Icecast - Aug 2004 - Updating show titles (was Re: a new directory service)

Hi:

this changing data issue raises a problem we've hit using traditional MP3
streaming and I wondered if there were any way to overcome this, either
using icecast 1 or 2.

I'm involved in a project called ACB radio interactive
(http://interactive.acbradio.org) which consists of a number of DJ's from
all over the world taking it in turn to use a common server.  We currently
broadcast using live365
at 16 or 24kbps in either mono or stereo, depending on the broadcaster's
resources and preferences.  However, we're looking to change to a model
where we'd have 2 servers, one accepting connections at any rate (including
broadband rates) and passing that off to a live365 server, whilst at the
same time, downsampling it to 22khz 24kbps mono and making that available
on a second server.  One of the objectives of this approach is keeping a
common data rate and thereby being able to keep listeners between shows.
What we've found, however, is that the stream title is only sent to the
client during initial connect.  If I recall correctly, in icecast2, it's in
the ice-name header.  We'd like to be able to update this for each
broadcast on both streams.  Of course, people listening to the stream as is
will have to reconnect anyway, so they'll have no problems.  but the people
on the 24kbps stream need to get the new data.  Can this be done?  Is it
possible to do this with ogg, if not MP3?  Perhaps make a custom tag for
this which the server sends on from the source when it takes over?  Since
ogg copes just fine with chained streams, this would seem to be a must.

Geoff.

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> What we've found, however, is that the stream title is only sent to the
> client during initial connect.  If I recall correctly, in icecast2,
it's in
> the ice-name header.  We'd like to be able to update this for each
> broadcast on both streams.
The name of the stream is unchanging, just as it's URL should be.  Just
come up with a name that's not DJ specific.  Certainly the names of
radio stations don't change.

As I've said before, my goal is to remove time-dependent data from the
directory.  I _do_ plan to implement a ping/request in icecast 2 so that
a standalone directory client can't query a server to see what song is
playing and what the ping time is etc.  I think this, combined with
format information in the description field could be the answer that
you're looking for.
> this which the server sends on from the source when it takes over?  Since
> ogg copes just fine with chained streams, this would seem to be a must.
That changes the current song name on a chaining boundary, as well as
artist, tracknumber, etc.  That meta information is stored separately
(or will be stored separately) in icecast 2, and will be easily passed
around.

jack.

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Xavier Montero wrote:
> Hello. About your idea, I think that it is important for a radio
> to "check" multiple styles.
> 
> I'm planning to cast a couple or 3 of stations that are _not_
> monographic and will be "sports" from x to y hours,
"pop" from
> y to z hours, "talk" from z to p hours and so on.
I think Xavier has pointed out the same issue as I have: on some 
stations, directory information changes on the stream with time. 
Moreover, usually the changes are according to some predetermined 
schedule, thus can be automated.

I think having a system that makes managing this easy would be a great 
help to everyone.

Akos

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