ISP Limiting Bandwith? - A little request

[subsonic]

So, you might have noticed that the streams keep skipping. This is my server not getting enough information out fast enough. I'm hoping it's just "Internet" issues.


Regarding donations, the other two non live365 sites are taking donations.

[MouseMan]

Yeah, I haven't had any problems with the stream today.

[weluvmovies.com]

I'm the bad luck boy I guess. I just logged on, 5min in the Buffer Gremlin went right to work!

[stitchy]

yeah i was having problems too. it will work out evenutally.

[addlema]

May want to try increasing your buffer

[Zandro]

Has subsonic considered switching to AAC for a more efficient streaming protocol? It is also capable of delivering a much higher quality output at lesser bitrates.

Importantly, I should point out that AACPlus is what would be needed to achieve higher quality audio, as it incorporates spectral band replication information that the end user's player would use to recreate the upper range lost due to compression.

Here is a directory of AACPlus-enabled streaming digital audio radio stations for analysis. http://www.tuner2.com/ Note the comparitively small bitrates on the right side of the page... Often enough, 128kbps MP3 doesn't match the frequency response of even a 32kbps AAC stream. Theoretically, this means subsonic could handle four times the number of streams if he'd make the switch.

I'd recommend 48kbps as an optimal bitrate. This has been considered by multiple 3rd party subjective listening tests to be proportionate to CD quality.

Some of the technical aspect of AACPlus is described in this PDF:
www.ebu.ch/trev_291-dietz.pdf

Though it is a bit older, this PDF whitepaper more clearly explains how AACPlus should be more appealing to digital radio broadcasters, as the protocol chiefly incorporates the SBR enhancer.
http://www.codingtechnologies.com/produ ... per_v1.pdf

Hope it helps,

Zandro

[subsonic]

Zandro, I have considered using newer technologies when it comes to compression / decompression. My main reasons for not converting are: I have to convert all my mp3's to ACC, I don't know how many people have ACC, I would need to find ACC client and server for the stream.

[Zandro]

Hello, subsonic.

Nullsoft's Shoutcast DSP plugin for Winamp supports on-the-fly re-encoding of Winamp's audio output to AACPlus-2, which would then be transmitted through server as such.

Listen here... [removed] ... The source file is a 192kbps MP3, but is being delivered as 48kbps AAC+.

I'm not completely established in my understanding of the technology myself, and have had very little streaming audio serving experience, but I do believe this is possible.

Winamp 5.1 and newer already supports AACPlus-2 as part of their in_mp3 plugin. A plugin is also currently available for Windows Media Player.

[Zandro]

There is a chance you will still be able to with your device, possibly soon. Many of Roku's forum members have been requesting this feature. RokuMike says...

[subsonic]

Listen here... zsf.no-ip.org:18080 ... The source file is a 192kbps MP3, but is being delivered as 48kbps AAC+.

Which site is this?

So you're saying I don't have to convert my mp3's on the drive? It'll convert mp3 to ACC on the fly?

[subsonic]

As far as the skipping goes, I still don't know the reason why, it seems to happen around 12pm PST until 5pm PST, during peak hours. There's no more bandwidth usage on my end. (I only send out 1 feed for each stream to the relays in which you all connect to). I'm guessing the ISP might be running out of bandwidth during these hours. I really want verizon would get Fiber into my area!

[Zandro]

Which site is this?

That would be my home computer. I'd like to remove the address and kill the server now to avoid later complications. If you need it again, tell me.

It'll convert mp3 to ACC on the fly?

Yes, it had for me. A POSIX / Elf install version of the SHOUTcast DSP is available for Linux users, but I do not know if it supports AACPlus-2, and I don't have the means to test it right now.

No doubt, as bdinger mentions, some difficulties may arise in the adoption of the protocol. For instance, I found it unreliable to serve or listen to on processors running slower than 166-200MHz, and I don't think reducing the bitrate would improve the efficiency of this protocol.

This would probably need to be discussed among the community members and be agreed upon by the majority, and a test relay could be established for further demonstration.

*Edit:

Yes, it had for me.

Clarification: It shall not convert the MP3s on your disk, and you do not need to modify the files. It simply encodes the output of Winamp in memory during real-time play.

[stinoi]

Actually, I've always been surprised that the Disney mob doesn't come to shut the station down. Though, I imagine that they realize that while they aren't particularly happy about having their content streamed on an non-Official Disney web site, they also realize that there is a positive marketing component for them by allowing such a site to exist.

As to the streaming problems, I have been noticing the same problems here and there, but (at least on my end) rest assured that the problems are only happening during the songs I request!!!

[subsonic]

Actually, I've always been surprised that the Disney mob doesn't come to shut the station down. Though, I imagine that they realize that while they aren't particularly happy about having their content streamed on an non-Official Disney web site, they also realize that there is a positive marketing component for them by allowing such a site to exist.

This is why I don't take monetary donations to get a better set up/server. There's other streaming Disney sites that seems to break more rules than I do.

[stinoi]

I'm not sure what had been going on the other day, but my stream has been much better today! Whatever someone did worked!