Before your first show: a broadcasting walkthrough

Before you begin

Have your rental instructions, the computer you will broadcast from, headphones, test music and a helper on another device ready. If you will speak on air, include your microphone and audio interface in the rehearsal. Agree a suitable testing time with anyone else who uses the stream.

This walkthrough is a route through the knowledge base. Your rental instructions supply the actual connection values and service features. Keep the source password private; your audience needs the listening URL.

1. Gather the right rental details

Open Find and understand your broadcasting connection details. Record the server address, source port, source credentials, stream type and any stream ID specified for your rental. Keep the panel login and listening URL identified separately.

Confirm the permitted encoding settings from your rental instructions. If a required value is missing, resolve it before entering guessed settings. Decide who is broadcasting and whether AutoDJ or another presenter is already using the stream.

Ready to continue: you can identify the source connection fields and the URL your helper will listen to.

2. Choose and configure your broadcaster

Use Choose broadcasting software to select the application that fits your music and microphone setup. Then follow its setup guide: BUTT, Mixxx, SAM Broadcaster, VirtualDJ, Winamp, Rocket Broadcaster or Audio Hijack.

Create a clearly named connection for this rental. Enter the supplied values and check the selected input or capture source. Plan the connection test for your agreed rehearsal time because connecting can affect the audio currently on the stream.

Ready to continue: the intended output connects successfully. If it does not, use the connection troubleshooting guide and record the exact error. A connected indicator alone does not prove that listeners hear your mix.

3. Build and check the audio mix

Follow Route music and microphone into your broadcast. Test music alone, voice alone and then both together. Watch the captured input and encoder meters while each source plays. For BUTT with a routed mix, use the matching Windows/Voicemeeter or Mac/BlackHole guide.

Use the audio-level guide to balance speech and music. Check a louder passage as well as ordinary playback. Ask your helper to listen for distortion and a microphone that becomes difficult to hear over music.

Check notification sounds and left/right audio problems if needed. Keep the returned listening stream out of the captured mix; use the echo and stream-delay guide if you hear feedback or a delayed repeat.

Ready to continue: the helper hears clear music and, where used, understandable speech through the actual stream.

4. Test the listening experience

Follow the broadcast soundcheck with the helper using the supplied listening URL on another device. Check the beginning of playback, a track change, speech and a louder music passage. If track titles matter for your show, also check the displayed artist and title.

For a Second Life venue, complete the parcel music setup with someone who can manage the intended parcel. Have a listener check playback in the venue as well as through a separate player. Verify the actual listening URL used there.

Ready to continue: the audience’s intended player or parcel plays the right stream, and your helper can report the audio they hear.

5. Rehearse the start and handover

If your rental uses AutoDJ, follow the live-to-AutoDJ handover guide before the event. On a SHOUTcast v2 stream using Liquidsoap, a live source can override AutoDJ. Other rentals depend on their setup; confirm the instructions for yours.

Practise connecting at the agreed time, making a short introduction and starting the first track. Allow for the delay heard by the listener. When another presenter is involved, agree who connects and disconnects and how you will confirm the change.

Also rehearse the end: disconnect your live source when intended and have your helper confirm what plays afterwards. Confirm the return to AutoDJ using your rental instructions and listening test.

Ready to continue: you know what listeners hear before, during and after your live connection.

6. Save the working setup and prepare for the show

Record the working audio device, routing, encoder settings and connection name so you can recognise them next time. Store any profile backup containing passwords securely. Keep the listening URL, opening track and a short soundcheck list easy to find.

Before showtime, open the required applications, check the selected devices and make a brief listener test at an agreed time. Repeat relevant soundchecks after changing a microphone, USB device, driver, output device or routing setting.

Ready to go live: the correct connection is selected, the mix sounds right to your helper, and the start and end of the broadcast have been tested.

Your first-show readiness checklist

• I have the current rental details and a separate listening URL.
• My chosen broadcaster connects to the intended stream.
• Music and microphone, if used, reach the captured mix clearly.
• The helper hears the stream without distortion, unwanted alerts or an echoed return.
• The intended player or Second Life parcel has been tested.
• The live/AutoDJ or presenter handover has been rehearsed where applicable.
• I have saved the working settings and know how to finish the show.

If something fails during the show

Start with Fix a problem and choose the symptom you can observe. Write down the time, exact error and what the listener hears before changing settings. Change one relevant setting at a time and check the result.

If you need to stop the live broadcast, follow the ending or handover procedure you already tested and confirm the resulting audio. Avoid restarting the whole service as an untested response to an audio-routing problem.

For help, use Prepare a support request. Include your broadcaster, what changed, whether it connects and what your helper heard. Keep passwords out of the report.