We are looking to do a "Roadshow" broadcast from a different site to our normal studio. We use Icecast and broadcast at 128Kbps. What are the issues (if any) and things to consider in disconnecting our normal stream and connecting the alternate (and then in reverse later)? In particular is any recoding on the server required or is it simply a case of disconnecting one and connecting the other?
Temporary encoder
- Thread starter Rob
- Start date
Provided you keep the same bitrate and encoding type it should be no different from a DJ at a home studio connecting and broadcasting which most online stations do all the time (on Party Vibe Radio we have had live broadcasts from DJ's all over Europe)
but to make it a success, you should test everything beforehand - test at your remote location to be sure your broadband link to the server is reliable, that the hardware for this link is robust and that no firewall exists blocking your stream (you will need to liaise with whoever supplies the ICT infrastructure at the location in case they need to change settings on a router).
You should get the router set to give you the lions share of upstream bandwidth, it is no good for instance doing it from somewhere like a hotel or student union with "free wifi" and 10 laptops and other computers next door on the same broadband with folk from overseas trying to skype video call their relatives in foreign lands.
we had this problem in our community radio stations old venue as it was shared with the multicultural / refugee centre and one of their grant funded projects was to encourage these folk to use multimedia tech - so there was massive competition for bandwidth on what appeared to be a single British Telecom ADSL circuit.
if the venue has more than one broadband circuit try and get an entire one reserved for your streaming...
Also scope out the venue to make sure you have enough space for all the equipment and a secure place to run the network cable (and one that is long enough to reach wherever the broadband router may be, as these are rarely near the performance stages), and sufficiently long cables (both network and balance audio).
but to make it a success, you should test everything beforehand - test at your remote location to be sure your broadband link to the server is reliable, that the hardware for this link is robust and that no firewall exists blocking your stream (you will need to liaise with whoever supplies the ICT infrastructure at the location in case they need to change settings on a router).
You should get the router set to give you the lions share of upstream bandwidth, it is no good for instance doing it from somewhere like a hotel or student union with "free wifi" and 10 laptops and other computers next door on the same broadband with folk from overseas trying to skype video call their relatives in foreign lands.
we had this problem in our community radio stations old venue as it was shared with the multicultural / refugee centre and one of their grant funded projects was to encourage these folk to use multimedia tech - so there was massive competition for bandwidth on what appeared to be a single British Telecom ADSL circuit.
if the venue has more than one broadband circuit try and get an entire one reserved for your streaming...
Also scope out the venue to make sure you have enough space for all the equipment and a secure place to run the network cable (and one that is long enough to reach wherever the broadband router may be, as these are rarely near the performance stages), and sufficiently long cables (both network and balance audio).
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