{{Short description|Streaming media server}} {{Multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=January 2016}} {{primary sources|date=September 2018}} {{notability|software|date=September 2018}} }}
{{Infobox software | name = Icecast | title = | logo = Icecast logo large 2004.svg | logo caption = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | screenshot = <!-- Image name is enough --> | caption = | screenshot_size = | screenshot_alt = | collapsible = | author = | developer = Xiph.Org Foundation | released = {{Start date and age|1999}} | discontinued = | latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q946027|P348|P548=Q2804309}} | latest release date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q946027|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}} | latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q946027|P348|P548=Q51930650}} | latest preview date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q946027|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}} | programming language = C | operating system = Unix-like and Microsoft Windows | platform = | size = | language = | language count = <!-- DO NOT include this parameter unless you know what it does --> | language footnote = | genre = streaming media server | license = GPL-2.0-only | alexa = | website = {{URL|https://icecast.org}} | standard = | AsOf = }}
'''Icecast''' is a streaming media project released as free software maintained by the Xiph.Org Foundation. It also refers specifically to the server program which is part of the project. Icecast was created in December 1998/January 1999 by Jack Moffitt<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metajack.im/about/|access-date=13 March 2015|title=about jack moffitt}}</ref><ref name="icecast-news">{{Cite web|url=http://icecast.org/news/|title=News Archive|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref> and Barath Raghavan<ref name="icecast-news" /> to provide an open-source audio streaming server that anyone could modify, use, and tinker with. Version 2, a ground-up rewrite aimed at multi-format support (initially targeting Ogg Vorbis) and scalability, was started in 2001 and released in January 2004.<ref name="icecast-news" />
==History== {{unreferenced section|date=April 2025}} Icecast was originally developed by Moffitt in 1998 for SMU's radio station. At the time, the station was constantly losing its FCC license{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} and was at the time only able to reach listeners in the same building. Given that all of the dorms throughout campus had Ethernet connectivity, using streaming audio to broadcast was a natural solution, but currently available audio streaming software, such as RealAudio, was too expensive. Moffitt created Icecast, allowing the station to easily reach everywhere on campus without the necessity of FCC licensing or a transmitter upgrade. Initially developed to support mp3 files, Vorbis support was added shortly after.
==Technical details== The Icecast server is capable of streaming audio content as Opus or Vorbis<ref name="icecast">{{cite web|url=http://icecast.org/|access-date=13 March 2015|title=Icecast}}</ref> over standard HTTP, video as WebM or Theora<ref name="icecast" /> over HTTP, and MP3,<ref name="icecast" /> AAC,<ref name="icecast-news" /> and NSV<ref name="icecast-news" /> over the SHOUTcast protocol. Theora, AAC, and NSV are only supported in version 2.2.0 and newer.
Icecast requires external programs, called "source clients", to originate the streams,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://icecast.org/docs/icecast-2.4.1/introduction.html|title=Icecast Docs - Introduction|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref> and the Icecast project includes a source client program known as '''IceS'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://icecast.org/ices|access-date=13 March 2015|title=IceS}}</ref> The source runs typically in the place where the audio is generated (e.g., a studio) and the Icecast server where a high-bandwidth connection is available (e.g., a colocation centre). Since version 2.4.0 source clients can use plain HTTP standard PUT requests instead of the custom SOURCE method.<ref name="icecast-news" />
==Supported file formats== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! rowspan="2" | Source Clients ! colspan="6" | Input Formats ! colspan="8" | Output Formats |- ! style="width: 10%;" | MP3 ! style="width: 10%;" | AAC ! style="width: 10%;" | Ogg Vorbis ! style="width: 10%;" | Ogg Opus ! style="width: 10%;" | FLAC ! style="width: 10%;" | WAV
! style="width: 10%;" | MP3 ! style="width: 10%;" | AAC/AAC+ ! style="width: 10%;" | Ogg Vorbis ! style="width: 10%;" | Ogg Opus ! style="width: 10%;" | Ogg FLAC ! style="width: 10%;" | NSV video ! style="width: 10%;" | Ogg Theora video ! style="width: 10%;" | WebM video |- ! IceS 0.4 | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}}
| {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} |- ! IceS 2.0 | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}}
| {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- ! Liquidsoap<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liquidsoap.info/doc-dev/encoding_formats.html|access-date=21 April 2022|title=Encoding formats - Liquidsoap}}</ref> | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}}
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |- ! Live DSP Input | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}}
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |- ! Rocket Broadcaster Pro<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rocketbroadcaster.com|access-date=24 January 2019|title=Rocket Broadcaster - The Streaming Audio Encoder}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gaming Enthusiast |url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/moneylead/ |access-date=15 October 2023 |publisher=Stream Community}}</ref> | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}}
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} |- ! Broadcast Using This Tool<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://danielnoethen.de/butt|access-date=20 April 2021|title=B.U.T.T - Broadcast Using This Tool}}</ref> | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}}
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} |- ! BUTTM<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buttm.app|access-date=24 December 2025|title=BUTTM - Broadcast Using This Tool Modernized}}</ref> | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}}
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} |- ! iziCast<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://izicast.de|access-date=24 August 2021|title=iziCast - Icecast and Shoutcast client for iOS}}</ref> | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}}
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} |- ! Cool Mic<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coolmic.net|title=Cool Mic - Icecast client for Android}}</ref> | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}}
| {{no}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | {{no}} |}
==See also== {{Portal|Free and open-source software}} *List of streaming media systems *SHOUTcast *Peercasting *Edcast
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{Official website|https://icecast.org/}} *article in ''Streaming Media'' magazine: [https://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=63501 The Birth of Icecast]
{{Xiph.org}} {{Music digital distribution platforms}}
Category:Free audio software Category:Internet radio software Category:Xiph.Org projects Category:Streaming software Category:1999 software