One of the easiest ways to get your streaming broadcast on the web is with Real Producer 8.5 from Real Networks. While we will look at some other methods, the Real Producer 8.5 Wizard makes it simple with just a few short clicks.

You are going to need the follow to broadcast a live stream:

• Audio equipment (mixer, microphone, CD player, etc)
• A good sound card in your PC
• Real Producer 8.5 from RealNetworks
• Real Server or an ISP with Real Server support.

Real Server is software that streams both pre-recorded and live events over a network in real time. Real Server keeps multiple clips synchronized and gives you many more advanced features than using a standard web server. If you have an ISP, you will not be able to use Real Server. You will need to check with your host provider to make sure they have Real Server support, how much bandwidth is allotted to you, and if there is an additional cost to stream from their server.

I want to take a moment and let you know that Real Server comes in several different forms and you will have to decide which is best for you.

• Real System Server Basic is free server software that will let you stream up to 25 concurrent users.
• Real System Server Plus does the same thing as Basic, but lets you stream to up to 60 simultaneous users. This software isn't free; it costs close to $2000.
• If you are serious about reaching the masses, you should probably think about Real Systems Server Professional. Real Systems Server Professional starts you out with 100 streams and you can go up to 400. Be prepared to gasp... Professional starts at $6,000 and goes up to $22,000. If you want yearly support and upgrades, that costs extra.

Regardless, you are going to need a second computer (or server if you are a larger company) to stream live broadcasts with Real Systems Server.

Okay, enough about Real System Server, while it is important, it can be confusing. While Real Producer is a snap to use, this method can be expensive in the long run. Let's use Real Producer 8.5 to get a live broadcast on the net.

1. Connect the output from your mixer or audio device into the input on your soundcard.
2. Launch Real Producer Plus 8.5
3. The Wizard will start asking you what type of Real Media file you are going to create. Select live broadcast.
4. You will then be asked if you will be capturing audio, video or both. Since we are focusing on Internet Radio, select audio only and choose your sound card.
5. The next screen asks you to enter the Title, Author, Copyright information, a brief description and keywords (for the webpage and search engines).
6. The fourth screen asks for file type. If you are creating a live broadcast for a Real Server, select SureStream, which will allow you to create multiple streams for a variety of connection types. If you are sending to an ISP supported site, select Single-Rate. This will only allow you to stream at one rate (hence the name), and you will lose some of the advance options found with Real Systems Server.
7. Once you have selected your streaming type, you will be asked for target audience. This is where you select the stream rate (or rates if you are using Real Systems Server). To be honest I would never select 28K as a target audience. Those people don't deserve to access streaming media. 56K, ISDN and DSL, are the way to go to cover the largest audience.
8. Next you will be asked about the Audio Format. This screen is designed to select the compression scheme for your files. Obviously the more simple the audio, the greater the compression. Personally I would shy away from selecting Stereo Music as it eats up a tremendous amount of bandwidth. The Music audio format will be fine for most Internet Radio stations.
9. Finally, you will be asked about your media server. If you are not a technical guru, ask your IT guy, or contact your ISP for this information.
10. One other option you may want to consider on this screen is to archive your broadcast. This can be a great option if you are doing a live show that is not live 24/7. The archive option can take your live stream and make an on demand back up for later use. It will use up hard drive space, so if you are being hosted on a different service provider, you had better check to see how much space you are allotted, or you could be in trouble very quickly.
11. Click the Finish button and press the Start button to begin your broadcast.

There you have it, a few simple steps and you are broadcasting your radio station over the Internet.