How to Create a Student Radio Station Using Shoutcast
Long considered a thing of the past, student radio stations were brought back in vogue with the advent of newer innovative technologies available through the Internet. Prime among these is Shoutcast – this is an Internet radio option available through Nullsoft, which allows people to set up their own radio internet stations, free of cost.
Instructions
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To begin, make sure you chalk out a budget. Shoutcast itself is free, making it a perfect, inexpensive option for students. However, a radio station will require some equipment if you plan to run it properly, so make sure you have the funds required to invest in a computer to act as a server which can stay online 24/7, CDs for music, microphones and any staff costs that might build up for hiring students as disc jockeys. Check to see if these costs can be covered through student activities or student government.
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Next, set up the server. In order to work via Shoutcast, you will need to download software, and then configure a server to work with this software. The Winamp Mp3 player, also created by Nullsoft, is also required if you are looking to set up a radio station with Shoutcast. Simple step-by-step instructions for setting up the server are provided by Nullsoft, so make sure you follow these in order to get your server up and running.
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Once all the technical details have been taken care of, and the station is ready to go, begin working on the content, and on hiring workers to get the station up and running. Recruit students to form a radio station team – you will need students to work as DJs, commentators and soundboard help. If you have a large enough budget, small salaries can be set out for these workers – however, it is best to look for volunteers who will be willing to work on the radio station as an extracurricular activity.
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After the team for the radio station has been set up, it is time to determine what the station will have to offer. This can be a combination of music, campus news and updates, and small shows based on a particular topic, like a subject, or an extracurricular activity. To keep things fun and interesting, you can have teachers or students as guest speakers on certain shows, and make sure you play plenty of music in between, to keep it all lively. You can also record small commercials for your radio station, and play these in between songs and shows. Make sure you come up with a catchy name for the station.
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Once you have chalked out the programme for every day you plan to run the station it is time to launch it. Print out flyers which detail specifics like the student radio station name, where it is available (explain how listeners can access it via the Shoutcast interface), and what it has to offer – stick these up all over campus, to garner an audience, and with the passage of time, make sure you maintain and improve the quality of the broadcasts.
