LiveIce Plugin for XMMS
=======================

Warning - this code is still beta and there are many known problems, don't
expect this to be easy.... but be pleasantly surprised when it is.

Because of the usual mp3 legal reasons, and to allow users a choice, there is
no encoder included in this package - you must have a supported encoder 
installed on your system in your $PATH.

While the standalone version of liveice supports 7 different encoders I've
only decided to support 2 from within this plugin - you can choose between
Fraunhofer's mp3enc or LAME Version 3.50 and up (www.sulaco.org). Xing's
encoder may be nice and fast but it's going to be impossible to support in
this plugin. 

So, get your encoder, and install it somewhere, then install this plugin.
Set up all the variables you want, point your client at a server and then 
start playing files.... PLease note that this is an effects plugin, so
the cd player input plugin may not work with it.

Multiple bitrate streams are also only available on the full icecast - 
mainly because I'm lousy at writing user interfaces and didn't have the time.

Scott Manley/Szyzyg/spm@star.arm.ac.uk


FAQ's
=====

1) Can I stream my cool mp3's to icecast servers using this?
Yes - that's what it's designed for.

2) Can I stream my cool mp3's to shoutcast servers using this?
Yes But why would you want to?

3) Does it Stream titles? 
Yes - it'll send title data to icecast servers.

4) Why does it need and external encoder?
Patent reasons, and to provide you with a choice.

5) What encoders can I Use?
Lame3.20+ (I'm not sure which version works but 3.50+ definately does)
This is free - go and get it from http://www.sulaco.org
mp3enc 3.1 - a very expensive but high quality encode from Fraunhofer - 
	takes a lot of CPU but at low bitrates is the best sounding.

6) Why only mp3enc and lame?
Because they were both good and easy to support.

7) Why not Xingmp3enc?
Xing is a nice programme which does all sorts of things to force the user to 
only encode from files and not live sources. The standalone liveice package
has a special kernel module which emulates a static file and tricks the 
encoder into working - but that's too much trouble for a plugin. 

8) Why not Bladeenc?
Because it sucks

9) No Really - Why not Blade?
Because it sucks so badly and is slower than the Lame encoder - why do you
want to use blade?

10) Ummm this is a faq - I'm supposed to answer the questions...
Freqeuntly asked questions - it doesn't say who's asking them - well I'm asking
all the blade users out there wy they persist in using it.

11) Because I read and article at http://bladeenc.mp3.no/ that says it's better at high bitrates.
Don't believe it. Come one - ask me another.

12) ummm ok What about GOGO.
Good question.... I'll go an find out if I've got time.  Just go use LAME 3.50

13) I can't select some bitrates - I want 44100kHz stereo at 32kbit.
Those limitations are placed for your own protection - using too much 
compression results in so many artifacts that your listeners may want to 
lynch you. Trust me.

14) What port do I stream to - my server isn't showing any connections on 
port 8000?
Is this a shoutcast server? Try pointing the port at 8001, and while you're
at it make sure you're *not* using x-audiocast headers.

15) What are x-audiocast headers?
x-audiocast headers are just a set of http style headers which tell the 
server all the important information. This spec is used because it adds a 
number of features which icecast supports and shoutcast doesn't. 

16) Why doesn't my stream appera on yp.icecast.org?
Possibly because you never checked the 'Public' button on the stream?

17) Why doesn't the listing include the current track?
because I haven't had time to implement it yet.... watch this space.

18) How do I send the same stream at multiple bitrates?
Sadly - this is only available in the standalone icecast... sorry.

19) Yuk it just streams white noise from my Sparc/PowerPC?
Ahhh... These machines are big endian - you could edit the exec statement
of lame to remove the -x option.... fix will appear sometime.

20) Can I listen to to my stream to test it?
This would be *bad* don't point your xmms at the server otherwise you'll be
stuck in a loop. Use another application, or better still another machine, 
to listen to it.

21) Help I'm really stuck?
Then give up until I get all the bugs fixed new versions may be available at
http://star.arm.ac.uk/~spm/software/liveice.html 
- or maybe try asking me what I think you're not doing right.

spm@star.arm.ac.uk

