Knowledge Base / START

Before you go live: a broadcast soundcheck

Test the sound your listeners receive before your event starts. This checklist follows the whole path: music and microphone → broadcaster → stream → listener. Use it after changing your computer, audio device, software or parcel.

Reviewed 9 October 2026 · Follow the instructions supplied with your own rental.

1. Have the right details ready

Keep your rental instructions open privately. Check the host, broadcasting port, source credentials and required encoding settings. Keep the listening URL separate: that is what your audience and parcel use. If a detail is missing, ask TJ Lusch rather than borrowing another account’s settings.

2. Check music and voice separately

Plug in your usual microphone, interface and headphones before opening the broadcaster.
Play a familiar track with a loud section. Confirm the intended source reaches the broadcaster’s meters.
Pause the music and speak at your normal performance volume. Confirm the microphone reaches those meters too.
Play music and speak together. Balance the two so words remain clear.
Reduce gain wherever clipping appears. Your headphone volume is a monitoring control; it does not prove the transmitted mix is loud enough.

3. Connect and test as a listener

Start the encoder using your rental settings. Ask someone to open the supplied listening URL on a separate device. Ask them to check music, speech, balance and interruptions. Allow for playback delay before expecting a change to be heard. Keep the returned listener audio out of your broadcast mix.

4. Test at the actual Second Life venue

Check the parcel’s Music URL with the landowner or authorised group member. Ask a listener to enable streaming music and test on the parcel. If the external player works but parcel playback does not, investigate parcel permissions, the URL and the viewer’s music controls before altering your encoder.

5. Make the final checks

Confirm your event’s stream and your opening track.
Close extra applications producing notifications or audio.
Check that the computer will not sleep during the show.
Keep the cable connections and working settings as tested.
Know how to mute the microphone and stop the broadcast cleanly.

If a check fails

No meters: check your source selection and routing. Meters but silence: compare the encoder connection and listener URL. Distortion: follow the gain controls from input to broadcaster. One affected listener: compare another device or connection. Record the exact error and time before contacting TJ.

Keep a short soundcheck note

Write down the date, broadcaster and version, audio device, who listened, what worked and any remaining issue. Share credentials only in a private support conversation. This note gives you a useful starting point for the next show.