popular applications for internet radio streaming.

Important: This Guide Applies to Streaming.Center Only

The setup described in this article applies exclusively to Streaming.Center Internet-radio control panel and uses streaming credentials generated inside your Streaming.Center account.

How Streaming Works with Streaming.Center (Short Overview)

To stream audio, you must first create a DJ in the “DJs” section of the Streaming.Center control panel and then configure your streaming software using the credentials provided there; this DJ-based setup works for all live streaming software supported by Streaming.Center, not only BUTT.

What is BUTT?

BUTT is a free, open-source audio streaming encoder designed specifically for live internet radio broadcasting. It captures audio from a selected input device (such as a microphone, mixer, or virtual audio interface), encodes the signal, and sends it directly to a remote streaming server.

BUTT is widely used by DJs, presenters, and internet radio stations because it is lightweight, stable, and focused on one task only: reliable live audio streaming.

Supported Operating Systems

BUTT is a cross-platform application and works on all major desktop operating systems:

• Windows
• Linux
• macOS

This makes it suitable for most broadcasting setups, regardless of the operating system used.

Where to Download BUTT

You should always download BUTT from the official project website to ensure compatibility and security:

https://danielnoethen.de/butt

Choose the installer that matches your operating system and follow the standard installation process.

Creating a DJ for Live Streaming

Log in to the Streaming.Center broadcaster interface and navigate to the “DJs” section. By default, this section contains only AutoDJ, which is used for automated playback. To enable live streaming, click the “Add DJ” button and create a new DJ account that will be used specifically for live broadcasts.

DJ Creation Settings

After clicking the “Add DJ” button, a DJ creation form will appear. In this form, select “Desktop / Standalone application” as the Broadcast using option, as this mode is intended for external streaming software such as BUTT. Then upload a DJ avatar image, specify a DJ name, and set a password — this password will later be used in the BUTT streaming settings.

Once all fields are completed, click the “Add DJ” button. After the DJ is created, our system will automatically allocate a dedicated streaming port for this DJ, which will be used for live broadcasting.

Viewing DJ Connection Parameters

After the DJ is created successfully, it will appear in the list of DJs for the radio server. Locate the newly created DJ and click “Edit” next to it. This will open the DJ settings page, where you can find connection details for the most commonly used streaming software under the “Connection parameters” section.

To connect from BUTT, you will need the following three parameters provided by the Streming.Center control panel:

• Server hostname — use the hostname exactly as shown, without any http:// or https:// prefix (this is important, as adding a protocol is a common mistake).
• Port — a numeric value only.
• Password — the DJ password you set during DJ creation.

These parameters will be entered directly into the BUTT connection settings to establish the live stream.

Adding Your Radio Station to BUTT

Open BUTT and click the Settings button. In the settings window, remain on the Main tab, then click the Add button. This action will open the Add Server window, where the streaming connection details for your radio station will be entered.

Configuring the Server in BUTT

In the Add Server window in BUTT, you need to provide the following settings:

• Name — this is an internal name used only inside BUTT to identify the server; it does not affect the stream itself and can be any value you prefer.
• Type — BUTT offers two options: Shoutcast and Icecast.
  Since Streaming.Center automatically detects the stream type regardless of whether your radio server is configured as Shoutcast or Icecast, you can select either option — the choice does not affect streaming.

If you select Shoutcast as the Type

• Address — enter the server hostname exactly as shown in the Streaming.Center Connection parameters (for example: demo.streaming.center), without any http:// or https:// prefix.
• Port — enter the numeric port value provided by Streaming.Center.
• Password — enter the DJ password you set during DJ creation.

If you select Icecast as the Type

• Address, Port, and Password must be filled exactly the same way as described above.
• The Icecast mountpoint and Icecast user fields can contain any value — they are ignored by Streaming.Center and do not affect the connection.

Important Notes

You only need to fill exactly 4 required fields:

• Name
• Address
• Port
• Password

All other fields should be left unchanged. Entering incorrect values in additional fields may cause the stream to not work properly.

Once these values are entered, click Save to store the server configuration.

Connecting and Going On Air

After saving the server settings, click the “Connect to server” button in BUTT. If all parameters are correct, BUTT will display a “Connected” status along with a running time counter, indicating that the connection to the streaming server has been successfully established.

At the same time, in the Streaming.Center control panel, refresh the DJs page. The DJ status will first change to “Connected: Yes”. After the system buffers the incoming stream, the “On Air” status will also switch to “Yes”. This confirms that the DJ is connected and is now broadcasting live.

Audio Quality Settings (Recommended)

You may now return to Settings in BUTT and open the Audio tab to configure audio streaming parameters such as format and bitrate.

Because Streaming.Center automatically re-encodes the incoming source stream into all output formats and bitrates configured in your control panel, it is recommended to use the highest possible bitrate and quality in BUTT. This ensures optimal audio quality across all listener streams generated by the platform.

Connecting your domain to your hosting account is straightforward. Follow the steps below to get everything set up.

🌐 1. Update your domain’s nameservers

Log in to your domain provider’s control panel and open the DNS or Nameserver settings. Remove any existing nameservers and replace them with:

• ns1.shoutcasthosting.ie
• ns2.shoutcasthosting.ie

If you’re unsure how to update nameservers, your domain provider’s support team can assist you.

⏳ 2. Allow time for DNS propagation

Once the nameservers are updated, the changes may take up to 48 hours to fully propagate worldwide. Most of the time it’s quicker, but 48 hours is the maximum.

🖥️ 3. Add your domain to your hosting account

After the nameserver change becomes active:

1. Log in to your cPanel account with us.
2. Go to Domains → Add a Domain.
3. Enter your domain name to link it to your hosting account.

🛠️ 4. Install WordPress on your domain

Once the domain has been added:

1. Open cPanel again.
2. Go to WordPress Manager / WordPress Toolkit.
3. Select Install WordPress on your newly added domain.

Your WordPress site will now be ready to build.

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If you need any further help, you can contact us via email at support@shoutcasthosting.ie, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.