Nimble Streamer and Audio Streaming

Icecast and other audio streaming features

Nimble Streamer can be leveraged as an audio streaming server solution. When being utilized as an audio streaming solution Nimble supports various audio codecs. Codecs that are supported include AAC, MP3, AC3 and E-AC3, Speex, and Opus. Nimble Streamer can process audio streams from Icecast and SHOUTcast. Supported output protocols include Icecast, SRT, NDI, RTMP, RTSP, MPEG-TS, HLS, and MPEG-DASH. The platform also supports the transmuxing of multiple protocols into Icecast, and includes a full support of Icecast metadata, SSL for Icecast output, failover and fallback options. The Nimble Streamer for Audio Streaming solution also supports audio live transcoding and server-side ad insertion. The paywall features of Nimble Streamer include a variety of capabilities for building paywalls for Icecast and HLS streaming, such as hotlinking protection and pay-per-view framework. The audio streaming solution is controlled via a web UI, APIs. Nimble Streamer outputs can be played on any Icecast player, and Softvelum provides a mobile player for Android and iOS.

Specifications for Audio Streaming via Nimble Streamer

Nimble Streamer supports the following audio codecs:

• AAC input and output is supported via all protocols
• MP3 input and output via all protocols
• AC3 and E-AC3 input via MPEG-TS, SRT and RTSP, output via MPEG-TS, SRT, RTSP and HLS
• Speex input and output via RTMP
• Opus input via WebRTC and output via SLDP
  You can play SLDP with Opus audio on iPhone in audio-only mode.

Learn more on Nimble codecs digest page.

Icecast/SHOUTcast processing

Icecast metadata is fully supported in Nimble Streamer and Live Transcoder

• Icecast metadata can be appended to any outgoing Icecast stream.
• Metadata tags passthrough is supported for incoming streams.
• Metadata passthrough for Live Transcoder is supported.
• RTMP Icecast metadata can be generated into Icecast as well as forwarded via Live Transcoder.
• Ingest Icecast metadata into RTMP real-time via Nimble native API for further delivery and processing.

Other existing Softvelum features and products can be applied for Icecast.

• SSL is supported for Icecast output.
• Set up streams emergency substitution and failover fallback using seamless hot swap.
• Icecast playlists may be used for initial setup
• CDN-friendly streaming setup is available for outgoing audio streams.
• WMSPanel provides wide set of reporting features for Icecast so you could learn more about your audience.

Audio Live Transcoding

Nimble Streamer Transcoder supports various scenarios for audio transformation.
Those include transrating to lower bitrate, re-sampling, voice-over, volume control and others.
Icecast can be used as an input for transcoding among other protocols.

Supported input formats are AAC, MP3, AC-3, MP2, Speex and PCM G.711 (a-law, μ-law). Outputs are AAC and MP3.

Server-Side Ads Insertion for Icecast

Nimble Advertizer framework allows performing dynamic ads insertion into your live audio streams.

• Pre-roll and mid-roll ads
• SCTE-35 markers ads insertion
• Custom business logic and Personalized ads

Icecast Mobile Playback

Icecast produced by Nimble Streamer can be played in any Icecast player. In addition, Softvelum mobile Larix Player provides Icecast playback on Android and iOS.

Users can also buy our SDK to build their own mobile solutions.

Paywall Capabilities

Nimble Streamer supports a variety of features for building paywalls for Icecast streaming. This includes Icecast hotlinking protection feature set as well as pay-per-view framework, geo-location restriction and more.

API and Control

Icecast streaming can be controlled in a few other ways besides WMSPanel web UI settings.

• Stream availability push API allows getting notifications about Icecast streams.
• Set of WMSPanel APIs allows controlling Icecast settings.
• Set of Nimble native APIs allows getting Icecast streams' status and performing some control activities.