Audio streaming reference

[merrytech]

I want to give my audio files as streaming audio in my website. I'm new to this web programming and I'm not sure how to program that. Can someone please provide some reference for such programming..
Thanks

[moltar]

What format are you going to use? There are 3 most common ones:

• MP3
  
• WMA
  
• RealAudio
  

All of them have quite different approach.

[merrytech]

I will be using mp3 format.

[MarshallClark]

The easiest way to do it is to make an m3u launch file for each mp3. Use notepad to make a text file, put the full URL of the target mp3 on your server in the text file, and save it as "yourfilename.m3u". Make a hyperlink to this m3u file and you're done. When a user clicks on the m3u link it will launch the mp3 as a streaming file. Drop me a message if you run into any problems.

Marshall

[moltar]

I beleive it is better to use .pls extension. As I understand it .pls is more generic "playlist" file format, while m3u is typically mp3.

Winamp, realplayer, and media player all support it, as I believe all the linux ones do as well.

[merrytech]

But can't we hide the file URLs somehow. Basically, when I use m3u or other extensions and store actual path inside those files, anybody can still download the actual files. Is there any other way to hide the actual file URLs from the users. Do I need to store the file paths names in database and use some reference number in my scripts to pull the actual file?

[moltar]

What can be streamed cannot be hidden.

[merrytech]

Thank you.

[HughMungus]

.m3u is more widely accepted by media players than .pls. I tested it.

[HughMungus]

You could use a database.

To whoever said, "What can be streamed cannot be hidden", I'd challenge you on that. I have a few links I'd like you to try to crack if you want to try it...

[moltar]

Sure :) I've done that.

If you mean the actual server stream? Then it can be recorded. Think about it that way: everything that comes to your computer is data. If it comes to your computer, then you can save it. No matter what - it can be done.

PM me with a link.

[Herath]

There are applications that simply takes your sound card output and save as WAV,MP3. So its certainly not hard to save the streams.

[moltar]

Exactly :)

[HughMungus]

Oh, I know everything can be recorded. I was challenging your ability to find out what server a stream is coming from...but...I'll just believe you. :D