How to Set Up Your AAC Encoder

There are many advantages to setting up an AAC encoder. For one, it has the best sound quality at a lower bitrate, so it’ll save on streaming costs. It’s also supported by Flash, Microsoft Silverlight, and a wide range of mobile devices, giving your listeners different options for tuning in.

If you are streaming with SpacialNet, go to these instructions instead. If you are not streaming with SpacialNet, read on.

Before you start, you must retrieve server details from your stream hosting account. So log into your account and find your account details. Leave this page open so you can copy the details when setting up your AAC encoder. 

Now, open SAM Broadcaster and follow these steps:

• Click on “Desktop B” in the toolbar.
• In the “Encoders” window, click the plus sign (“+”) to add a new encoder.
• Select “aacPlusV2.”
• Click “OK.”

The aacPlusV2 encoder window will then appear.

In the “Converter” tab:

• Under “Output format settings,” select your bitrate using the drop-down menu under “Format.”
  • Selecting an AAC bitrate with “Parametric stereo” provides the best low bitrate/sound quality ratio.
  • To avoid having your streaming service suspended, select a profile that will stream at a bitrate that’s less than or equal to what you signed up for. For example, if you signed up for a 64 kbps stream, your profile must stream at 64 kbps or lower.
  • Make sure your bandwidth can support your streaming bitrate. The combined bitrate of all your streams should never exceed 80% of the value of the upload speed reported by speedtest.net.
• Under “General options,” check “Auto start encoder after” if you want the encoder to start automatically each time you launch SAM Broadcaster. If you check this option, make sure to specify how many seconds you want to elapse before the encoder starts.
• Under “General options,” leave “Auto reconnect encoder after” checked so SAM Broadcaster can recover from network errors.
• Under “General options,” leave “Allow scripts in stream” unchecked, since modern players don’t use this feature.

In the “Server Details” tab:

• Select the server you want to send your AAC file stream to. You have the choice between SHOUTcast (versions 1 and 2), Live365, IceCast, or no server.
• We recommend selecting the “SHOUTcast” server to reach a broader audience.
• If you select “No server,” the encoder will archive your audio content without streaming it.
• Fill in your server and radio station details:
  • Your “Server IP” might be something like sc6.NAMEOFPROVIDER.com.
  • You can find your “Server Port” in your account details of your streaming service.
  • Type your password.
  • In “Station Details,” write your radio station’s name, select a genre from the drop-down menu, and provide your website’s URL.
  • The “AIM,” “ICQ,” and “IRC Channel” fields are optional.
  • We recommend checking “List on public station listing” to include your station in SHOUTcast directory.
  • You may leave “Enable title streaming” checked to stream song information.
  • We recommend keeping the “Caption template” default setting (“$combine$”).
• If you select SHOUTcast 2, you will have to provide a valid SID.

In the “Stream Archive” tab:

• Check “Save stream to file” if you want to save a copy of your stream to your local hard drive.

Once you’ve configured all your settings, click “OK” to close the aacPlusV2 encoder window.