Frequently Asked Questions:
FreeSHOUTcast provides Free Online Radio Servers. You can get your own server and start your internet radio station for free!
Yes, FreeSHOUTcast completely free, this is not a demo or trial.
There is no trick, we created this service for online radio enthusiasts. You can try streaming online, share favorite music or become a radio DJ for free.
AutoDJ lets you upload music and pre-recorded shows to your free radio server (like a free music cloud) and create playlists online so you can listen and share your stream on the Internet. Everything can be accessed via your web browser, not need to install anything on your computer.
You have 1GB of disc space for your tracks. If it’s full, remove old tracks to upload new.
When you get a new server, AutoDJ is disabled by default. To enable AutoDJ, perform the instructions described below.
1. Stop your server
2. Go to Settings -> AutoDJ -> Permitted and enabled.
3. Select -> AutoDJ -> Permitted and enabled and click Update
4. AutoDJ icon should appear in the menu
Notice: The server will not start unless there will be some files uploaded onto the server and added to a playlist.
Once you have enabled AutoDJ you can upload some audio files onto the server by selecting AutoDJ -> Files -> Upload.
To learn how to add tracks to playlists in AutoDJ see the tutorial below:
1. Select MEDIA hyperlink in the panel on the left side of Centova Control Panel, under the AutoDJ section
2. Drag and drop an artist, an album or a song of your choice into the desired playlist. Note that you can hold CTRL button in order to select multiple entries
3.In order to go back to the main Centova Control Panel click RETURN at the bottom of the page.
To upload music or pre-recorded shows to your AutoDJ select Playlists. You will find a default playlist All music where you can upload your tracks. The All music playlist will stream by default 24/7 unless you change the Schedule settings.
You can also create a new playlist for better organization of your library.
Open the Playlist and drag files from your computer to onto the Upload area.
After you drop your files onto the upload area, select the Upload button and allow a few moments for file processing.
To schedule a Playlist, navigate to Schedule and add a New Event.
Would you like to use FTP software? See:
How to upload MP3s to Everest Cast Pro using a Web browser or FTP?
If you would like to start broadcasting live using Mixxx, make sure you have all the software required:
Download and install Mixxx: mixxx.org/download
Download Lame MP3 codec and install it having installed Mixxx first.
1. First of all, if you would like to use AutoDJ and broadcast live using Mixxx, you need to create at least one DJ account in Centova Cast Control Panel by selecting the DJ option in the menu of Centova Cast Control Panel.
Restart the server after adding each DJ account. Only one DJ can be connected to the server at the time.
If you do not use the AutoDJ feature or have a server without AutoDJ, you can skip this first step.
2. Open Mixxx and select Options and Preferences:
3. If you would like to use a microphone, select it in the Input devices section.
4. To configure the connection to your Radio Server, select Live Broadcasting in the menu.
5. Open the Centova Cast Control Panel of your Radio Station and copy the following details from the Quick link section of your server:
- Hostname (1)
- Port number (2)
- as the password use the password and username of the DJ account that you have created separated by a colon (:), e.g. "testdj:mypassword" (3) or source password that you have received by email.
- Mount and Login – leave empty as presented below:
For a server with AutoDJ and a DJ account:
A server with no AutoDJ and no DJ account:
6. Fill in Stream details, it is up to you what details will you use. These are Stream Details that will be seen by your listeners. We also recommend selecting the Public server option and UTF-8 encoding for metadata.
7. Select the bitrate (audio quality) of the stream. If you use AutoDJ the bitrate of your live stream should be the same as the bitrate of your server/AutoDJ. If you do not use AutoDJ make sure that broadcasting bitrate does not exceed the maximum bitrate of your server. You can check the maximum broadcasting bitrate of your server in the Quick links section of your Centova Cast Control Panel.
Select the audio coded for your stream. We recommend broadcasting in MP3 file format because it is supported by most of the players on the Intenet.
Click Enable Live Broadcasting to connect to the server and start broadcasting live.
You should see a confirmation that Mixxx has been successfully connected to the server:
If you see the same message as below, sure that you have downloaded and installed the Lame MP3 codec from our website
Important: Restart (close and open) Mixxx software after installing the codec.
Untick the Enable Live Broadcasting option to disconnect from the server.
You are ready to start broadcasting live!
If you do not have all required software yet, download and install B.U.T.T. (Broadcast Using This Tool).
This simple app does not allow creating any playlists, so it can be used to broadcast the sound from your microphone, line-in input, an external mixer of from a different software.
1. Before you start the configuration process, log in to the Centova Cast Panel and select the Quick Links section.
2. Find ShoutCast/Icecast server details under Live Source Connections:
If you would like to use AutoDJ and broadcast live using BUTT, you need to create at least one DJ account in Centova Cast Control Panel by selecting the DJ option in the menu of Centova Cast Control Panel.
Check this tutorial to see how to create DJ accounts
Restart the server after adding each DJ account. Only one DJ can be connected to the server at the time.
If you do not use the AutoDJ feature or have a server without AutoDJ, you can skip this first step.
3. Open B.U.T.T software and select Settings
4. You should be able to view the Settings page as presented below, select ADD Server
5. Open your Cantova Cast Panel to copy the encoder settings to BUTT like presented below:
Even if you use SHOUTcast V2 server, we recommend connecting in the Shoutcast v1 mode:
Select the Audio Device and adjust the broadcasting bitrate and make sure that it does not exceed the maximum broadcasing bitrate for your server:
8. Make sure that the sound level indicators are going up and down, that means that you are ready to broadcast
9. Hit the play button and, if you are connected to the server successfully, you should see the a Connection established message and idle state will change to stream time
Start by Installing live broadcasting software of your choice on your PC or Mac and connect to your FreeSHOUTcast radio server.
Next, Add a DJ in your Radio Control Panel.
Next, open the Edit tab next to the new DJ to check the Live Connection Parameters. Every DJ has different details.
Do not deactivate AutoDJ. Your AutoDJ will go off air automatically as soon as you (or the DJ) connect live and be back as soon as you disconnect.
Copy the details and Paste to the live streaming software of your choice installed on your computer. Do not have any? See Recommended broadcasting software. For free Mixxx or BUTT software, use the same details as suggested for SAM Broadcaster.
Notice: Make sure you set the broadcasting bitrate in your broadcasting software to 96 kbps or less to match the free radio server limit.
I case of any trouble in getting connected, contact us through live chat!
If you do not have all the required software yet, you can easily download Winamp and SHOUTcast DSP Plugin from our website.
Before you start the configuration process, log in to the Centova Cast Panel and select the Quick Links section.
Find ShoutCast/Icecast server details under Live Source Connections:
Open Winamp with a DSP plugin installed. If your DSP plugin did not open, then push CTRL + P and enter DSP/Effects under Plug-ins tab. Then just double click Nullsoft SHOUTcast Source DSP.
You should be able to view Winamp with a DSP plugin like presented below:
You will see an Encoder Settings button if you selected the AAC codec or a list with Encoder Settings if you selected MP3.
A window with a bitrate slider will open. Select an appropriate bitrate. Remember, not to exceed your maximum limit, you can easily check it in Centova Cast Control Panel.
(Note: If you use Auto DJ the bitrate of your live stream should match the bitrate set up for Auto DJ) 
The maximum bitrate for your server is visible here:
To connect to a Shoutcast v2 server, enter details marked on a screenshot below. You need to enter the server address, port, DJ username, DJ password and Stream ID (mount point number, the default setting is "1").
If you wish to record and save your stream, Select "Save Encoded Output", and choose the location where it should be saved.
Mixxx (PC and Mac) - a virtual mixer, lets you create advanced playlists and use a microphone. More & Download
B.U.T.T. - (PC and Mac) basic, lets you use a microphone or any other line-in source (a mixer, etc). More & Download
SHOUTcast DSP Plug-In (PC) - an addon to Winamp, lets you stream playlists from your Winamp Player and use other stream sources. More & Download
You may also use any other software compatible with SHOUTcast or Icecast servers, like premium (non-free) SAM Broadcaster Pro, Virtual DJ or RadioBoss
Yes, the machines for free radio servers are shared. The limits guarantee machine stability and prevent outages.
You need to keep an average of at least 5 listeners daily - if you don't generate the traffic, your account will be terminated.
The current limits for the free radio servers are:
- up to 100 listeners connected at one time,
- 96 kbps maximum broadcasting bitrate,
- 1GB AutoDJ space per Server,
- 1 Radio Channel per Server.
Just ask our support agents for the Unlimited Server offer if you need anything more that provided in the free radio server.