CloudRadio supports live broadcasting in two ways depending on your setup: through the Live DJ inputs on CloudRadio One stations, or by connecting an encoder to your hosted Icecast or Shoutcast radio.
CloudRadio One (AutoDJ) Live Inputs
CloudRadio One stations have two built-in live inputs: Studio Input and Guest Input. Both accept connections from any encoder that supports Icecast/HTTP mode.
Find Your Credentials
- Open your station in Studio
- Go to Live DJ in the sidebar
- You’ll see connection details for both inputs with copy buttons
Each input displays:
- Server Type (always Icecast)
- Server Address
- Port
- Mount Path
- Username
- Password
- Full connection URL (for encoders that accept a single URL)
Studio Input
The Studio Input is your primary broadcast connection. Use it for your regular shows and day-to-day broadcasting.
-
Mount path:
/studio - Priority: plays over the playlist rotation when connected
When you connect to the Studio Input, your live audio takes over from the automated playlist. When you disconnect, the playlist rotation resumes automatically with a smooth crossfade.
Guest Input
The Guest Input is a separate connection for guest DJs or special events. It has higher priority than the Studio Input.
-
Mount path:
/guest - Priority: plays over both the Studio Input and the playlist rotation
When a guest connects, their audio takes priority over everything else. This is useful for handing off a show to a guest without sharing your main credentials. When the guest disconnects, audio falls back to the Studio Input (if connected) or the playlist rotation.
Input Priority
CloudRadio One uses a priority system to determine which audio source plays:
| Priority | Source | Plays when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (highest) | Guest Input | A guest DJ is connected |
| 2 | Studio Input | The main DJ is connected (and no guest) |
| 3 | Scheduled event | A scheduled playlist or event is active |
| 4 | Playlist Rotation | Weighted mix of your rotation playlists |
| 5 (lowest) | Media Library | Shuffle fallback from your full library |
Transitions between sources use crossfading to avoid hard cuts.
Playlist Rotation Weights
Each playlist in your rotation has a weight that controls how often it plays relative to the others. You can set the weight when editing a playlist under Playlists in the sidebar.
Weights are shown as approximate percentages on the dashboard. For example, a playlist with weight 5 alongside one with weight 3 plays roughly 62% of the time. The dashboard groups weights into labels: Heavy, Medium, and Light.
If no rotation playlists are enabled, audio falls through to the Media Library shuffle fallback.
Encoder Settings for CloudRadio One
Your encoder must use Icecast/HTTP mode (not Shoutcast mode). Use the server address, port, mount path, username, and password shown on the Live DJ page.
Regenerate a Password
If you need to change a password (for example, after a guest show):
- Go to Live DJ in the sidebar
- Click Regenerate next to the password field
- Confirm the change
The new password takes effect immediately. Anyone currently connected with the old password will be disconnected.
Hosted Radio (Icecast / Shoutcast)
For hosted Icecast and Shoutcast radios, you connect your encoder directly to the radio server using the credentials from the Streams page.
Find Your Connection Details
- Open your radio in Studio
- Go to Streams in the sidebar
- The Server Connection card shows your server address and port
- Each mount point card shows the mount path, DJ username, and DJ password
Required Encoder Settings
| Field | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Server Type | Shown on the Server Connection card (Icecast, Shoutcast v1, or Shoutcast v2) |
| Server Address |
Server Connection card (e.g. 10135.cloudrad.io) |
| Port |
Server Connection card (e.g. 9020) |
| Mount Point |
Mount point card (e.g. /live). Icecast only. |
| Username |
Mount point card (e.g. dj_user or source) |
| Password | Mount point card (click the eye icon to reveal) |
| Stream ID |
Mount point card. Shoutcast v2 only (e.g. 1) |
Shoutcast vs Icecast
If your radio supports both protocols, either will work. The main differences:
- Icecast: supports multiple mount points on the same server, UTF-8 metadata, and standard HTTP connections
- Shoutcast v1: single stream, simpler setup, no mount point needed
- Shoutcast v2: supports multiple streams via Stream IDs
Recommended Audio Settings
For the best balance of quality and compatibility:
- MP3: 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo
- AAC/AAC+: 64 kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo (smaller bandwidth, similar quality)
Bitrates up to 320 kbps are supported.
Encoder Software
You’ll need an encoder program to connect and broadcast. Here are some popular options:
- BUTT (free, Windows/Mac/Linux)
- Mixxx (free DJ software with built-in encoder)
- RadioBOSS (Windows)
- Rocket Broadcaster (Windows)
- Audio Hijack (Mac)
For a full list by operating system, see Windows Broadcasting Software and Mac Broadcasting Software.
Each encoder guide explains where to enter your connection details in that specific software. Find your credentials first using the steps above, then follow the encoder guide.
For a complete list by operating system, see Windows Broadcasting Software and Mac Broadcasting Software.
Troubleshooting
Encoder won’t connect
- Double-check the server address, port, and password (copy them from Studio to avoid typos)
- Confirm you’re using the correct protocol (Icecast mode for CloudRadio One, matching server type for hosted radios)
- Make sure your radio or station is running (check the status badge in Studio)
Audio cuts out or drops
- Check your internet connection stability
- Lower your bitrate if your upload speed is limited
- Avoid streaming over WiFi if possible. A wired connection is more reliable.
No metadata showing for listeners
- Make sure your encoder is sending metadata (song title, artist)
- Check that your encoder’s metadata encoding is set to UTF-8
- See Missing Stream Metadata for detailed troubleshooting