Calling all Web gurus

[bdbdbuck]

Any of you out there have a suggestion as to what software I need to build a website that will stream mp3's? Hopefully I won't have to mortgage the house to get it! Any insight would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

bd

[scottboyher]

You can build a website with Note Pad and a some Graphic Software..

You will (may) need...

Decent graphic software (Paint Shop Pro is easy to use and cheap)
Web Host to store your pages and mp3's
Internet access (a given)
Enough bandwidth to handle streaming and downloading... (can get expensive)

There are WYSIWYG programs out there that you can build a site with but I prefer raw HTML. Dreamweaver is a good one and try to stay away from Front Page..

[AlChuck]

The main issue will be where to house the site. You need space and bandwidth.

Most ISPs give you a small amount of space to host web pages but it typically won't be enough to hold more than maybe two songs plus your other content.

If you have a lot of activity you will also run up against bandwidth issues, and have to pay more for more of a pipe out of your site in addition to space.

I haven't set up streaming myself but it involves a little bit of work if you want to only stream stuff and not allow the entire file to be downloaded. One method I know of (used with RealMedia and Windows Media files) uses a small text stub file with the same name as the audio file to connect the users to the source file. The source file itself is inaccessible except through this pointer that tells the server what to stream. I believe the web server itself has to be configured to do this, which is another issue -- your service must have the mechanisms to do this.

You can get more but you have to pay for it... or, you can use one of the artist services. Many of us here use NoWhere Radio

http://www.nowhereradio.com/

but you are stuck with the template web pages and can't do your own organization or look-and-feel. There too, you have to pay extra to have enough space to host more that five or six songs, but it's cheap.

[bdbdbuck]

I have the space with my ISP that I've been paying for since November, but I don't know about the bandwidth...I'll have to check with them on that.
Scott, what's WYSIWYG stand for? Is Dreamweaver one of those? Hey, if I'm sounding stupid, that's because I am!
I really like the website Just William (Velvet Elvis) has, it's very nicely done! Not that I would be able to put something like that together, it would be nice to have that kind of software to work with. That site doesn't stream either........something I would like to have.
Alchuck, I wouldn't have to have stream only, in fact something similar to NWR where you have the option would be great.


bd

[scottboyher]

WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get

Dreamweaver is a WYSIWYG program..

The best option is to by some space on a dedicated server and make sure that there is enough bandwith in the package you select.. I have server space that I pay for monthly ($6.36) and it includes 1000 MB of data transfer per month which is enough for me.. But I also host my songs at NowhereRadio.com..

[zekthedeadcow]

...my sites down at the moment because I just got back from being deployed but you can have a huge nice webserver in your bedroom for next to nothing. If you have a broadband connnection just buy a router that support "port forwarding" and take the time to learn linux (easy if you remember DOS)... or if you have a non Win XP box there is a fast and efficient free webserver called xtami (or something like that). useing an XP computer as a webserver violates your liscence agreement :P... along with putting it on a file shareing/print shareing network with more than 10 computers :P...

Broadband connection $50
router $100
slackware Linux CD set $40
http://www.slackware.com
comes with:
apache webserver
email server
MySQL database
everything else your could possibly want in a webserver...
GIMP is a free photo editor...think of it as a freeware Photoshop
http://www.gimp.org - and it has a windows version so you can see if you like it now...


dowload awstats for statistics VERY IMPORTANT!!!
http://awstats.sourceforge.net/

I have my webserver on a pentium 200mhz mmx with all of 24MB RAM and a 2Gig harddrive...you can pull better out of peoples garbage now.

now as for streaming... I don't know I've never done it before

[TheRealWaldo]

NWR has a Direct Linking option as well, in which you can pull the streams and downloads links off of NWR, and place them on your website, thus the end user never really knows NWR is in the loop, unless they look at the code.

e.g.:

http://manifold0.tripod.com

I also have full website hosting packages available, ranging from dedicated servers, to virtual hosting. Get in touch with what you figure you'll need and I'll price it out for you.

W.

[bdbdbuck]

That's exactly what I'm after Waldo, I'll PM you soon.

Thanks,
bd