Icecast
Encyclopedia
Icecast is a streaming media
project released as free software
maintained by the Xiph.org Foundation
. It also refers specifically to the server
program which is part of the project. Icecast was created in December 1998/January 1999 by Jack Moffitt
and Barath Raghavan to provide an open source audio streaming server that anyone could modify, use, and tinker with. Version 2 was started in 2001, a ground-up rewrite
aimed at multi-format support (initially targeting Ogg
Vorbis
) and scalability.
over standard HTTP
, Theora
over HTTP, MP3
over the protocol used by SHOUTcast
, AAC
, and NSV
over the SHOUTcast protocol. (Theora, AAC, and NSV are only supported in version 2.2.0 and newer.) It uses external programs, called "source clients", to originate the streams, and the Icecast project includes a source client program known as IceS. The source runs typically in the place where the audio is generated (e. g. a studio) and the Icecast server in a place where a lot of bandwidth is available (e. g., a colocation centre
).
It has similar functionality to the proprietary
media server program SHOUTcast, by Nullsoft
.
Streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
project released as free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
maintained by the Xiph.org Foundation
Xiph.Org Foundation
Xiph.Org Foundation is a non-profit organizationthat produces free multimedia formats and software tools. It focuses on the Ogg family of formats, the most successful of which has been Vorbis, an open and freely licensed audio format and codec designed to compete with the patented MP3 and AAC...
. It also refers specifically to the server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
program which is part of the project. Icecast was created in December 1998/January 1999 by Jack Moffitt
Jack Moffitt
Jack Moffitt is a computer scientist, software developer and entrepreneur. He is co-author of the GNU GPL licensed streaming media server Icecast and often works on software using XMPP, JavaScript and Erlang. He also worked as executive director of Xiph.Org Foundation and developer of Ogg Vorbis...
and Barath Raghavan to provide an open source audio streaming server that anyone could modify, use, and tinker with. Version 2 was started in 2001, a ground-up rewrite
Rewrite (programming)
A rewrite in computer programming is the act or result of re-implementing a large portion of existing functionality without re-use of its source code. When the rewrite is not using existing code at all, it is common to speak of a rewrite from scratch...
aimed at multi-format support (initially targeting Ogg
Ogg
Ogg is a free, open container format maintained by the Xiph.Org Foundation. The creators of the Ogg format state that it is unrestricted by software patents and is designed to provide for efficient streaming and manipulation of high quality digital multimedia.The Ogg container format can multiplex...
Vorbis
Vorbis
Vorbis is a free software / open source project headed by the Xiph.Org Foundation . The project produces an audio format specification and software implementation for lossy audio compression...
) and scalability.
Technical details
The Icecast server is capable of streaming content as VorbisVorbis
Vorbis is a free software / open source project headed by the Xiph.Org Foundation . The project produces an audio format specification and software implementation for lossy audio compression...
over standard HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol is a networking protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems. HTTP is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web....
, Theora
Theora
Theora is a free lossy video compression format. It is developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation and distributed without licensing fees alongside their other free and open media projects, including the Vorbis audio format and the Ogg container....
over HTTP, MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
over the protocol used by SHOUTcast
SHOUTcast
SHOUTcast is cross-platform proprietary software for streaming media over the Internet. The software, developed by Nullsoft , allows digital audio content, primarily in MP3 or HE-AAC format, to be broadcast to and from media player software, enabling the creation of Internet radio "stations"...
, AAC
Advanced Audio Coding
Advanced Audio Coding is a standardized, lossy compression and encoding scheme for digital audio. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves better sound quality than MP3 at similar bit rates....
, and NSV
Nullsoft Streaming Video
Nullsoft Streaming Video is a media container designed for streaming video content over the internet. NSV was developed by Nullsoft, the makers of Winamp....
over the SHOUTcast protocol. (Theora, AAC, and NSV are only supported in version 2.2.0 and newer.) It uses external programs, called "source clients", to originate the streams, and the Icecast project includes a source client program known as IceS. The source runs typically in the place where the audio is generated (e. g. a studio) and the Icecast server in a place where a lot of bandwidth is available (e. g., a colocation centre
Colocation centre
A colocation centre or colocation center , is a type of data centre where equipment space and bandwidth are available for rental to retail customers...
).
It has similar functionality to the proprietary
Proprietary software
Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
media server program SHOUTcast, by Nullsoft
Nullsoft
Nullsoft, Inc. is a software house founded in Sedona, Arizona in 1997 by Justin Frankel. Its most known products include the Winamp media player and the SHOUTcast MP3 streaming media server. In recent years, their open source installer system, NSIS, has also risen in popularity as a widely used...
.
See also
- List of streaming media systems
- SHOUTcastSHOUTcastSHOUTcast is cross-platform proprietary software for streaming media over the Internet. The software, developed by Nullsoft , allows digital audio content, primarily in MP3 or HE-AAC format, to be broadcast to and from media player software, enabling the creation of Internet radio "stations"...
- PeerCastPeerCastPeerCast is an open source streaming media multicast tool. PeerCast uses peer-to-peer technology to minimize the necessary upload bandwidth for the original multicaster.The website of PeerCast appears to be abandoned since December 2007...
- PeercastingPeercastingPeercasting is a method of multicasting streams, usually audio and/or video, to the Internet via peer-to-peer technology. It can be used for commercial, independent, and amateur multicasts. Unlike traditional IP Multicast, peercasting can facilitate on-demand content delivery.-Operation:It usually...