Once you have chosen between SHOUTcast and Icecast, you want your stream to sound as good as possible. Here are some handy tips to optimize your sound quality:

1. Choose the right bitrate #

The bitrate determines the sound quality of your stream. A higher bitrate provides better sound, but uses more bandwidth.

• For speech: 64 kbps is usually sufficient.
• For music: Choose at least 128 kbps for good quality, or 192 kbps+ for optimal performance.

Please note: listeners with a slow internet connection may have difficulty with higher bitrates.

2. Use the correct audio format #

• MP3: Popular and compatible with almost all players.
• AAC+: Provides better quality at lower bitrates (ideal for mobile listeners).
• Ogg Vorbis or Opus: Excellent for open-source solutions and high quality.

Tip: For streaming on mobile devices, AAC+ often the best choice!

3. Optimize your audio source #

Make sure the sound at the source is of high quality:

• Use a good one microphone and audio interface for speech.
• Optimize your music files: use files of at least 320 kbps MP3 or lossless audio.
• Avoid oversteering: pay attention to your audio levels and use compression where necessary.

4. Stable internet connection #

A poor internet connection will cause stuttering and interruptions in your stream. Make sure:

• Wired connection instead of wifi.
• Sufficient upload speed: at least double your set bitrate.

5. Use a good encoder #

An encoder converts your audio to a streamable format. Popular encoders include:

• BUTT (for beginners, free and simple)
• OBS Studio (for video and audio streams)
• Mixxx (for DJ streaming with live mixing capabilities)

Set your encoder correctly for the chosen bitrate and format.

6. Test your stream #

Before going live, always test your stream:

• Check the sound on different devices.
• Ask for feedback from friends or listeners.
• Use tools such as stream analyzers to measure quality.

Ready to stream! #

By following these tips, you will ensure a professional and reliable stream that listeners will be happy to tune in. Hostbee we are here to help you with the best stream hosting solutions. Do you have any questions? Contact our support team and start streaming great sounding streams today!