Live Streaming help - please

I'm new to streaming into SL and have a couple of questions.

I'm using winamp/Shoutcast and want to stream live music to a parcel in SL.
Can the parcel connect directly to me (and how?) or do I need a relay host?

Does SL act a relay to anyone in the parcel or am I looking at multiple connections?

If I can connect directly, how do I configure ShoutCast?

Any help would be appreciated.

Rand

You need two things to stream music into Secondlife

a server and software on your computer to broadcast the music

Your computer could be a server (you need the software from shoutcast.com for this) or you could buy one.

If your connection isn't to hot you're better buying or renting a server because everybody on the parcel would be connecting to your pc's music stream if you're hosting yourself.

Live events attract a lot of attention and fast!

Once you have a server set up on your pc or have bought one you need to get some broadcasting software (again you can get this at shoutcast.com but there are many others out there to play with) set up the broadcasting software so it connects to the server.

Finally you put the server address into the media settings of the parcel you want your live music to play on. Good luck!

Download SAM Broadcaster3. You will need to rent a Shoutcast stream. You can get one for cheap if you keep the bandwidth low. Search classifieds for a shoutcast provider. You can pay lindens each month to access your stream. if you are only providing music for yourself and a few friends you can get a stream that supports about 20 Listeners and at 64 KBS. You can get a better quality stream with more listeners if you like. A 64 KBS stream for 50 Listeners will cost you about 1800L a month.

Once you choose a shoutcast provider you can add the information to the SAM Broadcaster and your computer will be able to broadcast music. The URL of your rented shoutcast stream should be added to your parcel so you can hear the music in SL.

Thanks for the help.

If I understand it right, even if people are listening through SL, they are each connecting to the server. If I host it myself I will have to have enough bandwidth to supply several listeners (not just one going to SL). Is that right?

Sounds like I need to go the streaming relay route. I have a decent DSL connection, but not enough for a large group.

Rand

Yes every person listening to that stream on your land is a listner. Everyone you give that url to and they listen using thier Internt radio is counted also and everyone listening to you on any other parcel.

You are better off just renting a stream. I saw a provider in the SERVICES thread renting out streams at 128 kbs for 1500L a month. That sounds too god to be true - make sure your bandwidth is not shared with other clients and that he has a descent up time.

Thanks, L, I'll check them out...any other host suggestions?

Rand