Internet radio streaming
Overview
Internet radio, also known as online radio, web radio, net radio, streaming radio, e-radio and IP radio, is a digital audio service transmitted via the Internet, allowing users to listen to live or pre-recorded audio streams through various devices. Internet radio involves streaming media, presenting listeners with a continuous stream of audio that typically cannot be paused or replayed. Services like TuneIn and radio.net host a vast array of global stations, news, music, and sports. Many traditional broadcasters, like the BBC, stream their content online.
Internet radio streaming feature, introduced in DSOS 4.7.0, lets HMP400/W, iBX410/W, iBX440, and third-party DSOS players receive and play audio streams from Internet radio stations and other IP-based audio sources. Typical protocols include HTTP/ICY (Shoutcast/Icecast), HLS (HTTP Live Streaming), and MPEG‑DASH – these are supported through the streaming layer, so the SYSTEMS Feature Set must be activated on the player.
Use cases:
- Play a continuous background music audio stream in a venue (lobby, retail, hospitality).
- Mix a radio stream with on‑screen digital signage visuals.
- Switch between curated radio presets based on time of day or events.
- Provide emergency / announcement channels by switching to specific audio streams.
Protocols
This feature supports the following protocols:
- HTTP/ICY
- This refers to the use of HTTP to stream media, with the addition of specific headers identified by
icy-to enable streaming-specific features, such as metadata for song titles. The "ICY" part, which originally stood for "I Can Yell," is a protocol built on top of HTTP and is used by servers like Shoutcast and Icecast to deliver live audio streams to clients like media players. It offers direct stream (mountpoint) URLs and low latency.
- This refers to the use of HTTP to stream media, with the addition of specific headers identified by
- HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)
- This is a protocol developed by Apple for adaptive streaming of audio and video. It splits the media content into small segments and uses M3U8 playlists to list the segment URLs. It adapts the quality of the stream (bitrate) based on the user's network conditions, ensuring smooth playback. It works well with firewalls/CDNs.
- DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP)
- This is an open standard for adaptive streaming, similar to HLS. It splits media into segments as well, but uses MPD (Media Presentation Description) manifest files. It adjusts the stream quality in real-time based on the user's bandwidth. It supports multiple codecs and containers. Standardized by MPEG, it is widely supported across devices.
Examples URLs:
# Icecast / Shoutcast (HTTP/ICY)
http://radio.example.org:8000/live # Mountpoint (MP3 or AAC)
http://stream.example.com:8000/stream.aac # Explicit AAC
https://stream.example.com/radio.mp3 # HTTPS MP3 stream
# HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)
https://radio.example.com/hls/channel.m3u8
# MPEG-DASH
https://radio.example.com/dash/channel.mpd
Notes:- Prefer direct stream URLs (e.g., ...:8000/mount.mp3 or .../stream.aac). If a station gives a playlist file (.m3u, .pls), open it in a text editor to extract the actual stream URL.
- Some limitations may apply based on the specific audio stream configurations. Users should ensure that the streams they intend to use are compatible with the supported protocols.
- Streams requiring DRM, rotating tokens, or complex JS sessions aren’t supported via the streaming layer.
- Geo‑blocking / authentication: Some stations restrict countries or require credentials; ensure access from your network.
Elementi tutorial
The following tutorial demonstrates how to use web radio streaming with Elementi.
Add a web radio stream
- Create an Elementi project or open an existing one.
- On the top of the Edit panel, click the “Add streaming layer” button.
- Enter the stream URI within the pop-up dialog.
- Check the box "This is an audio only stream".
- Click on OK to add the streaming layer
- Save your project.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues while using web radio streaming in Elementi, consider the following general troubleshooting tips:
- Ensure that the stream URL is correct and properly formatted.
- Test the URL in a web browser to verify that it plays as expected.