How it works
The SHOUTcast audio homesteading system is comprised of three simple components. They are explained in detail below:
LISTENING
Listeners tune in to SHOUTcast Radio broadcasts by using a player compatible with streaming MP3 audio. Users can visit the SHOUTcast Radio directory to locate a stream they'd like to listen to. Recommended players are listed below:
BROADCASTING
Persons wanting to broadcast will need to run their own server, as per the instructions here, or find someone willing to run one for them. Once a server's located, broadcasters use Winamp and a plug-in called the SHOUTcast Radio DSP Plugin for Winamp to send audio from Winamp to the SHOUTcast Radio server. The tools are available here, and there's an entire section of the documentation dedicated to the plug-in.
RUNNING A SERVER
The magic of the SHOUTcast Radio system happens inside the SHOUTcast Radio Distributed Network Audio Software (DNAS). This software runs on a server attached to your IP network with lots of bandwidth, and is responsible for receiving audio from a broadcast source, updating the SHOUTcast Radio directory with information about what the broadcaster is sending, and sending the broadcast feed to listeners. More information is in the server section of the documentation.
