Knowledge Base / GETTING STARTED
Streaming glossary: understand your broadcast settings
Not sure which address, password or audio setting belongs in a field? Use these plain-language explanations alongside your rental instructions and software guide. The labels explain the fields; your own rental supplies the values.
Your sound path: music and microphone → broadcaster / encoder → streaming server → listener’s player.
Your connection details: host + broadcast port + source credentials.
Your listener’s address: the supplied listening URL.
Server host
The hostname or IP address of the streaming server your broadcaster connects to. Look for a field labelled Host, Server Address or Server IP. If your application has separate host and port boxes, enter each separately. Use your rental details, rather than the control-panel address.
Broadcast port
The numbered connection endpoint supplied for your broadcast. It works together with the host to identify where your encoder should connect. A number shown in another provider’s tutorial is an example, not your account’s port. Copy the supplied broadcast port exactly.
Source password and DJ credentials
These authorise a broadcaster to send audio to the stream. Your rental may supply a source password or a DJ username and password, depending on the connection. Follow the supplied instructions for the relevant fields. Keep these details private and contact TJ Lusch if they are missing.
Control-panel login
The credentials used to manage your rental in a web panel, such as Centova Cast. They may differ from your source or DJ credentials. Use the panel login for the panel and the broadcasting credentials for your encoder; do not assume the same password belongs in both.
Listening URL
The complete address listeners open to hear your stream. It is also the address you place in a Second Life parcel’s Music URL field. Use the listening URL supplied with your rental. A panel login page or a broadcaster’s host field is not a replacement.
Bitrate: kbps
The amount of encoded audio data sent per second, usually shown in kilobits per second (kbps). For example, 128 kbps is a bitrate. Higher bitrates use more bandwidth, but do not repair distortion already present in your audio. Use the encoding settings supplied for your plan.
Sample rate: Hz or kHz
The number of audio samples processed each second. For example, 44.1 kHz means 44,100 samples per second. This differs from bitrate, which describes encoded data per second. Follow the settings for your audio device and broadcaster; increasing this value is not a general fix for silence or connection errors.
Stream ID
A numeric identifier used to select a particular stream in a SHOUTcast 2 setup. Enter it when your rental instructions and chosen connection mode require it. It is separate from a DJ username and from a station’s display name. Ask TJ Lusch rather than assuming an example Stream ID is correct.
Encoder and codec
The encoder converts your audio mix into data the streaming server can receive. A codec, such as MP3, determines the audio encoding format. Broadcasting software may include the encoder or use a plug-in. Select the format and settings specified for your rental, then check the sound with a listener.
DSP and the SHOUTcast Source DSP
DSP means digital signal processing. In the Winamp guide, SHOUTcast Source DSP is the plug-in that sends the selected audio to the server and provides connection and encoder controls. Selecting that plug-in is different from simply playing a track in Winamp. See the Winamp broadcasting guide.
AutoDJ
Server-side playback of uploaded music, organised through playlists, rather than a live encoder running on your computer. In Centova Cast, uploading files and adding them to an enabled, suitable playlist are separate steps. Live-to-AutoDJ handover depends on your rental’s configuration; follow your account’s instructions.
Metadata and song titles
Information sent alongside audio, such as the station name, artist and current track title. Audio can be working even when this information is missing. If you hear music but see the wrong title, check title-update settings rather than treating it as an audio connection failure.
Put the terms into practice
Start your first stream · Run a soundcheck · Find your software guide
References: Mixxx: Live Broadcasting · Mixxx: Sound Hardware · Icecast: Glossary · Centova Cast: Playlist Media
Reviewed 9 October 2026.