Streaming audio question...

[TexasMike]

Hello all,
I love listening to my favorite broadcast radio stations via internet streaming audio. Lately I am having some problems with this using my Firefox browser (ver 3.0.1). It either does not "pick up" the streams, or it drops out after a few minutes. I have been having this problem for several months, now. I tried getting some assistance/advice from the forums back in April. Mostly, my problems have not gotten any better since.
Things I've already tried:

1: Uninstalled and re-installed Firefox 3.0.1 several times, along with all plugins, extensions, add-ons, etc. No consistent results - can't tell if this "fixed" anything because the functionality of "streaming audio" seems erratic (sometimes it's the station, clearchannel, or some other problem beyond my control).
2: Installed Firefox 2.x - same sort of results.

I have Ultimate Edition on several different systems, and in several different "versions", ie. 1.4, 1.6, 1.7, and 1.8, as well as the gamer's edition. I even have 1.6 installed on this system as a "dual boot" option. On every one of these other installations there seems to be NO problem with streaming the radio stations, including the 1.6 version installed on THIS same system that is having so much trouble with streaming in 1.8 X64 (see my sig below for a description of this system - Shop:).

What I am wondering is if there is a different program more appropriate for playing streaming audio from the net. I would like to be able to setup and connect to several different radio stations,one at a time of course. It does not need to stream video, just audio from broadcast radio stations that also stream the broadcasts over the net.

Any ideas ...??

[Baphomet]

What I am wondering is if there is a different program more appropriate for playing streaming audio from the net. I would like to be able to setup and connect to several different radio stations,one at a time of course. It does not need to stream video, just audio from broadcast radio stations that also stream the broadcasts over the net.

You're going to get pounded with other recommendations but for me, nothing has proven more stable or easier to use for streaming audio than Rhythmbox, but that requires a direct url to setup the streams and preset buttons for them. If you can do that with the stations you want to stream, though, you're good to go. Some stations will provide that, others don't and they force you to use one of those java/flash based players.

If you're having problems with those little java/flash based "players" that open in your browser (gawd how I hate those things) then Baphomet has no words for you... Except maybe to entreat you to come into the light that IS Shoutcast or, if you must, I suppose an acceptable alternative would be Live365.

[TexasMike]

Baphomet,
Thanks for the input. It looks like maybe Shoutcast (XMMS...??) is what I need. I just checked Synaptic and found "XMMS2" as well as a plethora of other XMMS related packages. Do you have a favorite or a recommended package to use? I know nothing about these particular packages, and am open to any knowledge you may wish to impart regarding Shoutcast.

[vinca]

amarok/vlc have shoutcast built in.

[Baphomet]

Baphomet,
Thanks for the input. It looks like maybe Shoutcast (XMMS...??) is what I need. I just checked Synaptic and found "XMMS2" as well as a plethora of other XMMS related packages. Do you have a favorite or a recommended package to use? I know nothing about these particular packages, and am open to any knowledge you may wish to impart regarding Shoutcast.

XMMS is yet another media streamer. You can download it if you want to, but it would be simpler to copy the URL's from shoutcast into presets in Rhythmbox. Once those are set, you're good to go: everything you want, nothing you don't. That's pretty much Rhythmbox in my opinion, and that's what I like about it.

In all fairness, a lot of people DO just adore Amarok and it does have Shoutcast built in. I just find Rhythmbox so much easier to use and rock solid stable. But, again, Amarok does has a rabid, cult-like following, even if I fail to understand it. Maybe that's the Kool-Aid for you? Only YOU can decide.

Both Rhythmbox and Amarok are installed by default in Ultimate Edition as well.

But Baphomet... How do I install/set up a Preset button from, say, Shoutcast, in Rhythmbox?", I hear you asking...

Open Shoutcast.
On the left you'll see the "Tune In!" button.
RIGHT-Click on that button and select "Copy URL Location".
Open Rhythmbox.
Click on "Radio" in the navigation pane on the left.
Click on New Internet Radio Station (top, center) and you'll get a textbox asking for a URL (ah HA!)...
Paste the URL from Shoutcast into the textbox.
Right-click on the station again, once it's added to your list, to change the display properties of the preset button.
Double-clicking on the preset button starts the stream.
Lather, rinse, repeat for as many presets as you want.