LISTENING

Listeners tune in to SHOUTcast broadcasts by using a player compatible with streaming MP3 audio. Users can visit the SHOUTcast directory to locate a stream they'd like to listen to. Recommended players are listed below:

Windows users should use Winamp.
Mac users should use Audion.
Linux/X Windows users should use XMMS.
BROADCASTING

Persons wanting to broadcast will need to run their own server, as per the instructions below, or find someone willing to run one for them. Once a server's located, broadcasters use Winamp and a plug-in called the SHOUTcast Source for Winamp Plug-In to send audio from Winamp to the SHOUTcast 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 system happens inside the SHOUTcast Distributed Network Audio Server (DNAS). This software runs on a server attached to an IP network with lots of bandwidth, and is responsible for receiving audio from a broadcaster, updating the SHOUTcast directory with information about what the broadcaster is sending, and sending the broadcast out to listeners. More information is in the server section of the documentation.

DarkStudio provides such high-bandwidth servers to give your audio stream a better quality to listeners, We offer the following SHOUTcast server packages:
SETUP: Free - This includes the setting up of your shell account with the installation of the shoutcast server pre-installed, your configuration will need to be edited by yourself, you will be given an IP address and port(s) available for use with shoutcast, Please note that 40kbps should be a sufficient birate for a 56k modem listener.