Minicaster: Flash Icecast2 audio players

Minicaster: Flash Icecast2 and Shoutcast Players

Minicaster provides a unique system to play MP3-format streams on your website, using a small Flash document and some simple text configuration files. Content from Icecast2 and Shoutcast can be played directly through Flash Player 8 or above, so there's no longer any problem with your audience using Windows, MacOS or Linux - everyone can visit your website and hear your radio statio or live feed.

SUPPORT / FAQ
How it works :: Free version :: PRO-ICE version

Minicaster PRO-ICE extends the abilities of the popular free version to include display of "now playing" track title information on Icecast2, JavaScript control of the playhead and our unique dynamic sizing system, all for only $19.95. If you're looking for a player without any of these abilities then try our free version!

++ IMPORTANT INFO FOR ICECAST USERS! CLICK HERE! ++

On the left is a demo copy of Minicaster PRO-ICE, connected to our Icecast2 server and showing live track information. You can resize the playhead by clicking the button on the right end of the player, and as you'll see this webpage reflows automatically - website owners can define the initial size and settings using simple XML configuration files. It's important to note that the track information is sent from Icecast2 only, and needs the Icecast2 server to be specially patched. If you want to play someone else's radio station then you will either need to make sure their server already supports Minicaster PRO-ICE, or go for the free version without track title displays.

Supported browsers and audio servers

Minicaster runs in the desktop version of Flash Player 8 or above, on Windows, Mac, *nix and RiscOS systems - any that Adobe support. Mobile devices that support in-browser Flash with audio (such as some of the new Android phones for 2010) should also support playback, though we are still testing for stability. Assuming that the listener's computer has speakers or headphones and has not blocked ActiveX content via browser security settings, Minicaster will run inside:

Firefox 2.X and 3.X
Opera 9 and 10
Safari (for Mac and Windows)
Internet Explorer 6 and 7 *
Google Chrome

*Internet Explorer 8 has a compatibility bug which prevents Flash Player from accessing streamed media (audio and video) for some users, and this manifests as silence when Minicaster is running. This bug is being addressed by Adobe and Microsoft, but is not connected to the code inside Mincaster and currently there is no workaround available. Site users are advised to suggest alternative browsers such as Firefox or Opera until IE8 is repaired.

Minicaster connects to Icecast2 and Shoutcast servers provided they are streaming compatible MP3 audio, and not somethig like OGG. Although Minicaster can read Shoutcast's DNAS lists, it will only connect to one server. It is also necessary to specify the audio mount point in a special way, as Shoutcast refuses to send MP3 data to a web browser without something in the URL after the port number.

Track information displayed by Minicaster PRO-ICE is collected directly from the Icecast internal webserver, by adding two XML files to Icecast's Web folder (so you need to have upload access to the server, or ask someone to upload the files for you). Once added, anyone can connect to the audio from any website. Shoutcast, however, has no option to add files to its internal webserver, so you will need to pass the now-playing data through a proxy script to grant Flash Player access. This is fully explained in Mincaster PRO-ICE's software package, with sample files included. It's also why PRO-ICE is so named - it's really designed to work with Icecast.

Why Minicaster? What's wrong with Windows Media Player or Winamp?

As desktop-based software for playing Icecast2 or Shoutcast streams - nothing! The problem for all internet radio stations is that if your visitors don't use Windows and your website uses a WMP ActiveX object to deliver the audio, they just don't get to hear your music. It's possible to use a system of Javascript to detect the capabilities of a visitor's computer but it's not possible to detect if they have extra software installed, such as Winamp - so many radio stations just link visitors to the M3U or PLS playlist file and hope they have something to open it - a little confusing for some people! We also know that in an increasing number of computers, Linux and Macs included, there are audio plugins for web browsers that can play the streams but suffer the same memory problems that Minicaster sets out to avoid - and crashing your visitor's computer is not the best way to make friends.

By using Flash you can almost guarantee your visitors will be able to hear your radio station, as the player is available on over 90% of all computers connected to the Web. You also benefit from less work at the website stage - no need for complex JavaScript decision-making programs or multiple versions of the same page. Minicaster is unique in the way it controls memory usage, and leads the industry for Flash-based web radio delivery. Of course we'd say that - we wrote it! So, why not try the free version and see if you like it?