Internet Radio in flash?

[Alluminitti]

Hello,

I'm currently in the planning stages in building an internet radio station website for a client. So far I've done limited preliminary research and have come here to get some clarification. I have so many questions that I'm not quite sure where to begin.

So far the way I figured is that I simply write a flash application (SWF) on my web server that will accept a live audio stream from my client's laptop. From the laptop the client is able to talk to a microphone connected to it and/or play music. His voice and the music would be fed into an application like Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder which will then send out the data to my flash application on the web server. Is this how it works? But from what I read so far I would also need Flash Media Server installed on my web server. Is this necessary?

[adninjastrator]

Well you've got most of it right.
You need a .swf, but it's placed on the Web page not on the server. This .swf will be the media player that makes it possible for anyone viewing the page to hear the music.
As for the server, you will need some type of a real "streaming" server, not just a web server. Here are some options:
Red5
http://osflash.org/red5
Wowza
http://www.wowzamedia.com/
or Adobe Flash Media Server
http://www.adobe.com/products/flashmediaserver/
check with your hosting service before you attempt to install, most likely you will need to have a dedicated server to be able to install the streaming server on.
Flash Media Live Encoder can be used to encode.
So your client speaks into a microphone connected to a computer with FMLE installed on it. Test the mic to see that it is recognized by FMLE as it doesn't work with every camera or mic.
FMLE encodes the stream and send it up to your streaming server. Then when a viewer opens your web page and starts the .swf player, it will request the stream from the server, and the server will serve it out to the requesting web page.
Voila, you are broadcasting!
Best wishes,
Adninjastrator

[Alluminitti]

Hello, and thanks for the response.

Unfortunately I've never worked with a dedicated server before and have only worked with shared hosting. Is it difficult to setup a dedicated server?

I also have some concerns for bandwidth usage. The radio station won't be super big and I anticipate that there will be from 50 to maybe 200 people listening to my client's radio station twice a week. As an estimated, how much bandwidth would be required? and is it expensive? I plan on using the VPS entry level plan on namecheap.

There seems to be two flavors of Flash Media Server (Interactive and Streaming) so I'm assuming I need the streaming server. Are there any **good** guides out there that shows you how to setup a flash media streaming server on a dedicated server?

[adninjastrator]

As for the dedicated server, your hosting service should provide the set-up for you. You will have to install the straming server application yourself. If you use the Adobe Flash Media Server, it's faily simple, and install help is available from Adobe.
If you use Red5, you may want to connect with someone from the Red5 Forum or developers group to work with you. I believe "Bowljoman" from this Forum has lots of experience with Red 5, check out some of his posts.
So for best installation guides, start with the outfit that you are getting the streaming server software from, then Google for more info and Forums specifically for that software
Bandwidth is a concern, but more for video streaming than just audio. Google for a "Straming Video Bandwidth Calculator" to have a good idea about your requirements before you go to your host, to make sure they don't rip you off. Your audio bitrate should be something under 100kbps, just a fraction of what video would be, so while you'll pay for bandwidth, it should not be that much. So bitrate (100kbps) X time (4 hours, or 14400 secs) X number or viewers (50) = bandwidth required for 50 viewers to listen to 4 hours of radio. Alter the calculation for number of hours, days, viewers, etc.
That gives you the calculation in bits, your bandwidth will be measured in bytes, normally 8 bits/byte, or divide your calculation by 8 to get bandwidth as measured in bytes, KB, or MB, or GB
Best wishes,
Adninjastrator

[Alluminitti]

Is there an easier way that requires little to no programming? People keep telling me that you don't need a dedicated server and expensive software. Just shoutcast and winamp (which are both free). If there's a quicker and easier way to start an internet radio station then I'm all up for it. The client is a bit impatient....

[adninjastrator]

Yes there are "free" methods of streaming both video and audio, such as Shoutcast. Google for more info.
The tradeoff is that the player may or may not be able to be customized to match your site, they may or may not include (unwanted) advertising, etc.
"Free" usually comes with a catch, but if you can live with it, go for it!
Best wishes,
Adninjastrator

[Alluminitti]

I've watched numerous youtube tutorials on shoutcast and I still don't quite 'get' it. No one gives a straight explanation on exactly how shoutcast works.

[Alluminitti]

Do you know of a cheap audio streaming service that allows 100+ listeners?