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| General Information about Internet Audio Streaming |
In order to send our audio feed to the Internet it is necessary to convert the analog audio signal into a digital format. This is done using Winamp software running on a PC that is equipped with a sound card. The process is known as encoding.
We feed our audio signal into the encoder computer's sound card. It gets converted to an MP3 format and then it gets sent via our DSL connection to a server computer that is running a companion software product call Shoutcast. Shoutcast software is provided by the same folks that distribute Winamp software that you need to listen if running MS Windows. Check out www.nullsoft.com to learn more. It is the Shoutcast software that multiplies the signal and sends it to each listener's computer. Our Shoutcast server is located in San Jose California and is operated by www.got.net. We have two encoder machines located in Santa Cruz at the KSCO/KOMY facility. One system is feeding the Shoutcast Server in San Jose the KSCO audio feed and the other is feeding the same Shoutcast Server with the KOMY audio feed. Usually both stations have the same signal, however there are some syndicated shows that we are not allowed to broadcast on the Internet. During those shows we will broadcast something else on the Internet. Most often it will be a recording of something we can play on the Internet.
When you click on the "Listen Live" menu item or the ONAIR icon at the ksco web site you are actually instructing your computer to make contact with our Shoutcast Streaming Server. Then, assuming there are less than 128 listeners, the digital audio signal is sent to your computer as an MP3 Audio Stream and viola, you are able to hear our radio station on the Internet. |
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| How to listen to KSCO on a MS Windows Computer |
| First and most important, you must have Winamp installed and your computer must be configured to use Winamp to automatically play files that end with the extension .m3u and .pls.
If you do not have Winamp already installed on your computer you can download a free copy of the software at www.winamp.com. The installation is brief and easy. If you are currently using a different type of media player you will have to make certain that your computer is configured to use Winamp for playing files that end with ".PLS". This is easily accomplished by starting Winamp and then navigating to the Options, Preferences menu. If Winamp is running you can use Control + P to quickly get to the Preferences Menu. Once in the Winamp Preferences Dialog Window, choose "File types" and then associate file types m3u and pls. You just click on the file type once to select and once again to deselect. That's all there is to it. Close the Preferences Window and now Winamp will automatically start when you click on the "Listen Live" icon at the KSCO web page. You may need to reboot in order for this to take effect.
Winamp is a very powerful and versatile media player. The Winamp web site has lots of information and enhancements for Winamp and almost everything is free. We like it a lot.
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| How to listen to KSCO on a Linux Computer |
Very few computers running Microsoft Windows are identical. The type of installation, the hardware that makes up the computer and the applications installed, all contribute to make that whirring box your Personal Computer.
Computers installed with Linux distributions such as Red Hat, Caldera, Mandrake, Debian are no different. In recent years, and due to excellent work done by the Linux Community of developers, a Linux Computer is no longer the domain purely of the 'computer gurus'. The installation of the Operating System and applications, and their use, is now just as easy as installing and using Microsoft Windows. Certain stores now offer to sell computers with Linux pre-installed.
An immense range of applications are available for Linux Computers are generally cost free, as they are released under GNU license.
X Windows
If you are using a Linux Computer, it is likely you are using X-Windows which is a GUI (Graphical User Interface just like a Microsoft Windows Computer ) to help you work.
Xmms |
 Xmms is an audio player for X Windows. It is used to play audio and other kinds of media files. On its own it can play MPEG Audio, Ogg Vorbis, RIFF wav, streaming audio and most module formats and can be extended through plugins to play other audio and video formats. It is very similar in its use to Nullsoft's Winamp and as a user of Microsoft and Linux Computers I can easily switch between the two. |
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Do I already have Xmms?
The simplest way is to check your start menu. |
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| Now just click the XMMS entry to start the application. |
| f there is no menu item for xmms, to check if xmms is already installed on your system, open a 'shell' ( looks like a DOS box). Type in whereis xmms, if xmms is already installed you will see this response: |
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Just type xmms to start the application.
If xmms is not installed you will see this response: |
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| I don't have Xmms where can I get it? |
If you have installation CDs for your Linux distribution, the xmms install files are probably there. Use your Software Manager to search for the program, if it is available from the CD, it will save you time and money in not having to download it. Then you can listen to KSCO much more quickly
In the graphic below, I am using the Mandrake's Software Manager to search for xmms, I know it is not installed already so I have selected the correct files for installation. Installing this way is often easiest, as you will be automatically prompted if any other packages need to be installed for the application to work correctly, in the example below, I also needed the libxmms1 package. Now I have selected the packages I simply press the Install/remove button, and insert my Linux CD when prompted |
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If you do not have installation CDs (I would recommend you get them as there are many many applications on them for you to try) XMMS 1.2.7 is available from: the xmms website
Be sure to download the correct version for your Linux distribution.
RPM ( Red Hat Packager Manager ) files may be downloaded from here( RPMs are the equivalent of a Microsoft Windows setup.exe file where everything you need is in one file ) |
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| How do I install XMMS? |
| Preferably use your version of Software manager to search and install it from CD. Alternatively an RPM package is best for an easy installation. Additional help on installation is available from the xmms website along with screenshots, featues, skins and plug ins. |
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| How do I use it to Listen to KSCO? |
OK, I have it, how do I listen to KSCO Radio on the Internet?
Click the link for KSCO feed on the left, you will be prompted to either Save the file to disk or Open the file from its current location, select Open from Current Location. Xmms should now open and connect to our server, press play to listen to KSCO. |
| If you have problems |
Sometimes a dial up connection may not be good enough to provide a continuous stream of digital audio to your computer. If you experience skipping or short periods of no audio the problem is most likely related to the quality of your connection to the Internet. There is nothing we can do about this type of problem. You need to contact your Internet Service Provider and explain your problem to them.
If you need technical assistance please call Dennis Weller at Day & Night Computer in Santa Cruz, California. His number is 831 465-7340 and he generally answers the phone from 8AM till Midnight. If you get an answering machine, please leave your call back number and Dennis will call you back. Or, you may email your questions or suggestions to dennis@day-n-night.com.
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